GDRFA processed over 7 million transactions during the first six months, achieving an average processing time under four minutes per request.
DUBAI — July 16, 2026 — Dubai has achieved a comprehensive 100 percent digital transformation across its immigration infrastructure during the first half of 2026, processing more than 7 million entry and residency applications. Official statistics released by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai confirm that the department successfully approved 1,051,978 brand-new residency permits, 910,552 residency renewals, and 5,078,078 entry visas. The massive administrative volume included the issuance of 66,000 long-term Golden Visas, cementing the emirate’s position as a premier destination for global professionals, investors, and highly skilled talent.
The historic metrics published by the immigration authority reveal an exceptional 100 percent service completion rate during the six-month period, with standard applications taking an average of less than four minutes to process. According to Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, user satisfaction ratings climbed to 95 percent, directly mirroring the government’s strategic mandate to lead global public service digitalization.
To satisfy growing commercial and tourism traffic, the GDRFA expanded targeted entry permit frameworks, including the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa. The department authorized 29,456 specialized visas for visitors joining family members or friends, which provide flexible stay configurations of 30, 60, or 90 days with extended capabilities up to 120 days.
Additionally, a specialized entry pathway accommodated 73,551 individuals residing outside their original home countries, granting rapid 14-day or 60-day stays via streamlined online application forms.
The emirate’s thriving industrial events ecosystem was further buttressed by the targeted Events Visa framework. Designed to attract global delegates attending international trade exhibitions, corporate conferences, and cultural summits, the system provides 30-day or 60-day options that can similarly be extended up to a maximum duration of 120 days.
The long-term Golden Residency initiative witnessed substantial year-on-year traction, granting 66,000 new permits to verified high-net-worth investors, elite athletes, medical specialists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and high-achieving academic graduates. The specialized golden status offers autonomous self-sponsorship, extended family dependency privileges, and structural continuity for dependents in the event of the primary holder’s demise.
Furthermore, the GDRFA sustained its dedicated Retirement Residency framework to position Dubai as an attractive urban destination for long-term international settlement during later life stages.
To streamline complex administrative onboarding for local enterprises and families, the directorate reinforced its integrated unified service platforms. The Work Bundle framework successfully registered 521,216 distinct operations, while the Domestic Workers Work Bundle processed 11,323 transactions.
These integrated suites collapse nine historically separate government transactions—including labor contracts, medical fitness screenings, health insurance protocols, work permits, residency approvals, and Emirates ID distributions—into a single, electronic application process. The domestic services are accessible through the DubaiNow app, while formal commercial employment procedures are housed on the Invest in Dubai portal.
Immigration officials also reported that the GDRFA’s innovative live video call service successfully resolved 19,507 intricate customer inquiries remotely. Operating at a verified technical efficiency rate of 97.93 percent, the visual communication tool recorded a brief average wait time of just 5.38 minutes, completely removing the necessity for physical center visits.
Major General Khalaf Ahmed Al Ghaith, Assistant Director General for the Entry Permits and Residency Sector, concluded that the H1 2026 milestones validate the department’s institutional capacity to manage massive volumes securely while advancing proactive, next-generation government services that sustain the UAE’s economic competitiveness.
