Expo Dubai 2020: GDRFA issues first establishment card to Belgium
By Web Report
Published: Tue 7 May 2019, 4:41 PM
Last updated: Thu 9 May 2019, 8:57 AM
Dubai officially issued the first establishment card for participating countries in Expo 2020 on Tuesday.
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Bureau Expo Dubai 2020 and His Excellency Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA), issued the first establishment card for participating countries in Expo 2020 to Aldwin Dekkers Deputy Commissioner general - Kingdome of Belgium .
The establishment card was issued in the presence of Expo 2020 and GDRFA officials.
| Expo 2020 Dubai expects to attract 25 million visitors to Dubai during the period between October 2020 and April 2021, with more than 70% of visitors coming from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 170-year history of World Expos. |
Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Bureau Expo Dubai 2020, praised the efforts of the GDRFA in Dubai and its continuous support for facilitating the participation of various countries in Expo 2020 in line with its slogan in 'Connecting the Minds, Creating the Future'.
Reem Al Hashemy stressed the importance of the role of government entities in supporting this national project and its contribution to preparations for the global event. The concerted efforts of all governmental institutions at both federal and local levels are critical in the organisation of an exceptional World Expo worthy of the UAE.
His Excellency Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA in Dubai said that it is working to facilitate the entry and the exit procedures of Expo 2020 Dubai participants with smart systems.
Participant visa within seconds
The exhibition is expected to attract almost 25 million visitors from different nationalities. He pointed out that the Expo 2020 office will offer a smart platform that includes the services of various stakeholders, including GDRFA Dubai services.
Major General Mohammed Al Marri said that Expo 2020 participants can obtain various types of visas through this smart platform within seconds of completing all documentation.
Al Marri explained that the establishment cards for the pavilions of participating countries can be issued electronically within a few minutes of the submission of an application. This comes in line with GDRFA Dubai's adoption of smart systems that can save the time and effort of customers. Workers participating in the country pavilions will be able to get all types of visas. The electronic facility card will enable the representative of each pavilion to obtain services through a unified office without having to go to multiple parties to complete procedures.
Major General Al Marri said that following the UAE's successful bid for the event, GDRFA Dubai formed an integrated core team comprising of a higher committee under the follow-up of Major General Obaid Muhair Bin Suroor, supported by an executive committee headed by Brigadier Talal Al Shanqeti, the Assistant Director General of Airports Affairs and Colonel Dr. Omar Al Shamsi, the Assistant Director General for the Entry and Residency Sector. Also formed were teams that worked round the clock to facilitate all the procedures necessary for holding a successful mega international exhibition.
Major General Al Marri stressed that GDRFA Dubai is gearing up to process 45,000 transactions per day. All applications will be processed through artificial intelligence systems.
Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and the largest event of its kind in the Arab World. About 192 countries have confirmed their participation in the upcoming event, in addition to multinational companies and organisations and educational institutions.