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To find an Amer center near you, use the list on this page: it holds all 85 Amer centers and the 9 GDRFA customer happiness centers in Dubai, taken from the GDRFA list checked . Every Amer center offers the same GDRFA residency services, so the nearest one with hours that suit you is usually the right choice.
An Amer center is a private company licensed by GDRFA Dubai to submit residency and immigration applications: entry permits, residence visa issue, renewal and cancellation, status change, visit visas, data amendments and fine payments. If you need to know what each service costs in government fees, see what Amer centers do.
Where the Amer centers are
The 85 Amer centers are spread unevenly. Older commercial districts have the most.
| Area | Amer centers |
|---|---|
| Deira (incl. Al Khabaisi, Al Muraqqabat, Naif) | 18 |
| Bur Dubai (incl. Al Mankhool, Oud Metha, Umm Hurair) | 13 |
| Al Qusais and Muhaisnah | 6 |
| Al Quoz | 5 |
| Jumeirah, Al Wasl, Al Bada'a, Umm Suqeim | 5 |
| Mirdif, Rashidiya, Al Mizhar, Nad Al Sheba | 5 |
| Al Karama | 4 |
| Hor Al Anz and Al Mamzar | 4 |
| Sheikh Zayed Road | 4 |
| International City, Warsan, Ras Al Khor | 4 |
| Al Garhoud and Terminal 3 | 3 |
| Jebel Ali, Dubai Marina, Dubai Investments Park | 3 |
| Al Barsha, Al Twar, Business Bay | 2 each |
| Al Nahda | 1 |
| Al Awir, Lisaili, Al Yalayis and other outer areas | 4 |
Source: GDRFA list of customer happiness centers, checked . GDRFA writes many locations as "Bur Dubai, X" or "Deira, X". That prefix is the old sector name, not the neighbourhood, so a center listed under Deira can sit in Oud Metha.
For a closer look at one district, open the area pages: Amer centers in Deira, Amer centers in Bur Dubai, Amer centers in Al Qusais or Amer centers in Karama.
The 9 GDRFA customer happiness centers
GDRFA runs these itself. Go here when an Amer center tells you a case needs GDRFA directly.
| Center | Location |
|---|---|
| GDRFA head office | Al Jafiliya, behind Jafiliya Police Station, Bur Dubai |
| Al Manara | Al Manara Municipality Building, Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Dubai International Financial Centre | Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Al Twar | Al Tawar Municipality New Building, Al Tawar 2 |
| Free Zone Section | Dubai Airport Free Zone, Al Tawar 2 |
| Airport Services Center | Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3 |
| Al Awir | Public Services Section, Al Awir |
| Lisaili | Lisaili |
| Hatta | Hatta |
All of them except the airport open Monday to Thursday 07:30 to 19:00, and Friday 07:30 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 19:00. The GDRFA list gives shorter Ramadan hours. The Terminal 3 center is open 24/7.
Amer center timings
GDRFA does not publish hours for Amer centers, and most centers do not put them online. Of the few that do:
- Arabian Business Centre in Bur Dubai lists Monday to Saturday 08:00 to 20:00, with a Friday break from 12:00 to 16:00.
- Falcon Vision in Al Khabaisi, Deira lists Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 20:00, Friday 08:00 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 20:00, and Saturday 08:00 to 17:00.
- Amer 24/7 in Al Khabaisi, Deira says it never closes. See Amer centers open 24 hours.
For any other center, check its own website or Google Maps listing on the day. GDRFA's own hours are shorter in Ramadan, and private centers may change theirs too.
How to pick the right center
- Closest is fine for routine work. Renewals, cancellations and entry permits are the same GDRFA service at every Amer center.
- Company visas: your employer may already file through one particular center. Ask HR or the company PRO before you go.
- Two departments in one trip: some operators run a Tasheel counter next to the Amer counter. That helps when a job change needs MOHRE work first. See Tasheel centers near you.
- Visas from other emirates: an Amer center in Dubai handles Dubai visas. A visa issued in Sharjah or Abu Dhabi goes through ICP.
What to bring to the Amer counter
- Passport of the person on the visa, and of the sponsor for family files
- Current visa or entry permit, and Emirates ID if issued
- White background photo
- Medical fitness result for residence visas (adults 18 and over)
- Tenancy contract or proof of housing for family sponsorship
- The MOHRE work permit cancellation, if you are cancelling an employee's residence
The center types the application, you pay the GDRFA fee plus its service charge, and you get an application number. Keep it for the GDRFA visa status check. The Amer visa application guide covers each step.
If you would rather not go yourself, the residence visa page explains how the partner team takes a file from typing to stamping, and visa renewal in Dubai covers renewals.
