General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai
The government of Dubai has proactively taken new initiatives to aid residents and tourists alike. A prime example of such an initiative is the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFAD). Established in 1971, the directorate has been providing a wide range of services in Dubai. Ranging from residence permits to personal status, the directorate is responsible for everything.
Let’s take a closer look at the GDRFAD and elaborate on its services in detail.
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai
The General Directorate is responsible for providing smart and efficient services to users at local and international levels. The directorate adheres to Dubai’s aim of paperless procedures and has automated all the services. Whether you are a foreign investor or a builder, you can register your business and employment status with GDRFAD.
Services of GDRFAD
The following are the core services offered by the GDRFAD.
Violators and Foreigners Follow-up
This service allows settlement of the status of violators as per Dubai’s laws and legislation. For instance; if a violation is delayed in off-plan property handover, the violator will be prosecuted as per RERA and DLD’s law.
Establishment of Businesses
The business establishment service allows users to register and complete all the processes related to their business digitally. This not only reduces time but also improves transparency. This is one of the major reasons that contributes to the growing trust of investors in the property market.
The increasing interest of investors is evident in the upward trajectory of the real estate market. To know the latest market trends, read through dubizzle’s H1 Dubai sales market report for H1 2024.

Entry and Residence Permits
This service by the GDRFAD allows users to get and renew residence and entry permits in record time.
Citizenship and Personal Status
This service allows users to deal with their citizenship and personal status service. For instance, if you are trying to obtain a Dubai property investment visa, you can avail of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs visa status service.
Entry and Departure
The entry and departure to and from the Emirates require documentation and legalities to be catered for which GDRFA Dubai can assist with.
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai Branches
The GDRFA Dubai has 67 Amer Centres, 9 Customer Service Centres and 7 Partner Service Centres located at different places within the emirate. Here is the list of areas where the centres are located.
Amer Centres
The Amer Centres are located in the following areas.
- Deira
- Bur Dubai
- Al Karama District
- Al Quoz District
- Umm Hurair area
- Umm Suqeim
- Ras Al Khor
- Jebel Ali
- Karama
- Zabeel
- Al Garhoud
- Al Khabisi
- Sheikh Zayed Street
Customer Service Centres
The location of Customer Service Centres are as follows.
- Al Awir
- Hatta
- Sheikh Zayed Road
- Aljaffilya
- Al Tawar 2
- Dubai Airport Terminal 3
- Allissily
Partner Service Centres
The Partner Service Centres are located in the mentioned below areas of Dubai.
- JLT District
- Jebel Ali Free Zone
- Hor Al Anz
- Dubai International Airport Terminal 2
- Emirates Airlines Building
- Sheikh Zayed Road
- Dubai Knowledge Village
It is recommended to visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai’s official website for the precise location of the offices.
FAQs
When was the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai established?
The GDRFA Dubai was established in 1971 by the order of the late HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
What are the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai timings?
The official working hours of the GDRFA Dubai are from 08:00 am to 08:00 pm. Whereas, the call centre is open 24/7 and chat support is available from 10:00 am to 05:00 pm from Sunday to Thursday.
What is the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai’s contact number?
You can contact the Directorate through email (amer@dnrd.ae), toll-free number (8005111), international toll-free number (+971 4 313 9999) and international telephone and fax number (+971 4 501 1111).
This was all about the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai and the services it provides. Government authorities like the Directorate play a vital role in maintaining transparency in the real estate market. Moreover, it also provides convenience to all the stakeholders, contributing to the overall growth of the industry. Go through these properties for sale in Dubai and choose an ideal one for investment.
If you are new to the market, here are the risks of buying off-plan property in Dubai that you must be aware of.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s property blog to learn about the latest real estate trends in Dubai.