DUBAI // Visa applicants can hire a free "mobile office" that will come to their homes or offices to process immigration documents.
It is expected to save expatriates from braving long queues at government facilities.
The vehicle, which processed its first transactions last week, is currently free to hire for the next two months, officials said yesterday. It was launched by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners' Affairs in a bid to improve customer service.
"People can just request the car and it will come to their offices or their homes," said Lt Col Khalid Nasser al Razooqi, the directorate's assistant director for electronic services. "It can do the majority of transactions which are currently done by our head office."
The free-hire period was meant to publicise the service while the project was still in its marketing phase. The costs associated with normal visa processing would still apply. A final price for hiring the vehicle was still under discussion, Lt Col al Razooqi said.
Services currently available through the mobile office include paperwork relating to visa applications, renewals and cancellation as well as Emirates ID card renewals. More services are being considered for the future.
The vehicle, with its staff of one official and one driver, was dispatched for the first time last Monday to process 49 visa renewals and one new visa application.
The service operates from 8am to 8pm, and bookings can be made on 800 5111.
mcroucher@thenational.ae
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”