The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) has announced the launch of the second edition of the "GDRFA Dubai Award for Scientific Research", positioning it as a forward-looking knowledge platform that brings together researchers, innovators and future-makers. The award aims to harness knowledge and scientific research to develop innovative scientific and applied solutions that enhance the efficiency of government services and sustain institutional excellence.
The award seeks to provide a stimulating environment for researchers and innovators by supporting scientific research and applied projects that deliver qualitative solutions with a lasting impact, raise institutional performance efficiency, improve service quality, and consolidate Dubai's and the United Arab Emirates' standing as a global hub for research, innovation and the creation of future solutions.
The award comprises 3 main categories: the Digital Innovation Award, which focuses on artificial intelligence, digital solutions and smart systems to advance digital transformation and operational efficiency.
The Leadership Research and Knowledge Management Award, which targets forward-looking leadership, competency development and the entrenchment of a culture of learning and knowledge innovation. Alongside these is the GDRFA Dubai Services Award, which supports research and applied projects aimed at improving the customer experience, empowering employees, and raising service efficiency and quality — contributing to the development of innovative solutions, enhancing institutional performance, and anticipating the future of government services.
To reinforce the award's leadership credentials and apply the highest standards of efficiency and integrity, its digital platform has been equipped with an Agentic AI engine, forming an intelligent ecosystem that supports the management of submissions and verifies their compliance with approved criteria, thereby enhancing the efficiency of evaluation processes and the quality of outputs.
His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, said that the GDRFA Dubai Award for Scientific Research represents a qualitative step in strengthening the knowledge and innovation ecosystem, and an embodiment of the belief that applied scientific research is one of the key enablers of government work development and the creation of future solutions capable of achieving real and sustainable impact.
He added: "Through this award, we seek to empower researchers and innovators, and provide a platform that supports the transformation of scientific ideas into practical applications that serve humanity, elevate service quality, and enhance institutions' readiness to anticipate the future — in keeping with Dubai's aspirations towards global leadership and government excellence."
GDRFA-Dubai invited researchers, academics and specialists to review the award's details and submit their entries through the dedicated online platform at https://researchaward.gdrfad.gov.ae, confirming that registration is open in accordance with approved guidelines. The award committee can also be reached by email for enquiries and additional information:
researchaward.gdrfad@dnrd.ae. The award is held in collaboration with a select group of academics, research centres and local and international academic institutions, strengthening integration between government, research and academic bodies to support the innovation ecosystem and knowledge production.