VFS Global officially inaugurated its newly relocated Abu Dhabi Joint Visa Application Centre at a more comfortable and premium location, in the presence of officials from the respective Governments and Embassies served.

The new centre is situated at Level B2 (Lower Ground), The Mall, World Trade Centre, Khalifa Bin Zayed the 1st Street (Airport Road), Abu Dhabi. Spacious, in close proximity to the business and residential area, with high security control and ample parking space, the location of the new Joint Visa Application Centre offers applicants a hassle-free experience while submitting their applications.

Spread across 24,000-sq-ft, the new centre serves 28 client governments and is expected to process over 100,000 visa applications annually. The centre is equipped with 72 application submission counters and can accommodate up to 1,500 applicants a day. For customers seeking luxury and convenience, the Abu Dhabi centre offers 24 submission counters in its Premium Lounges and is one of a handful of VFS Global centres around the world that also offers a Platinum Lounge. Customers can relax in the tranquil and modern Platinum Lounge while VFS Global customer service representatives take care of the entire application process. The Platinum Lounge service includes everything from a personalised chauffeur service to and from the Visa Application Centre, to assistance with the completion of the application form and payment.

The new centre is dedicated to the deeply cherished memory of the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Former Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Founding Father of the UAE. Made of steel with a bronze layer and on a wooden base, created by Indian artist Arzan Khambatta, the magnificent 7-foot-tall statue was unveiled and established at the centre during the official inauguration ceremony held on October 13.

The official inauguration ceremony was attended by representative officials from countries VFS Global serves at the new visa application centre.

Representing the UAE government and having unveiled the statue of His Highness Sheikh Zayed – Dr Ahmed Al Banna, ambassador of the UAE to India said: “Emiratis and others living in Abu Dhabi have a strong desire for travel abroad, which is illustrated through the sheer volume of visa applications processed by VFS Global in the emirate over recent years. The launch of the new centre in the capital will play a vital role in the expansion of the city while paying homage to the gracious deeds and visions outlined by the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi is thrilled to welcome the seamless and automated VAC experience that this centre will deliver to travellers from Abu Dhabi.”

From this centre, applicants can apply for visas to Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, UK and Ukraine.

The Abu Dhabi centre accounted for over 80,000 visa applications in 2018. Between January and June of 2019, the Abu Dhabi centre processed over 65,800 visa applications, which is a significant growth of 13 per cent in comparison to the applications processed during the same period in 2018. In 2018, globally, VFS Global processed 26.7 million applications.

Commenting on the launch of the new centre, Vinay Malhotra, regional group COO for Middle East, South Asia & China, VFS Global, said: “As the world’s largest visa outsourcing and technology specialist, VFS Global is committed to innovating solutions and services that deliver the best results for citizens and client governments that we serve in the UAE. The launch of the new Abu Dhabi centre, which is one of the biggest in the region, reflects our vision to provide world-class facilities to match the UAE capital’s strong demand for best-in-class visa application services, and we are proud to be innovating in line with the heritage and values bestowed upon us by the esteemed UAE leadership.”

Key features of the centre include:
• Platinum and Premium Lounge facilities with personalised service by dedicated staff.
• Doorstep delivery of passports.
• SMS notifications on application status.
• Online tracking of application status.
• Dedicated website for easy access to end-to-end information including visa categories, requirements, document checklists and applicable fees.
• Dedicated contact centre and email support to answer queries and track application status.
• Extended operating hours enabling visitors to submit applications at their time of convenience. - TradeArabia News Service