UAE ten year residency visa for expat professionals seen as positive move

With all the changes to visa regulations in the UAE, expat professionals could be forgiven for their feelings of confusion.

Rule changes such as the IAE's recent introduction of a full ten year residence visa for expats with high levels of special skills as well as for investors should have the effect of creating more confidence in the region as a semi-permanent home for exceptional business talent. Increased consumer spending and use of savings products should also bring results, especially in the long-term, and other visa changes such as an extra year’s residency period extension for widows, female divorcees and their children are also being seen as positive moves. Another new rule allows recent dependent graduates from UAE universities to stay on for a full year after qualifying.

For those used to the seemingly never-ending attacks on expat professionals by certain members of the Kuwaiti parliament, the loosening of visa rules may come as a surprise, even although it results in a more secure future for expats who’ve chosen the Gulf region for their career pathway. One UAE lawyer sees the reforms as an indication the government is losing its anti-foreigner stance in favour of the benefits a dedicated expatriate community can provide both to local as well as international businesses in the region.
Highly-skilled professionals, he says, will be reassured by the changes and more willing to invest their savings as well as their talent in boosting the region’s economy.

At the same time, Kuwait’s controversial five-year residency scheme is under fire by both expats and Kuwaitis, all of whom believe it will only benefit visa traders in that it gives them an opportunity to extend their activities. Expats also believe the rule will discourage experienced professionals from transferring to the emirate as the time period is too short. Local employers are unilaterally criticising the scheme, saying it’s sure to have an adverse effect on the quality and experience of those applying for positions.