UAE unveils ‘Work Bundle’ initiative to streamline residency and employment procedures

In a landmark move, the UAE has launched the “Work Bundle” to facilitate employee residency procedures and work permits in private sector companies. The first phase of the initiative is planned to be implemented in Dubai and gradually expanded into other emirates.

Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, highlighted the recent introduction of the ‘Zero Bureaucracy’ initiative, aimed at streamlining procedures and enhancing efficiency within the federal government.

The ‘Work Bundle’ supports the ‘Zero Bureaucracy’ programme that seeks to simplify and reduce government processes and eliminate unnecessary requirements. This enhances levels of efficiency, quality and flexibility in the Emirates, reported the Emirates News Agency.

‘Work Bundle’ part of UAE digital transformation efforts

Thanking all federal and local entities for their invaluable collaboration, His Highness said the latest project is expected to curtail 25 million procedures annually, thereby yielding substantial savings for both the government and private sectors.

Supported by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and by Digital Dubai, the initiative offers a single platform to complete employment services including renewal, cancellation, medical examination and fingerprinting.

The ‘Work Bundle’ is a significant part of the UAE digital transformation efforts, contributing to improving the country’s competitiveness in global indicators related to the ease of establishing and managing businesses for private sector companies.

It also improves the customer experience by offering a single platform instead of 5, reducing procedures from 8 services to a unified single platform, and cutting the number of required steps and documents to 5 steps and 5 documents from 15 and 16.

‘Work Bundle’ estimated to cut 12.5 million annual visits

The project has been able to reduce the number of visits from 7 to just 2. This in turn reflected on the time taken to complete the transaction, also reduced from 30 working days to 5. It is estimated to cut 25 million procedures, 12.5 million visits and 62.5 million working days.

Steps for hiring an employee from outside the country include filling out the unified application, issuing a work permit for the employee, and completion of residence procedures such as medical examination and issuance of the Emirates ID card.

Residence procedures require employee’s presence. For renewal services, the owner of the company needs to fill out the unified application and the employee can then complete the medical examination to get issued an Emirates ID card.