الإدارة العامة للإقامة وشؤون الأجانب

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GDRFA is Dubai's residency authority — the body that issues entry permits, residence visas, status changes, and related immigration services for Dubai-sponsored files, operating alongside the federal ICP, which handles the other emirates and the national identity system. The split matters operationally: where a company or sponsor is registered determines which authority processes the file, which portal or app is used, and which service centres (Amer centres in Dubai's case) handle the paperwork. GDRFA also runs Dubai's entry approvals, overstay and fine settlements, absconding-related immigration records, and border-crossing systems at Dubai's airports. Lawyers and PROs deal with GDRFA constantly: verifying visa and entry-permit status, lifting immigration holds, processing family sponsorships after divorce or death, urgent travel approvals, and regularisation files. Knowing whether a matter is a GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP (federal/other emirates) file is the first routing question in any UAE immigration issue.