The United Arab Emirates has unveiled its latest innovation – the ‘Work Bundle’ platform, which aims to reduce the processing time required to complete all the necessary documents to acquire UAE work permits and residency visas.
Following the new launch of this platform, the work and residency visa process will be reduced from almost one month to just five days, VisaGuide.World reports.
As local media report, the platform minimizes complexity by condensing eight distinct services into a user-friendly interface. This means a tremendous reduction in the required steps, dropping from a cumbersome 15 steps and 16 documents to just five steps and five documents. Additionally, applicants must only make two visits instead of the previous seven.
‘Work Bundle’ to Save 62 Million Work Day
As Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, explains, the New Work Bundle platform is poised to reclaim 62 million days of work previously dedicated to the renovation of residences and work contracts within government frameworks.
According to him, the initiative is expected to streamline 25 million procedures annually, resulting in significant cost savings for the government and private sectors.
Sheikh Mohammed’s plan is part of the bigger Invest in Dubai platform. It aims to help over 275,000 companies in Dubai in the beginning.
While most services will be online, some, like medical checks and fingerprint scans, will still need you to visit in person. Processing times have been cut by more than 75 percent, and asking for human help is unnecessary.
For recruiting a new employee from abroad, the process entails several steps:
- Filling out the unified application.
- Obtaining a work permit for the employee.
- Completing residency procedures, which involve a medical examination and the issuance of an Emirates ID card. These steps necessitate the employee’s presence.
Regarding renewal services, the company owner is required to:
- Fill out the unified application.
- Have the employee undergo a medical examination.
- Obtain an Emirates ID card.
Moreover, Lt Gen Mohammed Al Marri, who leads GDRFA-Dubai, thinks there will be 25 percent more service transactions once the new platform launches. He says it makes things easier by putting many steps into one form, meaning fewer visits and less fuss.
Developing the Work Bundle platform involves key government entities, including Mohre, ICP, GDRFA, and DHA. Supported by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Digital Dubai, the platform offers essential digital infrastructure and facilitates seamless services among government entities.