Dubai: The addition of new eligible categories for the 10-year golden visa will attract and retain specialised talent in the UAE and advance its competitive edge in priority sectors, officials and professionals said on Sunday.
It follows the announcement on Sunday that the UAE will grant the special long-term visa to all PhD holders, UAE-based physicians as well as engineers in the fields of computer science, electronics, programming, electricity and biotechnology, as well as graduates from UAE-accredited universities who score 3.8 and above as their GPA, or Grade Point Average.
The changes will come into effect from December 1. The announcement came on the Twitter page of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
More categories on the way
Other categories granted are specialists in artificial intelligence, Big Data, virology, epidemiology and UAE’s high school top graduates and their families, Shaikh Mohammad added. “We are keen to embrace talent that drives future development and this is only the beginning … This is a first batch and it will be followed by other categories. We want talented people and great minds to stay in the UAE and join us in the process of development and achievements.”
Senior figures from the UAE’s academic sector said the development will boost the country’s innovation-based economy and provide greater avenues for self-development of professionals.
Lasting impact
Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, Director General of the General Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) said that the order is part of a series of wise orders by Shaikh Mohammad to attract more professionals to be logistic partners in the development march. “We will identify and list the first batch of residents. It is important to provide a proper environment for these segments in the UAE as they will enhance the development and achievements. The Golden residency order implemented last year contributed in supporting the categories,” Maj Gen Al Marri said in a statement. He said that Shaikh Mohammad’s orders shaping the future and help humanity by choosing to attract specialists in virology and epidemiology amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director, Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), said: “Globally, education is facing its greatest upheaval in decades which presents an exciting opportunity to take concrete action now that will have a huge impact tomorrow. The decision by [Shaikh Mohammad] to grant a 10-year golden visa to all PhD students, as well as those pursuing degrees in artificial intelligence, big data and epidemiology will advance Dubai’s innovation-based economy significantly. Furthermore, by providing highly-skilled graduates with access to potentially lucrative employment opportunities, the new visas will encourage the best and brightest minds to stay in Dubai after completing their studies. It will empower people to continually develop new skills in the pursuit of knowledge, enhancing the emirate’s attractiveness as a hub for academic excellence.”
DIAC is said to be the “world’s largest ecosystem for higher education” with 27 universities from nine countries. It provides more than provides more than 500 certificates, diplomas, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes to more than 27,000 students of 150 nationalities.
Image Credit: Gulf News Archives
Global hub
Commenting on the news, Professor Ammar Kaka, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, who is a holder of a PhD in construction management, said the development will position the UAE as a global hub for innovation. “This is incredibly exciting and positive news and we welcome the same! With the present drive for innovation in the UAE, initiatives such as these will encourage retention of the brightest and best, and thereby contribute to strengthening the country’s position as a global hub for innovation. Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers PhD programmes in several disciplines, and holders of PhDs, along with our graduates who score 3.8 and above can now look forward to a continued and fruitful stay in this nation which is home to so many of us.”
Dr Christopher Abraham, CEO — Dubai campus, S P Jain School of Global Management, who holds a PhD in business administration, with his thesis on design thinking and innovation, said: “This announcement by [Shaikh Mohammad] reflects the visionary leadership of the UAE. This is a great step in the right direction in ensuring that the best talent in the country across multiple disciplines are retained for the long term.”
‘Golden lining’
Those pursuing their PhDs said the announcement came as “a reward” for their efforts. Pallavi Kishore, campus programme coordinator for accounting and finance programmes at Middlesex University Dubai, who is pursuing her PhD in economics, said: “The possibility of getting a golden visa is truly a golden-lining in my PhD journey. The PhD process is both challenging and exciting at the same time. The incredible announcement comes as I tread closer to the finish line and almost feels like a reward in recognition of all the hard work and determination. It is very reassuring and exciting to think of getting a 10-year residency from the country I call home.”
‘My future is here’
Matt Brown, lecturer in marketing at Middlesex University Dubai, who is pursuing his PhD in business, said: “I think this is a fantastic move by the UAE government. It not only recognises the education and skills that have been built up over many years here in the Gulf but also helps ensures that talented people are retained in the region, which is vital for the future development of all citizens here. It clearly underlines the long-term commitment the government has in making the UAE a world leader for the 21st century, as the country becomes an international hub for education, medicine, bioscience, engineering and computing. As someone who is currently studying for a PhD, this move has made me more confident than ever that my future is here in the UAE and it’s a huge help that the government has made this as easy as possible to pursue my career in this country.”
Image Credit: Gulf News Archives
Morale booster in pandemic era
Doctors welcomed the decision, saying it comes as a morale booster during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Doctors around the world have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have truly proven to be heroes without capes. The initiative to grant the 10-year Golden Visa to doctors shows the government’s efforts to recognise all of their hard work and contribution. As one of the leading health care providers in the region, we strive to provide care to all our patients even in the toughest of times and would like to express our gratitude to [the UAE leadership] for announcing this excellent endeavour,” said Dr Sherbaz Bichu, CEO at Aster Hospitals and Clinics.
‘We feel valued’
Dr Nabeel Debouni, group director of VPS Healthcare, has already been in the UAE for 21 years. “Healthcare workers are serving the country tirelessly to qualify the lives of its people and ensure that the population is healthy and fit. During the pandemic, health care workers have worked round-the-clock to save the lives of their fellow men. The latest announcement of the government to grant 10-year residency visas to doctors is a very noble gesture. This demonstrates how much the leadership of the nation values the services of health care professionals in the country. We are greatly indebted to the UAE’s leadership for this privileged treatment, and this would inspire and encourage medical professionals to serve the people with more dedication, commitment, and selflessness,” Dr Debouni said.
Motivation for doctors
Dr Emad Fayyad, consultant gastroenterologist at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, said: “[The UAE] is one of the best countries in the world when it comes to health care, and we provide the highest level of health care to patients. This is also a great opportunity to bring great talent from abroad to support and contribute to outstanding health care.”
Dr Rohit Kumar, medical director at Dubai’s Medeor Hospital, greeted the decision. He has been in the UAE for nine years till date. “This serves as a motivation for doctors in the UAE, who have been at the forefront in saving the lives of people during the pandemic. The decision also serves as a boost to other medical professionals in the UAE.”