Dubai: Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFAD) has announced that the upcoming “International Conference on Policymaking: The Future of Ports will focus on discussing the most effective international approaches to border management.
The event, scheduled for September 19, 2023, at the Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai, seeks to exchange ideas and experiences among its distinguished assembly of decision-makers, researchers, and experts from across the globe. The conference’s primary objective is to formulate proactive policies that can effectively address forthcoming challenges.
A related press briefing was attended by several officials from the GDRFAD in Dubai, including Major General Obaid Muhair bin Surour, Deputy Director-General; Major General Talal Ahmed Abdul Qadir Al Shanqeeti, Assistant Director-General for the Airports Sector; Major General Dr. Ali bin Ajif Al Zaabi, Assistant Director-General for Governance and Regulatory Control; Brigadier Khalaf Al Ghaith, Assistant Director-General for Entry and Residence Permits; and Dr. Hanan Al Marzouki, Director of Institutional Governance and Compliance Management.
Major General Obaid bin Surour explained that the conference will be held under the theme “Proactive Government in Collaboration with the Dubai Executive Council, adding that the global travel industry is anticipating a resurgence, with expectations of 19 billion international travelers by 2040.
Major General Al Shanqeeti remarked how the digital government’s security and facilitation system has helped Dubai Airport welcome over 26 million travelers in the first half of this year, stressing the need to improve the country’s land, air, and sea entry points.
Dr. Al Zaabi noted that the conference’s goal is to address the challenges related to handling a rising number of travelers, noting that it aims to increase competitiveness and align with the state’s vision, especially in proactively supporting Dubai’s economic agenda. Brigadier Al Ghaith said the GDRFAD works under a forward-looking strategic system, noting that the country issued more than 11.3 million residency permits and entry visas in 2022.