A typing center near you in Dubai is only useful if it is licensed for your task. Visa and residency files go to one of the 85 Amer centers on the GDRFA list. Work permits and labour contracts go to one of the 82 Tasheel and 8 Tawjeeh centers on the MOHRE list. Ejari goes to one of 7 DLD trustee centers. Private typing shops now mostly fill in forms.
DubaiTypingCenters.com is an independent directory and guide. It is not a government website and it is not linked to any center. The center lists on this site come from the GDRFA, MOHRE and Dubai Land Department lists, checked .
Which center do you need?
| Your task | Go to | Works for |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit, residence visa, renewal, cancellation, status change | Amer center | GDRFA Dubai |
| A case an Amer center cannot close | GDRFA customer happiness center | GDRFA Dubai |
| Work permit, labour contract, establishment file | Tasheel center | MOHRE |
| Worker and employer guidance, contract briefing | Tawjeeh center | MOHRE |
| Maid, nanny or driver hiring and visa | Tadbeer (domestic workers center) | MOHRE |
| Emirates ID renewal or replacement | ICP online, or an ICP service center | ICP |
| Ejari registration, renewal, cancellation | DLD trustee center, or the Dubai REST app | Dubai Land Department |
| Medical test form, Emirates ID form, translation | Private typing center | Various |
If your task touches two departments, you visit two counters. A new private sector job, for example, starts with the work permit through MOHRE and then moves to GDRFA for the residence visa. Many companies run an Amer counter and a Tasheel counter in the same building, which saves a trip. Our Amer vs Tasheel vs typing center guide walks through the common cases one by one.
How many centers Dubai has
These counts come from the official lists, checked :
| Center type | Count in Dubai | List kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Amer centers | 85 | GDRFA |
| GDRFA customer happiness centers | 9 | GDRFA |
| Tasheel (business services centers) | 82 | MOHRE |
| Tawjeeh (guidance centers) | 8 | MOHRE |
| Domestic workers centers (Tadbeer) | 42 | MOHRE |
| Real estate services trustee centers (Ejari) | 7 | DLD |
GDRFA also lists 7 partner service points inside companies such as Emirates, flydubai and JAFZA. Those are not open to the public, so they are left out here. Private typing centers have no official list. This directory adds about 1,800 private typing and document clearing shops from the HiDubai business directory of Dubai Economy and Tourism and from Yellow Pages UAE, checked . They appear on the area pages with map links, and some listings may be out of date.
Why typing centers stopped doing visas
From , GDRFA stopped visa services at 261 typing centers in Dubai, as Khaleej Times reported. Amer centers took over that work. To stay licensed, centers had to meet rules on floor space per typist, equipment and bilingual staff. That is why a small shop that calls itself a typing center can help with a medical test form but cannot submit your residence visa. If a shop offers to handle a Dubai visa, ask which Amer center will actually file it.
How to find the nearest center
- Pick the center type from the table above.
- Open the directory page for that type, or the page for your area of Dubai.
- Check the address. MOHRE publishes no address for many Tasheel and Tawjeeh centers, so those appear without one.
- Tap Open in Google Maps for directions.
- Check the hours before you leave. Most centers do not publish them.
The largest clusters are in Deira, with 18 Amer centers, and Bur Dubai, with 13. Al Qusais, Al Quoz, Satwa and Mirdif have several each. Start with Amer centers near you or Tasheel centers near you.
How to pick a typing center
There is no single best typing center in Dubai. The right one is the one licensed for your job. Check that it appears on the official list for that job: GDRFA for an Amer center, MOHRE for a Tasheel or Tadbeer center, DLD for Ejari. The center lists on this site come from those lists. Match the authority to the file, because a shop that only types forms will pass a visa to an Amer counter anyway, and you pay twice. Look at the hours before you go, since most centers publish none, and call ahead if the trip is long. Finally, ask for the government fee and the center's own service charge on separate lines, and keep the receipt with the application number.
Opening hours and 24 hour options
GDRFA's own customer happiness centers open Monday to Thursday 07:30 to 19:00, and Friday 07:30 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 19:00. MOHRE publishes no hours for Tasheel, Tawjeeh or Tadbeer centers. Only two centers are confirmed open 24 hours: the GDRFA Airport Services Center at Terminal 3, and Amer 24/7 in Al Khabaisi, Deira. Details are on the 24 hour Amer centers page.
Practical tips before you go
- Carry your passport and visa copies on your phone and on paper. Counters often ask for a printout.
- Bring a recent white background photo. For an Emirates ID renewal, ICP asks for a photo that differs from the one on your current card.
- Check the spelling of your name against your passport on every typed form before you pay.
- Ask for the receipt and the application number. You need it for the visa status check.
- Typing and Amer charges are on top of government fees. Ask for both figures separately.
- If your visa has expired, check the overstay fine first. GDRFA counts the fine per day.
If you would rather not handle the file yourself, the residence visa page explains the routes and how the partner team takes a file from typing to Emirates ID.
