DNRD operations ramped-up for delegates

The meeting was held in the Al Wasl Hall of the Dubai International Convention Centre. They discussed preparations and procedures for the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund.

The meeting was attended by Colonel Saeed Mattar Bin Bilailah, the Director of DNRD, and Member of the Dubai 2003 Organising Committee, Major Jassim Ali Abdul Ghafour, Assistant Director of the Executive Office, DNRD, and General Coordinator of DNRD Operations Centre in DICC, as well as officers from the other Emirates, and DNRD officials from Airports and Ports.

Major Al Moheiri said, "We have to ensure that we provide the absolute best service to all visiting delegates, businesspersons, media professionals and representatives of the various communities who will be in Dubai for the Annual Meetings. The ISO 9001:2000 certification is a great example of what we can achieve, with extra effort and cooperation."

"The hospitality and welcome we offer at our ports and airports should leave no room for doubt in all minds that we are a highly developed country. For this, coordination among all officials and between the operations centres must be exemplary. The special team working at the Dubai 2003 offices should be complimented for their excellent work. First impressions are important, and we will be ready to welcome all, efficiently and accurately", he added.

Colonel Bin Bilailah presented a message from HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Finance and Industry, and Chairman of Dubai 2003. He exhorted the Departments of Naturalisation and Residency to provide the very best to all visiting delegates, and to extend every benefit to them.

Major Jassim Ali Abdul Ghafour made a presentation that outlined the procedures that have been followed in issuing 2338 visas to date, for delegates attending the Annual Meetings. "These visas have been issued against applications that we received through the Joint Secretariat of the World Bank and IMF, and through the Dubai 2003 website. These visas have been issued in the new Operations Centre set up in the office towers of the DICC, which is linked electronically to the main DNRD offices. These visas, through these processes, are issued in just a matter of hours."

"What is even more impressive is the facility we have at the airport for people who have just flown in without a visa. As long as they are official delegates, they can be issued a visa at the airport or port of entry in just a matter of minutes. The Operations Centre works 24 hours a day now, just for situations like this", he added.

The DNRD Operations Centre in the DICC, for their efficient response time and the precision of execution, has earned the coveted ISO 9001:2000 certification. The appraisal was conducted by Lloyd's, and the award has been a source of motivation to all Naturalisation and Residency staff to put in their best.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. The UAE and Dubai were selected because of their highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.