UAE Shuts Down Reports of ‘Lifetime Visas’

The UAE authorities has shut down experiences that the nation is providing lifetime visas and permitting workplaces abroad to course of golden visa functions from outdoors the UAE.

The clarification got here shortly after visa and immigration companies firm, VFS World, launched an announcement on July 7 stating that it had opened UAE golden visa “advisory workplaces” in Bangladesh and India, in partnership with one other immigration companies firm referred to as Rayad Group.

The discharge linked to a web site for making use of to its companies from India and Bangladesh, which has since been eliminated. Skift couldn’t attain anybody on the helpline quantity supplied for the service.

Rayad Group and VFS World didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. 

The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identification, Citizenship, Customs and Port Safety (ICP) issued an announcement through the UAE’s state information saying no abroad workplace can be utilized to acquire a golden visa. 

“All Golden Visa functions are dealt with completely by means of official authorities channels throughout the UAE, and that no inside or exterior consultancy entity is recognised as an authorised social gathering within the software course of,” stated the authority.

The authority added that the UAE has no lifetime visa in place, a rumor which stemmed from a July 6 story by the Press Belief of India claiming residents from India and Bangladesh may very well be nominated for a golden visa and, upon paying 100,000 Emirati Dirham (roughly $27,000), obtain a lifetime residency for themselves and their households. PTI reported that Rayad Group and VFS had been chosen to vet the candidates for these lifetime visas after which ahead them to the UAE authorities.  

“[The authority] has denied the accuracy of rumours circulated by some native and worldwide media retailers and web sites concerning the United Arab Emirates granting lifetime Golden Visas to sure nationalities,” stated the ICP. 

Who Can Get a Golden Visa?

Golden visas are issued for 5 or 10 years and are renewable. For these with out golden visas, residency within the UAE is often tied to employers: In the event you have been to lose your job, you could discover a new one or depart the nation.

Golden visas can be found for a spread of people with a spread of professions, together with inventors, doctorate holders, and specialists in science and engineering. Nevertheless, the most typical path stays monetary: a minimal funding of two million Emirati Dirhams (roughly $545,000) in actual property or enterprise.

In keeping with Henley & Companions’ Personal Wealth Migration Report 2025, the UAE is about to herald 9,800 new millionaires this yr — probably the most of any nation. Mixed, they’re anticipated to herald $63 billion in wealth.

Dubai Needs Rich Vacationers to Relocate 

Earlier this yr, the UAE renamed its Ministry of Economic system to the Ministry of Economic system and Tourism.

Tourism stays on the coronary heart of the UAE’s development engine. In 2024, the sector contributed 257.3 billion Emirati Dirhams (round $70 billion) to the financial system and supported 898,600 jobs, based on the World Journey & Tourism Council. That’s practically one in eight jobs nationwide.

In 2023, Dubai Tourism introduced its new plan to transform vacationers into residents.

Talking at a metropolis briefing held at Dubai World Commerce Centre in June that yr, Dubai Tourism CEO Issam Kazim stated, “As we speak we now have two new KPIs. We need to be sure Dubai continues to be among the best cities to work in, and extra importantly, among the best cities on the planet to dwell in.”

Round 1 / 4 of all Dubai vacationers return inside a yr. Kazim stated convincing these individuals to make Dubai a everlasting residence is vital.

“When you carry them in, you’d hope they spend extra money subsequent time and keep for longer. Finally, they might take into account residing in Dubai, and we now have all of the visas to facilitate that. We’d like them to work right here, dwell right here and retire right here. It’s all about closing the loop,” Kazim stated.