GDRFA launches virtual Happiness Exhibition to enhance employee happiness

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai launched the Ramadan Happiness virtual exhibition - the first of its kind for offers and discount programs - in line with the UAE government’s directions on precautionary measures to face the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 crisis. The launch of the exhibition was witnessed by Major General Ahmad Al Marri, Director, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai; Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy Director, GDRFA in Dubai; and Major Brigadier Awad Al Awaim, Director-General Assistant of Human Resources and Finance Sector at GDRFA Dubai; Brigadier General Hussein Ibrahim, Assistant Director General of the Institutional Support Sector, and a number of other staff members and officials. H.E. Major General Ahmad Al Marri said: “With an aim to maintain the happiness levels of GDRFA employees and holders of the Happiness Card, which now has more than 47,000 employees and beneficiaries, we were keen to implement a smart idea that keeps pace with the challenge facing the world today.” He underlined that the UAE’s wise leadership continues to encourage all departments and organizations to develop strategies that contribute to supporting and enhancing the development strategy pursued by the country. Al Marri further praised the efforts of the Happiness Card team in finding smart solutions to implement activities that enhance the happiness of employees, which is one of the principles followed by GDRFA. He explained that the Directorate is keen to ensure that happiness is linked to the policies, programs, initiatives and services that will bring joy and happiness to employees and their families. Major Brigadier Awad Al Awaim, Assistant General Director of Human Resources and Finance Sector at GDRFA Dubai, indicated that organizing the exhibition virtually keeps pace with the government's directives regarding precautionary and preventive measures. It further supports the ongoing smart transformation of the government, in addition to encouraging employees who own small and medium enterprises, and employees and their relatives and enhance the confidence of Happiness Card partners. Maryam Al Maleh, Acting Head of the Happiness and Positivity Department and the representative of the Happiness Card, explained that Ramadan Happiness Exhibition was launched with the support of the wise leadership in facing the health crisis the world is navigating. She noted that GDRFA has been continuously implementing exhibitions and events to make its employees happy, particularly on occasions such as the Happiness Day and Eid al-Fitr. She expressed her happiness with the support extended by the senior leadership in activating the efforts of all administration departments in facilitating remote work. Al Maleh indicated that the first virtual exhibition of its kind, organized by the Happiness Card team in the Human and Financial Resources sector, will be held over a period of five days. It offers exclusive discounts ranging from 20% to 70% for Happiness Card holders for purchases from 32 shops and a number of projects for Dubai residency employees as of May 11. She explained that the sectors participating in the exhibition include men's and women's clothing stores, perfumes, sweets and other general stores that offer Eid supplies and other necessities until May 15. The Head of the Department of Happiness at GDRFA also explained that online purchases can be done via 3 channels, namely the websites of the participating shops, which requires entering the discount code listed on the Kafaati platform and the Instagram accounts of the participating stores. The Happiness card, which was launched in 2018 as one of GDRFA initiative to ensure the happiness of its employees, benefits more than 5,000 employees of the Directorate and more than 40,000 beneficiaries from among their first-degree relatives (husband, wife, father, mother, and children over the age of 18). It was also granted to all retirees of GDRFA and 300 beneficiaries and employees of a number of government departments.