The UAE Government has adopted a range of new rules covering everything from illegal immigrants to transit passengers to foreign workers’ insurance in the private sector as it seeks to bolster its flagging economy.
From Q4 2018, a six month visa will be introduced for job seekers which takes away the requirement to leave the country just to re-enter it in order to extend a visa. The fee is not confirmed but is said to be minimal.
The announcement also covered transit visas which are now free for up to 48 hours and can be extended for a further 96 hours for AED50 (£10, $13, €11).
Illegal immigrants will also be able to leave without penalty with a stamp barring re-entry for two years if they do so voluntarily and pay for their flight.
The government has also tweeted a video of the process aimed at Indian visitors outlining the process for this group.
Currently, citizens of 47 countries apart from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, can get a UAE visa on arrival.
Opening up
On 22 May, the UAE cabinet decided to implement a resolution by the end of the year that will allow investors, innovators and talented specialists in the medical, scientific, research and technical fields to say in the country for up to 10 years.
The cabinet also authorised a study to be released in Q3 2018 that will set out further detail of how the long-term visas will be implemented.
Further, the cabinet said that a law that will allow 100% ownership foreign ownership of companies would be ready by the end of the year.
