The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners' Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) plays a key role in immigration, residency, and visa processing for both individuals and businesspersons. This is the authorised government entity aligned with overseeing visa as well as the residency services, while ensuring the smooth integration of visitors from around the world. The two main branches of GDRFA are the Awir immigration and the AL Jafiliya immigration, both offering different services like the visa stamping, residency permit updates, renewals, status changes, and more.
The visitors include residents who are visiting for renewals or updates related to their status, new arrivals needing to interact with GDRFA for visa issuance, or the sponsors handling family visas. The immigration office in Dubai location depends on where you live and what kind of services you are looking for. Whether you are moving ahead to Jafiliya immigration or the Awir, the guide below covers what visa services are offered, office location, and how to reach the immigration office.

AL Jafilia Immigration Office
Location And Contact
The AL Jafilia is the main branch of GDRFA and is centrally located for easy accessibility.
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Full Address: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street, behind Jafilia Police Station in Bur Dubai.
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Phone: The immigration office contact in Dubai is 8005111 (Toll-free and for enquiries inside the UAE) and +97143139999 (For enquiries from outside the UAE).
Office Timings
How To Reach
You can reach the Jafilia Dubai immigration office in the following ways: -
- By Metro: One of the convenient ways to reach this Dubai visa office is by metro. Take the red line to Jafiliya metro station, and then have a short walk to the office.
- By Bus: Various bus routes are there that run through the AL Jafiliya area, including route 21, 27, 29, 88, and X22.
- By Car: If you prefer a private vehicle, then you can travel directly to the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street by car and park your car in the nearby parking areas. There are paid parking zones, and the rate depends on the zone and duration.

Services Available
- Visa Stamping: Looking for the best Dubai visa stamping office, then the AL Jafilia is at the top. This service includes the process of officially subscribing a visa on a passport, while allowing legal entry and residency in the UAE.
- Residence Visa Renewal: These services are provided by the Jafilia immigration as they coordinate the issuance and renewal of residency permits. You can either visit the nearby Amer Centre, Dubai, or use the online platform for convenience.
- Visa Cancellation: You can request cancellation at AL Jafilia, as it offers these services for all the residence permits.
- Overstay Fine Payment: You can visit the Jafiliya immigration office to enquire about the overstay fines and pay all immigration related fines.
- Sponsorship/ Dependents Processing: At Jafiliya immigration, the sponsorship service is included specifically for family members of UAE residents.
Tips For Visitors
- The best time to visit the AL Jafilia immigration office is early morning or at weekends. During this time, the office is less crowded and you can easily access the services.
- Before visiting the immigration office, ensure that you have documents ready with you with accurate details. You should have documents like a valid passport, hotel bookings, confirmed flight return tickets, and more.
- It will be beneficial for you to use the online portal, like Amer, for services like fine inquiry and request status checks to save time.
AL Awir Immigration Office
Location And Contact
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Full Address: The AL Awir immigration location is 83, Dubai Hatta Road, AL Rowaiyah 3, Dubai.
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Phone: 8005111 (Toll Free Number) and +9718005111
Office Timings
How To Reach
You can reach the AL Awir immigration location through various transportation options, and below is the list: -
- By Bus: You can take a bus from the stadium Metro bus stop 1 to the Central Point Metro Bus station. From here, there is approximately a 45-minute distance to reach AL Awir Immigration by bus.
- By Subway: From the central Dubai locations, take the subway (Metro) to the Central Point Metro station, which further transfers to the RTA Bus 11 to reach the immigration office.
- By Taxi: This is a convenient transportation option, as you can hire a taxi from the stadium Metro station 1 to the AL Awir immigration option.
Services Available
- Visa Renewal: The Awir immigration office offers a visa renewal service for extending the validity of your UAE residency visa. You just need to provide certain documents in the office, including a valid passport, photograph, medical certificate if applicable and Emirates ID.
- Cancellation: If you are leaving a job or leaving the country, you can request cancellation, which will be processed before the new visa is issued.
- New Entry Stamping: This service applies to individuals who are entering the UAE on a new residency visa. Once your Emirates ID application is accepted, the AL Awir will provide you with the residency visa, which will be stamped in your passport.
- Overstay and Fine payments: If you have overstayed in the country crossing the visa validity or there are delayed renewals, you can make a payment at the AL Awir immigration office, and the staff will help you if you have any queries related to the calculation of the amount due.
Tips For Visitors
- Before reaching the AL Awir immigration office, you must confirm the operating hours and plan your transportation accordingly.
- Carry all the necessary documents, including your passport with a validity of at least 6 months, a recent passport-sized photograph, and any additional supporting documents such as hotel booking slips or relevant evidence.
- If you face any penalties or fines, inquire about the amount and resolve them to avoid legal issues.
Final Tips and Checklist
- The Dubai immigration offices are government-authorised, so when reaching them, you must dress modestly and show respect. To make a good impression, avoid wearing casual clothes and comply with the rules.
- The immigration offices do not accept cash payments, so ensure that you make the payment through a card. You must have a debit or credit card with you, whether you need to pay the fees or the fines.
- The ideal time to visit the office is early mornings, as there are fewer crowds and you don’t have to wait for a long time.
- Bring all the official documents with you, including a copy of your passport, an Emirates ID, photograph, as these documents are checked for identification.