Feel at home with visa reforms

Feel at home in the UAE. That’s the message being sent out by the leadership that is introducing changes to the visa system. The first batch of reforms will be rolled out on Sunday and families and tourists will benefit from the changes. In short, the UAE wants to become a more family-friendly destination while continuing to attract the best talent. In the past, expats came to the country seeking employment while leaving their families behind and dealing with the pangs of separation. The revised system ensures that couples and children stay together and enjoy the fruits of their labour and educational skills. These changes have been possible as the UAE has made rapid strides economically. From an oil and trading destination, it has grown and expanded into a banking, aviation, shipping and a logistics powerhouse, straddling the best of both worlds in such a short span of time. Now, it’s engaged in making a mark in education, R&D, clean energy, and technology.

With the education, health and infrastructure sectors at an advanced stage, the leadership believes it is time to expand horizons to ensure those with the right skills stay on. In a sense, the country is investing in the human potential. What this system offers is a fair playing field — both for individuals and businesses. Long-term visas were a step in the right direction. Technology entrepreneurs, high-end investors and specialists would be eligible for the 10-year visa by the end of the year. Why now? The country’s development has reached a stage of maturity from where it can focus on future industry. It needs specialists for this purpose, and these goals can be better achieved with families involved. The economy benefits as expats spend more in the UAE rather than remitting money to their home countries. With education getting a boost, expat students have higher learning opportunities, and the healthcare sector is in fine fettle. What more can the tech generation aspire for?