On 20 May
2018 the UAE Cabinet announced several amendments to the residency laws. The
changes include:
· offering
residency visas of up to 10 years for key professional workers, including
doctors and engineers, and their families;
· offering residency visas of up to 10 years for
foreign investors establishing businesses in the country;
· allowing companies to own 100 per cent of their
business in the UAE. At present they must offer an Emirati partner a
substantial stake unless they are operating in a free zone;
· top students graduating from university will
also have options for long stay in the UAE.
The changes
to legislation are expected by the end of 2018.
