DUBAI // Jebel Ali Free Zone is to become more consumer friendly, thanks to the launch of an app this month.
The app, which will be available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry platforms, will let customers initiate interactions with Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) for official letters, visa applications and licence renewals.
It will also make use of smartphone cameras, allowing users to scan documents and submit them without the need for a traditional scanner and computer.
This will allow users to complete their paperwork without the need to visit a Jafza Customer Service Centre.
It is part of wider plans for the country to transition to “smart” government and make greater use of mobile devices to interact with authorities and locally based companies.
“In the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, we are now relocating our customer service centres to every customer’s mobile device, for them to obtain our services anywhere, at any time,” said Salma Ali Saif bin Hareb, chief executive of Economic Zones World, the parent company of Jafza.
“We have ensured our full readiness to adopt the smart government culture and practices by first embracing this approach internally, through promoting, inculcating and implementing the Smart Government culture and processes among our employees and across all departments,” he said.
The app also includes sections on news and information, a company setup guide, an overview of Jafza and an inquiry form - the latter of which puts the user directly in touch with Jafza sales teams.
It is currently pending approval in Apple, Google Play and Blackberry World stores and is expected to be available for download from the third week of October.
ksinclair@thenational.ae
