The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has become the first free zone in Dubai to implement the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai’s (DNRD) new establishment card system.

Developed by DNRD to create a comprehensive register of companies in Dubai, starting with the free zones, the Establishment Card System has many purposes, which include ensuring the compliance of companies with immigration rules and regulations.

The system makes it easier for the DNRD to monitor whether companies meet the necessary requirements for conducting business. The card also helps speed up immigration processing and creates standardised procedures that facilitate more accurate statistical reporting, said a DIFC official.

Marwan Lootah, chief corporate affairs officer, DIFC Authority said: "We are proud that DIFC is the first free zone to implement the new Establishment Card System. This reflects our commitment to the rules and regulations outlined by DNRD, which facilitate more streamlined operational processes and help us enhance the quality of services we provide to companies in DIFC."

"One of the most important features of the new card is that it mentions the name of the company next to the name of the free zone it is based in, thus simplifying the classification of companies and employees," he stated.

Major Khalifa Mutar Mubarak, assistant manager for External Centers Sector in DNRD, commented: "DNRD’s services are aimed at all sections of society and we work actively to expand our presence and enhance access to our services. This helps us raise the efficiency of our internal processes as well as our transactions with clients."

According to him, the new card system was conceived as an effective solution for classifying the increasing number of company registrations, especially in free zones.

He said that DNRD has always been keen to contribute to Dubai’s economic growth and its development as a destination for companies and investors. DNRD has opened branches in various free zones to provide a complete range of services in order to meet the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs.

Lootah said that the new card system helps in classifying employees according to the companies they work for, which allows official departments to contact them easily and quickly when needed.

Additionally, the system distinguishes employees that are sponsored by free zone authorities from the rest. Lootah thanked DNRD and officials of the DIFC Authority’s Corporate Affairs for their efforts to implement the new system.-TradeArabia News Service