DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, February 23 /PRNewswire/ --

- Offers 90% e-Servicing by End of 2009

In an effort to communicate efficiently with its customers everywhere, 
Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) introduced
this week a new e-service that makes best use of the new technologies
available to everyone in the UAE and the world. Visitors, residents and
guests residing here and abroad will receive instant notifications via email
and text messages upon issuance of their entry permits or visas of all types
through Mobile Visa (M-visa).

Major-General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of DNRD, said 
that this pioneering approach will make the services of the
Department available to everyone living in the UAE and abroad. Al Marri hoped
that the online services would be helpful for individuals with special needs
as they will reduce to minimum the number of visits required to DNRD offices.

Col. Lt. Khaled Al Rozooki, Assistant Director of DNRD for IT
Sector, said: "We have managed to turn 60% of our services to online
offerings and we are hoping to achieve 90% turn around by end of 2009. The
M-visa service is set to provide fast and best quality services to customers
via web connection and mobile phones."

First Lieutenant Khalid Bin Madea Al Falasi, Manager of Electronic 
Projects Department at DNRD explained that as customers apply for
their entry permits either by visiting DNRD offices or using online
applications at http://www.ednrd.ae, they will be requested to make the
necessary payments to enable them to receive their visa via email or text 
message. When their visa is issued, customers will be notified through an 
email message, which will include an original e-visa document, bearing the 
DNRD logo and signature of the director. The PDF file will be secure to 
prevent any tampering with the visitor's details.

Customers will also receive an SMS notification containing the
same barcode printed on the original visa document in a 2D format, as well as
key information about the visitor and the sponsor. The UAE-based sponsor will
receive the notification at the same time. SMS messages can be forwarded to
any destination around the world.

Upon arrival at any of the entry points, the barcode scanner
installed at the DNRD checkpoints will read the details of the entry permit
directly from the mobile device of the visitor. UAE visitors will also be
able to track online their applications again and request e-mails and text
messages to be resent according to their convenience.

Al Rozooki confirmed that DNRD is on schedule with the transition from 
conventional to electronic or online services. The Department
is also enhancing its e-links with the various governmental authorities in
Dubai and the UAE to facilitate further and reduce the time needed for
completion of the different transactions, as well as exchange data online.

For more information: Contact Dubai Naturalisation and Residency 
Department media centre, Phone: +971(0)4-7074549, fax: +971(0)4-3981113, 
email: media@dnrd.ae;

Or, Noha Habib at Weber Shandwick Mena, phone: +971(0)4-3210077, 
Fax: +971(0)4-3211711, email : email: noha.habib@ws-mena.com