Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced significant and extensive amendments to its visa policy, under which four new types of visit visas have been introduced, while special residence facilities have also been provided for widows, divorced women and those deserving of humanitarian assistance.
According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), these far-reaching changes are part of the country’s open policy, which aims to attract skilled experts, innovators, entrepreneurs and tourists from around the world.
New categories of visit visas
The four new visit visa categories introduced are focused specifically on the high-tech and entertainment sectors.
These include:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts
Entertainment industry professionals
Participants in global events
Tourists arriving by cruise ship or luxury yacht
These visas can be issued on a single or multiple entry basis, and require verification or sponsorship from authorized institutions.
Special humanitarian residence facilities
Under the new rules, the UAE has also focused on providing support to vulnerable groups.
Humanitarian Residency Visa: This one-year visa has been introduced for people affected by conflicts or disasters. It will not require a sponsor or host and can be extended further.
Permit for Widows and Divorcees: A one-year residency permit has been added for foreign widows and divorcees, which can be extended for another year.
Widows or divorcees of Emirati husbands without children can apply within six months.
Widows or divorcees of foreign husbands who support children and are residing in the country will be eligible to apply.
Other visa amendments include the Business Exploration Visa and the Truck Drivers Visa. All these visas have been made mandatory with basic conditions such as financial stability, health insurance, sponsorship and payment of fees.
These changes are a major step towards making the UAE a global hub and further facilitating the influx of quality workforce in various sectors.
