Dubai gets ‘Work Bundle’ platform to simplify visa process

As per the latest development, the UAE has launched a new platform that will reduce the processing time for completing all the necessary documents to acquire work permits and residency visas. If reports are to go by, it will significantly reduce the time frame from almost one month to just five days, thanks to the newly launched Work Bundle platform. It’s first rolled out in Dubai, which will be gradually implemented in other emirates. The integrated procedure will not only help streamline the process, but will also cut down the required documents from 16 to just five. Additionally, the number of visits to service centers has been reduced from seven to only two, as announced by officials during a press conference. Work Bundle integrates all procedures for government entities, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre), Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and the Department of Economy and Tourism, along with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Initially rolled out in Dubai, the platform is all set to be implemented in other emirates. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, highlighted that the Work Bundle platform aims to facilitate, simplify, and expedite the procedures for residency and work permits in the country. He added that the platform is expected to reclaim a lot more working days that were previously devoted to the renewal of residencies and employment contracts, resulting in substantial annual savings for both the government and private sectors. In a move to enhance efficiency, Sheikh Mohammed had previously directed UAE ministries and federal entities to reduce at least 2,000 procedures and cut the processing time by half within a year. Work Bundle aligns with the UAE's digital transformation efforts, simplifying the process of establishing and managing businesses for private companies through a consolidated platform. The initiative reduces procedures from 15 steps requiring 16 documents to just 5 steps and 5 documents. The number of visits required to government entities is also significantly reduced from 7 to only 2 visits, resulting in a notable reduction in waiting and processing time, from 30 working days to just 5 working days. For employees abroad seeking to benefit from the Work Bundle platform, the process involves filling out a unified application and obtaining a work permit for the employee. Subsequently, the employee proceeds to complete residency procedures, including a medical examination and the issuance of the Emirates ID card. In the case of renewal services, the company owner fills out the unified application, and the employee completes the medical examination and obtains the Emirates ID.