Member News

United Arab Emirates
15 September 2021 - New Visa Categories Announced as Part of ‘Projects of the 50’ Initiative

As part of the ‘Projects of the 50’ initiative celebrating the UAE’s 50th year, the government of the UAE has announced new visa categories, including a federal visa for freelancers and a Green Visa. The new visa categories aim to bolster the UAE’s position as an ideal destination for work, investment, entrepreneurship, education, and life.
Green Visa is expected to be a self-sponsored visa granted to entrepreneurs, investors, highly skilled individuals, and top students and graduates. In addition to allowing the holder to sponsor certain dependents, including parents, a spouse, and un-married female children, the visa will also permit sponsorship of male children up to 25 years of age (up from 18 years of age). The visa duration is expected to be 5 years.
Freelance visa is expected to be granted to self-employed foreign nationals, or foreign nationals who own a business in the UAE or overseas, specializing in fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, or digital currency. When implemented, the freelance visa will be the first federal visa category to cater to such applicant profiles.

The implementation date for the new visa categories as well as further visa conditions and eligibility criteria have not yet been confirmed.

22 September 2021 - Private and Government Sector Partnership Program Announced to

Increase Emiratization

The government of the United Arab Emirates has announced the launch of a program called “Nafis” that aims to increase the participation of local talent in the private sector by
providing financial support to Emirati workers and their employers and by creating a range of educational and training initiatives available to job seekers.

Some of the key initiatives of the program include the government’s participation in the 

payment of salaries of certain Emirati workers, a five-year support plan for the pension
contribution through a rebate scheme and financial support in the case of an involuntary job loss.

It is expected that employers in the private sector will be required to increase the number of Emirati employees in their workforce to reach specific targets set by the relevant
government authorities. The initial target for employers is expected to be 10% of their
workforce for skilled occupations to be met in the first five years of the program.

Further details related to the program, including its implementation date, and to the
Emiratization targets are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Egypt
21 September 2021 - Admission Approvals for Entry to Egypt Resumed for Nationals of Select Countries

Effective immediately, the Ministry of Manpower have resumed the issuance of admission
approvals in the form of a security code, for entry to Egypt for nationals of India. The
issuance of approvals was suspended due to the spread of the Black Fungus disease in
August 2021. The suspension is still in place for nationals of Bangladesh.

Oman
27 September 2021 - Conditions for the Residence Visa Renewal Process Amended

Foreign nationals seeking to renew their residence visa for Oman (Residence Card) must ensure that they do so no later than 15 days before the expiry date of the visa, otherwise they risk being subject to delay fines. This comes after the latest amendment of the residency regulations which requires that the residence visa renewal process is initiated no later than 15 days before its expiry date. Individuals who fail to renew their visa within the prescribed deadline will be subject to delay fines.

29 September 2021 - Long-Term Residency Program for Foreign Investors Launched

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MCIIP) have launched the ‘Investment Residency Program’ which offers five- and 10-year renewable residence permits to investors in Oman.

Foreign nationals may obtain a 10-year investor residence permit if they meet one of the following general eligibility conditions:
• Investment of a minimum OMR 500,000 in a limited liability company, or in a closed joint-stock company, or in government bonds; or
• Establishment of a company that employs at least 50 Omani nationals (with no minimum investment threshold requirement); or
• Purchase of a property (or properties) with a value of no less than OMR 500,000.

Foreign nationals may obtain a five-year investor residence permit if they meet one of the following general eligibility conditions:
• Investment of a minimum OMR 250,000 in government bonds; or
• Purchase of a property (or properties) with a value of no less than OMR 250,000; or
• Retirement after being employed in Oman for a specific period and subject to having a fixed income (details of which have not been announced yet) and a permanent place of residence in Oman.

Additional details related to the visa application process, including government fees, documentary requirements, application timeframes and other conditions are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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