DUBAI, March 10: The new Work Bundle platform, launched recently, has significantly streamlined the process for acquiring work permits and residency visas in the UAE. Processing times have been reduced from nearly one month to just five days, marking a remarkable improvement. This integrated platform has also simplified the required documentation, reducing the number of documents from 16 to five. Additionally, the number of visits to service centers has been reduced from seven to just two. Work Bundle integrates procedures from several government entities, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre), Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Department of Economy and Tourism, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

Initially launched in Dubai, the platform will be expanded to other emirates in the future. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, highlighted the platform's role in simplifying residency and work permit procedures, aiming to save millions of working days previously spent on these processes. The platform is expected to reduce annual procedures by 25 million, leading to significant cost savings for both the government and private sectors. Work Bundle offers a single platform for completing various employment services, including renewal, cancellation, medical examination, and fingerprinting. It is currently available on the 'Invest in Dubai' website and mobile app, with plans to expand to other government digital platforms and the 'Work in UAE' website.

The platform is a part of the UAE's digital transformation efforts, aiming to streamline business establishment and management for private companies. It reduces procedures from 15 steps requiring 16 documents to just five steps and five documents. This reduction in paperwork and visits to government entities significantly cuts down waiting and processing time from 30 working days to just five. For employees abroad, the platform offers a simplified process for recruitment. Employers need to fill out a unified application and issue a work permit, after which the employee can proceed with residency procedures, including medical examination and Emirates ID card issuance. Renewal services follow a similar process, with the employer filling out the application and the employee completing the medical examination and Emirates ID issuance.