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Dubai Immigration Authority Secures Global 7-Star Rating for Future Planning

Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs has been awarded a 7-star rating in future planning by the Global Innovation Institute. The assessment cited technological initiatives including airport immigration processing reduced to 3.4 seconds and an AI-driven migration forecasting system.

Published Source: Gulf News
Issuing authority
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs
Jurisdiction
United Arab Emirates
Publication date
November 13, 2026
Official document
Future Shaping Maturity Assessment
Official source
gulfnews.com
Photo: Gulf News

Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) has become the world's first immigration and residency authority to receive a 7-star rating in future planning from the Global Innovation Institute (GInI), Gulf News reported.

The rating was granted under the institute's Future Shaping Maturity Assessment, which evaluated the authority's institutional governance and integration of advanced technologies. The assessment cited GDRFA's 'Red Carpet' initiative, which has lowered airport passenger immigration clearance times to 3.4 seconds.

GInI's evaluation also highlighted 'Future Radar', an artificial intelligence platform implemented by the directorate to forecast international migration patterns and adjust residency operations. The milestone aligns with targets established under the UAE Centennial 2071 and the Dubai Government digital service roadmap.

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