- Dubai launches Unified Health Screening for residency visas.
- Combines residency & occupational tests in one visit.
- Automatic permit issuance; available at 8+ centres now.
Dubai Health has launched a new digital service called Unified Health Screening, which mixes medical fitness tests for residence visas and occupational health checks into a single application. It is a city makers' project service (City Makers project was started in 2014 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum).
The service is a one, stop shop for the applicants to finish all required tests at one visit at the designated centres. When medical results are approved, the issuance of residency permits is made automatically, the separate applications are kept aside and there is less duplication.
The platform creation is a joint effort of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA, Dubai), Dubai Municipality, the Supreme Legislation Committee, and the Department of Finance. Through a single digital platform, applicants choose their profession, which dictates the applicable tests, connects government databases, and opens the way for secure, automated data exchange between different entities.
Key benefits include shorter processing times, standardized information sharing, improved compliance with occupational health and safety standards, enhanced preventive planning, and better emergency response readiness. The service supports Dubai’s Social Agenda 33 and Economic Agenda D33 by simplifying the customer journey and boosting government integration.
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From now on, it is available at Dubai Health medical fitness centres in Al Garhoud, Al Nahda, Al Karama, Al Yalayis, Bur Dubai, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Zabeel, and Smart Salem Centres. More centres will be included in the next phase to meet the increasing demand.
Dr Alawi Alsheikh, Ali, Director General of Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said, "This service enhances teamwork between the different government entities by providing a single digital channel that makes medical fitness examinations for residency and occupational health more efficient."
Speaking of the integrated model and automated data exchange for faster permit issuance, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri (GDRFA, Dubai) explained. Engineer Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita (Dubai Municipality) mentioned the better real, time access for inspections and preventive measures brought about by this initiative.
This step will greatly facilitate the process of obtaining a work and residency permit for various professionals in Dubai, which is in line with the emirates goal of delivering efficient and customer, centric government services.