A significant step towards digital transformation, the introduction of an AI-powered platform, ‘Salama’, is meant to simplify the entire visa renewal process for residents of Dubai to encourage digital transformation by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). The newly launched Salama platform allows residents to renew their residency visas within minutes for a process that could otherwise take hours.
The platform Salama provides residents the experience that allows them to renew their visas and download the renewal documents immediately, without paperwork and waiting time. Once the resident logs on into the platform, his details are automatically recognized by the AI system and then all pertinent information, such as dependent visas status and number of days for expiration, displays on its screen.
Then, choose the duration for renewal, and the system generates the application on the fly. For family members, the entire family picture can be done in a very few clicks using the platform straight. Normally, depending on how well the documents were critical, renewing a visa took one to three hours. It has now reduced this time frame with the new application systems to just about one to two minutes if all documents are presented. Ghaleb Abdullah Mohammed Hassan Al-Majid, Director of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Department, confirmed that this indeed was a major stride in efficiency.
Currently, only resident visa renewals can be facilitated through the platform, but plans are afoot for enhancement at stage two, which will include the services of GDRFA for visitors and tourists as well. Future enhancements will also comprise the whole renewal process for businesses that will be made available through the smart channel and will feature in the GDRFA DXP application.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, General Director of GDRFA Dubai, stressed that this digital transformation should be taken really seriously. “Digital transformation for us is not just in upgrading services but redefining the customer experience and fulfilling visionary leadership goals,” he said. “The Salama AI platform is a show of our commitment to use the latest technology in making life better for our Dubai people.”
The efforts of the Dubai Government were herewith marked by this big milestone concerning work facilitated through its government solutions which would be delivered faster and smarter.
