The UAE official website states that the Golden Visa is the new system implemented in 2019 by the country’s government to enable foreigners to live, work and study in the UAE without the need of a national sponsor and own their business fully on the UAE’s mainland. The visas are issued for the duration of 5 to 10 years and will be renewed automatically. The Golden visas are granted to i) investors, ii) entrepreneurs, iii) specialized talents and researchers in various fields of science and knowledge, and iv) bright students with promising scientific capabilities.
The criterion for eligibility depends on the duration of the Visa. An investor seeking the10-year Visa should have a deposit of at least 10 million AED in an investment fund inside the country. The other forms of investment include establishing a company in the UAE, partnering in an existing or a new company with a share value of not less than 10 million AED. However, at least 60 percent of the total investment must not be in the form of real estate and the invested amount must not be loaned.
The long-term Visa also extends to the holder’s spouse and children. The five-year Visa norms are also similar to that of ten-year except for the difference in the amount of investment. The scheme is being availed by a large number of Indians, out of which many belong to the NRI community. Let us take a glimpse at some of the NRIs, who have been recognized by the UAE government for their merits and meticulous efforts in various fields.
TASNEEM ASLAM
The Indian student received the UAE’s 10-year Golden Visa for an excellent academic record. Hailing from Kerala’s southernmost state, Alappuzha, Tasneem studied Islamic Sharia from Al Qasimia University in Sharjah and topped her class with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.94 on 4. The UAE government has recognized her meritorious academic credentials to extend her a 10-year-old Golden Visa, which is mostly given to distinguished personalities across the globe. This NRI student had been selected in the student category for the prestigious honour. “This is one of the best moments in my life. I feel privileged to achieve this and I am thankful to Almighty Allah. My parents’ support has been enormous and Insha Allah I hope to sponsor them in the near future,” Tasneem told Khaleej Times. She is privileged to stay in the country till 2031 with the honour of the Golden Visa.
Dr. SHYAM VISWANATHAN PILLAI
Dr. Shyam Viswanathan Pillai, the CEO of Vaidyashala at the Burjeel Day Surgery Centre in Abu Dhabi, was given the Golden Visa under the medical professionals’ and doctors’ category. Pillai, who belongs to the Kollam district of Kerala, relocated to Dubai in 2001. “My sincere gratitude to the rulers and policymakers in the UAE for the kind support to Ayurveda and Ayurveda practitioners. I truly appreciate their vision in integrating the Ayurveda for the wellbeing of UAE residents and at the same time keeping in place strong measures to ensure the quality delivery of Ayurveda practice,” Pillai responded to the Khaleej Times.
DILIP SINHA
The secretary-general of the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) has been awarded the Golden Visa by the UAE government. Dilip Sinha has been a resident of the UAE since 1990. Sinha, who completed his MBA from Bradford University, then moved to the United States and worked for the multinationals. But later in the 90s, he joined Rockwell Automation and moved to Dubai. “I grew tremendously in the organization. I was the only Indian man in the company back then,” Sinha told the Khaleej Times. Sinha’s leadership has helped IBPC to grow and organize multiple events to boost India-UAE trade relations. The UAE government has honoured him with a ten-year golden residency Visa for his outstanding efforts in the field of trade and commerce.
JOGINDER SINGH SALARIA
The philanthropist and founder of Pehal Charitable Trust (PCT), Joginder Singh Salaria was awarded the Golden Visa for his humanitarian efforts. The NRI is also the head of a heavy equipment transport business in Dubai and launched his company in 2004. He officially began his charitable trust in 2012.
Salaria expressed his gratitude by saying, “I have immense gratitude for the Dubai Police. They have been instrumental in supporting my humanitarian efforts”. He also expressed his admiration towards Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. He migrated to the UAE in 1993 from Punjab with less than 50 Dirham in his pockets. His first PCT Humanity office was established in New Delhi in 2012 and the Dubai office in International Humanitarian City in 2018.
Dr. JASNA JAMAL
“By the Grace of God, I have been honoured with the Golden Visa. It is a great pleasure. I sincerely thank the UAE leader for this wonderful opportunity,” as quoted by the Khaleej Times, Dr. Jasna expressed her sincere gratitude. Dr. Jasna, who hails from the Thrissur district of Kerala, is a resident of Al Mamzar in Dubai. With her experience in Ayurveda medicine that spans over sixteen years, she runs her own Ayurvedic clinic in Al Mamzar.
VEDANTA BARUAH
The NRI businessman received his ten-year residence Golden Visa from the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. Vedanta Baruah is the CEO of Berns Brettt Masaood Insurance LLC, an insurance broking firm with offices in the UK, the EU, and India. The Golden Visa reserved for eminent personalities across the globe was offered to this NRI entrepreneur in the category of investors.
Baruah, who hails from the Dibrugarh district of Assam, has become the first Assamese to receive the UAE’s Golden Visa. Khaleej Times quoted Baruah as saying, “I am delighted and proud to have been chosen to receive this. The UAE is a truly welcoming place with a diverse thriving and innovative community. My family and I have been committed to building our lives in the UAE.” Baruah has settled in the UAE since 2006 and is now permitted to reside in the country till 2031.
PARAPPURATH MOIDEEN HAJI
The chairman of AAK Group International, which is the largest fruits and vegetable trading company in the UAE, received the Golden Visa recognition from the UAE government. Moideen Haji, hailing from Tirur in Kerala, is known for his charity programmes. Moideen Haji migrated to Dubai when he was merely seventeen in the year 1964.
Moideen as a teenager, who was impoverished at home, only dreamt of feeding his family and himself three times a day. He struggled to find a job and later got a chance to work on a construction site. He was later appointed at the Deira fish market in Dubai and fifty years later, he has a leading and established fruits and vegetable trading company in the UAE. Moideen is also the person with the most immigration stamps in the passport in the UAE.
ABDUL AZIZ CHOWDHURY
The NRI Malayali and chairman of the ASCO Group based in Dubai had been granted the Golden Visa. Abdul Aziz, a native of the Calicut district in Kerala, was honoured for his fabulous contributions in the field of business and philanthropy.
Abdul Aziz has been active in business for the last fifteen years in the country. He is the head of Osco Global, a business group with extensive retail, trade and distribution networks in the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries.
