Dubai Tourism signs agreement with GDRFA to collaborate on residency permits, special visas

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) signed a strategic partnership agreement on Tuesday, January 12.

It aims to promote online services to facilitate the issuance of residency permits for investor programmes and the grant of special visas. These include the Distinguished Guests and the Virtual Working programmes, Golden Visas for investors and retirement visa too.

The agreement will also facilitate the application assessment procedures, noted a statement issued by Dubai Media Office.

.@GDRFADUBAI and @DubaiTourism sign a strategic partnership agreement to enhance cooperation and promote online services and platforms designed to facilitate processes for the issuance of residency permits for various investor programmes and special visashttps://t.co/vszMMf5RAj pic.twitter.com/t0YpmihRhe

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 13, 2021

The two departments will also work closely to market these residency programmes, and will provide information and services necessary to issue the residency permits and visas.

Cruise ships and yachts are also covered by this agreement which facilitates entry and exit procedures for crews and passengers.

The agreement also allows for the training of employees under jointly organised annual training programmes. Every year, Dubai Tourism will also offer two GDRFA employees the opportunity to join a Diploma programme offered by the Dubai College of Tourism free of charge.

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general, GDRFA – Dubai, said: “This agreement further enhances the existing strategic relations between GDRFA-Dubai and Dubai Tourism and our efforts to support Dubai’s role regionally and internationally and enhance its image as the preferred tourism and global investment destination.”

Read: UAE expands eligibility for golden residency visas – new categories revealed

In November, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the decision to expand the categories of eligible individuals for the 10-year, golden residency visa. The new categories now include: PhD holders, doctors, engineers in the fields of computer engineering, electronics, programming, electricity and biotechnology as well as graduates from accredited universities with a GPA of 3.8 or more.

Read: Dubai introduces five-year renewable Retirement Visa for those aged 55 and over

In September, the Dubai Government launched a new five-year renewable Retirement Visa that allows resident expatriates and foreigners aged 55 and over to live within the emirate. Retirees are eligible for the visa provided they either earn a monthly income of at least Dhs20,000 ($5,500), or have savings of Dhs1m ($275,000) or own a property in Dubai worth Dhs2m ($550,000).

Read: Dubai launches new residency programme for overseas remote working professionals

In October, the emirate also launched a new residency programme which allows overseas remote working professionals to relocate and live in the Dubai – along with their families – while continuing to work remotely for their overseas employer.