Dubai to issue Golden Visas to imams, muezzins and muftis

The Dubai government has issued a decision to grant Golden Visa residency to imams, muezzins, muftis and Muslim preachers, scholars and researchers, who have worked in the city for more than 20 years.

The decision to extend the eligible candidates for the long-term visa was issued by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

The latest inclusion was made in recognition of eligible candidates’ efforts and societal role in promoting sound religious teachings and positive values and morals.

Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed said they will also receive a ‘financial honour’, in appreciation of their efforts in promoting religion, safeguarding public morals, and helping spread the values ​​of tolerance that characterise the UAE.

بتوجيهات محمد بن راشد وقبيل حلول عيد الفطر، حمدان بن محمد يُصدر قراراً بمنح الإقامة الذهبية لأئمة المساجد والخطباء والمؤذنين والوعاظ والمفتين والباحثين الدينيين ممن أكملوا 20 عاماً على رأس عملهم في #دبي، إضافة إلى مكرمة مالية بمناسبة العيد.

(صورة أرشيفية)https://t.co/P8pNkzIcG4 pic.twitter.com/8eFOherKRJ

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 15, 2023

The UAE Golden Visa is a highly sought-after long-term visa that was introduced in 2021 to attract and retain foreign talent while granting foreigners the opportunity to live work and study in the country without the need for sponsorship.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai said in November 2022 that the number of Golden Visas that were issued between 2019 and 2022 reached 151,666, reinforcing the UAE’s status as an ideal destination to live, work and invest.

The announcement comes shortly before Eid Al Fitr, an occasion celebrated by Muslims worldwide as it marks the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Read: UAE announces Eid Al Fitr holidays for public, private sectors

Golden Visa entry fees

Meanwhile, the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Nationality, Customs and Port Security (UAE ICP) revised the entry permit fees for foreigners applying for a 10-year Golden Visa earlier in April.

The authority increased the cost of the six-month entry permit to Dhs1,250, which includes a variety of charges including Dhs1,000 for issuance, Dhs100 for the application, Dhs100 for smart services, Dhs28 for e-services and Dhs22 for Federal Authority fees.

Read: UAE announces new entry permit fees for Golden Visa

The long-term visa is given to several categories of people including talents such as scientists and specialists, investors in public investments, real estate investors, entrepreneurs, top high school achievers and graduates of accredited universities in the UAE and from foreign institutions.

It also allows foreigners to sponsor family members, regardless of their ages and there is no restriction related to the maximum duration of stay outside the UAE.

The minimum monthly income required to get a ‘Golden Visa’ was recently reduced from Dhs50,000 to Dhs30,000, expanding eligibility to many more skilled professionals in fields such as medicine, sciences, engineering, information technology, business administration, education, law, culture and social sciences.

The UAE ICP recently unveiled the ‘One Touch Golden Visa service’, a new comprehensive service that is aimed at simplifying the application and renewal process for a golden residency visa. The platform is aimed at assisting applicants with their visa applications, issuance of other visas, status regularisation as well as the issuance of residency and identity documents – with the added convenience of renewing all of these in a single step.

The authority called on customers and those wishing to obtain the golden residency to benefit from this service by visiting the authority’s website www.icp.gov.ae or the smart application UAEICP to obtain the golden package.

The ‘one-touch’ platform compliments the UAE government’s digital transformation and it unifies all visa services through integrated packages.

The Golden Visa is distinctive as its scheme differs depending on the beneficiary. For instance, real estate investors can obtain the Golden Visa if they purchase a property of at least Dhs2m while entrepreneurs can get the visa if they own or partner in a revenue-generating start-up registered in the country.