A new smart system means that Emiratis in Dubai will no longer need to remember to renew their passports six months before they expire.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai will use artificial intelligence to issue notifications to staff when passports are drawing close to their renewal dates.
“With the full digital transformation in services and a database of Emiratis passports, the expiry dates of each passport will be identified,” said Lt Gen Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, GDRFA-Dubai's director general at a press briefing.
Once GDRFA staff receive notification of the expiry date of a passport, they will contact its holder to ask about their preferred delivery method.
“We formed a team to contact people once the expiry dates of their passports are detected, then renew the passport and deliver it to their place,” he said.
To date, 92 passports have been renewed and delivered to UAE citizens in Dubai under the initiative, which was launched in line with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
“We are keen on rolling out schemes that are for the benefit of citizens and expatriates alike,” Lt Gen Al Marri said.
Golden visas
He said nearly 44,000 golden visas have so far been issued to residents in Dubai.
“The department deals with golden visa applications on a daily basis,” he said.
He also said the number of travellers arriving at Dubai airports has been increasing steadily with the recovery from Covid-19.
“The airports welcome around 65,000 travellers coming to Dubai every day, with an estimated number of around 145,000 travellers in total arriving and departing from the emirate,” he said.
“I expect the number to increase to 200,000 travellers daily soon.”
He said the increase in passengers numbers was clearly attributable to the way the UAE had handled the pandemic.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
