Advanced digital systems and tightly coordinated operations across Dubai’s entry points are underpinning a steady rise in long-term arrivals, according to the head of the emirate’s identity and residency authority.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA), said more travellers are choosing Dubai as a place to settle and work than are leaving — a trend he attributed to sustained improvements in border infrastructure and institutional coordination.
Al Marri made the remarks during a radio appearance on Al Oula, following a series of site visits that took him to Dubai International Airport, the Hatta land border crossing, and the Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Sector in Al Aweer. The inspections were aimed at evaluating readiness levels, tightening inter-agency coordination, and identifying areas for performance improvement.
At the airport, Al Marri examined passenger processing facilities and travel flow systems, concluding that current operations can absorb high volumes while meeting international benchmarks for efficiency and service quality.
The Hatta visit covered both arrival and departure halls as well as external checkpoints, with Al Marri noting the adaptability of land border operations and the orderly movement of travellers through the crossing.
At the Al Aweer facility, attention turned to residency violation case management. Al Marri reviewed the shelter’s operations and the legal mechanisms governing how violations are handled, emphasising that procedures are structured to preserve community stability. He also assessed the operations room’s digital monitoring tools, which he said improve response times and sharpen decision-making.
“The development of operational systems reflects our commitment to translating leadership directives into advanced, sustainable services based on innovation and proactive approaches,” Al Marri said, adding that the dual priority of streamlined processing and community protection remains central to the directorate’s work.
He credited cross-entity collaboration as a key driver of the results, saying the outcomes reflect both staff professionalism and the effectiveness of integrated institutional frameworks.
“These efforts support the UAE’s vision for global leadership and further cement Dubai’s standing as a benchmark for quality of life and government excellence,” he said.
Al Marri added that ongoing investment in operational systems has directly strengthened public confidence in Dubai’s border services and contributed to the emirate’s broader competitiveness as a global hub.
