Global researchers and institutions have until October 15 to submit projects across artificial intelligence, residency operations, and public management.
DUBAI, Sept 18 : The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai has opened entries for the second edition of the GDRFA Dubai Scientific Research Award, inviting researchers, academics, and institutions worldwide to submit data-driven solutions aimed at transforming government operations.
Submissions close on October 15, 2026. The competition is open to individual researchers as well as public, semi-government, private, and academic institutions based both in the United Arab Emirates and abroad.
The award scheme seeks to identify high-grade academic and technical research that can transition directly into functional, real-world applications within border control, customer service, and immigration management.
Organizers established three primary competition tracks for the second cycle:
- Digital Innovation Award: Focuses on artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, smart automation, electronics, and scalable software platforms designed to optimize operational efficiency and elevate public digital services.
- Dubai Residency Services Award: Targets specialized operational models, immigration service delivery enhancements, identity verification systems, and customer journey improvements.
- Leadership and Knowledge Management Award: Covers organizational development, strategic agility, human capital management, and institutional knowledge preservation.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, highlighted that the department treats scientific inquiry not merely as an academic exercise, but as a practical mechanism to address administrative challenges and extract actionable intelligence.
The primary objective remains the integration of verified research outputs into core government workflows, ensuring administrative policies and institutional upgrades stem from empirical evidence, Al Marri said in an official briefing.
Eligible participants can register through the dedicated portal linked via GDRFA Dubai’s official digital channels or by scanning the registration QR codes published in the scheme’s official program guide. The submission portal details technical evaluation matrices, eligibility conditions, and submission guidelines.
Entries, research proposals, and inquiries regarding compliance standards can be submitted to the organizing committee via researchaward.gdrfad@dnrd.ae ahead of the October 15 deadline.
