Dubai Launches Salama AI Platform for Efficient Visa Services

Image credits: Pawan Singh / The National

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has unveiled a groundbreaking new artificial intelligence platform, ‘Salama,’ aimed at transforming the efficiency of government services. The announcement took place at the Fourth Annual Media Council under the theme “Media Vision Shaping the Future.” The event was attended by Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, along with senior officials and media influencers. The “Salama” platform is designed to simplify residency services, offering a quick and seamless way for users to manage residency tasks.

Through the platform, users can complete transactions, make payments, and perform other residency-related actions without the need for traditional forms or paperwork. This innovative approach significantly enhances the service delivery of the GDRFA, supporting the UAE’s Vision 2071 and Dubai’s wider Digital Transformation Strategy. Lieutenant General Al Marri highlighted the transformative power of digital technology in creating a future-ready Dubai. The platform’s services are aimed at simplifying residency processes for individuals, allowing users to renew or cancel residency permits, receive quick responses to visa inquiries, and complete transactions without navigating multiple systems or visiting service centres.

The launch of the ‘Salama’ AI platform marks a major shift in how users engage with government services. Using sophisticated algorithms, the platform tailors responses to individual needs, offering quick, accurate service. The service can be accessed via the smart channel and through UAE Pass. During the forum, the department demonstrated the transaction live, which was completed in just a few seconds. One applicant used the service to renew the residency permit for a family member. The customer used the platform to renew the residency permit for his daughter, and after logging in, the system automatically recognised the applicant's data and displays the details of any dependents under their sponsorship.

The platform offers a range of features, including the ability to renew or cancel residency permits, receive quick responses to visa inquiries, and complete transactions without navigating multiple systems or visiting service centres. The service is currently available for individuals, primarily to renew or cancel residency permits, and will be extended to include companies in the future. Colonel Khalid bin Madia Al Falasi, Assistant Director General of the Digital Services Affairs Sector at GDRFA Dubai, shared further details on the platform’s capabilities, stating that the launch of the ‘Salama’ AI platform marks a major shift in how users engage with government services. The platform relies on artificial intelligence to speed up the visa renewal process, cutting down on waiting times and paperwork.

Here are some key features and benefits of the Salama platform: * Simplified residency processes for individuals and companies * Quick and seamless way to manage residency tasks * Ability to renew or cancel residency permits * Receive quick responses to visa inquiries * Complete transactions without navigating multiple systems or visiting service centres * Available in over 40 languages * Transactions can be completed in under 10-20 seconds The Salama platform is a significant step forward in the government's efforts to use advanced technology to make services more efficient, and it reflects Dubai’s commitment to digital transformation, reinforcing its position as a global leader in smart government services.