Permanent residency: A golden boon for UAE economy

KT
May 22, 2019

Dubai, May 22: The UAE's decision to grant permanent residency to investors will attract long-term residents, investors and world's best talent in diverse fields, hence increasing the size of the UAE's economy and stabilising it, analysts, businessmen and entrepreneurs have said.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday announced permanent residency scheme Golden Card, which will be granted to qualifying investors, entrepreneurs, professional talents, researchers in various fields of science and knowledge, and outstanding students.

It is believed that the first beneficiary of this game-changing initiative will be existing businessmen, entrepreneurs and highly-skilled and qualified professionals and students who will convert their status and obtain the Golden Card.

Osama Al Rahma, CEO of Al Fardan Exchange and vice-chairman of Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group (FERG), said the permanent residency scheme will be very encouraging for the expat community and will reinforce their confidence in the country's governance and economy.

"The announcement is great news for investors in the UAE, especially those who have been here for a long time, as they are now able to benefit from greater security and stability. Investors will be able to plan long-term strategies for their businesses and invest more in existing businesses, thus allowing capital to remain within the UAE," Al Rahma said.

Dr Azad Moopen, founder chairman and managing director, Aster DM Healthcare, said this initiative has been a long-felt desire of the expat community to stay here permanently as many of them consider UAE as home.

"The ability to get a permanent residency will prompt people from many countries to come to the UAE and establish business. This will in turn improve the economy and increase employment opportunity," said Moopen.

Praising the UAE's decision of permanent residency, Taher Shams, managing director, Zulekha Healthcare Group, said this initiative will enable the group to plan long-term and look forward to greater success.

Nigel Green, founder and CEO of deVere Group, noted that the UAE is one of the world's top destinations for expatriates looking to embark upon or further their careers because of the fantastic possibilities offered in terms of finance, trade and commerce, plus that famous 'can do' attitude and the low-tax environment.

"The Golden Card will ensure the UAE becomes even more attractive for overseas talent as it provides permanency and, therefore, more certainty and stability. It will inevitably make recruiting more top talent easier for UAE-based firms and this can be expected to add real value to the country and its economy. The initiative will further fuel confidence that the UAE is a place for international companies to do business and invest. Its business powerhouse reputation will be galvanised by this proactive and forward-thinking new development," Green said.

"We are indeed very delighted for the Golden Card scheme. This is a great news and it will help attract investments and retain talented people who have contributed to the growth and development of the UAE," said Kamal Vachani, group director, Al Maya Group.

Fadi Ghandour, chairman and CEO, Wamda Capital, said it is a very timely and quite bold decision. "Lots of entrepreneurs and various people of talent will take it very seriously. It will certainly have a positive long term impact on the economy."

USA

>Sponsorship by a family member

>Special employment

>Has made a major investment (minimum $500,000 or Dh1.825M)

>Qualified for the Diversity Lottery -  around 50,000 immigrant visas are made available annually aimed at diversifying the immigrant population in the US, by selecting applicants from countries with low numbers of immigrants in the previous five years.

>Referred by the UNHCR as a refugee (or has request asylum in the US)

Singapore

>Must be spouse and unmarried children (below 21 years old) of a Singapore citizen or PR

>Any skilled workerwho the country thinks will make valuable contribution

>Aged parents of a citizen.

>Investors or entrepreneurs meeting eligibility criteria under the Singapore Investment Visa or Global Investor Program (GIP) - a scheme that allows people to bring their investment initiative to Singapore and obtain a permanent residence in the country immediately after making the pouring of money worth at least SGD2.5 million (Dh6.6M)

New Zealand

>Must be a resident visa holder for two years or more, and can show a commitment to live in New Zealand

>Must be under 56 years of age

>Must meet all health, character and English ability requirements

>Must be able to meet a pass mark of 100 points in the Points System to register an Expression of Interest. Points are awarded for age, having family members in New Zealand, employment, previous work experience, and qualifications - all these should  meet the minimum threshold of 100 points

Canada

>Must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) in every 5-year period.

>The person has to be at least 18 years old in order to apply for a PR visa

>Having a bachelor's degree gives a higher chance of getting selected for Canada PR immigration while for the 'Express Entry points system', the highest points are given to people with PhDs.

Germany

>Must have been living in Germany for five uninterrupted years

>Must have a secure livelihood with health insurance and provision for retirement (pension) and adequate living space (at least 13sqm per person)

>Highly qualified workers may be issued with a German settlement permit immediately

>Graduates of a German higher education institute may be able to get a German permanent residence after two years

>EU Blue Card holders can apply after working 33 months (or just 21 months with a level B1 language certificate)

>Self-employed people, with an established business and secure livelihood, may be able to get permanent residency in Germany after three years.

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News Network
November 24,2025

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Israel has launched a new act of aggression on a residential neighborhood in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, killing and injuring about two dozen civilians.

The Israeli regime's military said in a statement that its forces carried out a so-called precise strike in a residential apartment in Dahiyeh in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday.

The aggression targeted residential areas, killing at least five people and injuring more than 28 people, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. 

Hezbollah announced the martyrdom of senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai and four resistance fighters.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun condemned the airstrike, calling it a clear demonstration of Tel Aviv’s disregard for repeated international calls to halt violations on Lebanese soil.

“Israel refuses to implement international resolutions and all efforts aimed at ending the escalation and restoring stability,” Aoun said, urging the international community to take action to prevent further aggression.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement also condemned the attack, holding the international community accountable. 

“The international community bears responsibility and continues to provide cover for these attacks as long as it does not restrain the occupiers,” said Ali Abu Shahin, a member of the group’s political bureau.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the Israeli army carried out a strike “in the heart of Beirut."

Netanyahu reportedly approved the operation following recommendations from top Israeli security officials.

Two senior US officials commented on the Israeli strike.

The first official said that Israel did not notify Americans in advance about the attack. "We were informed immediately after the strike was carried out."

The second senior official said that the "US knew for several days that Israel was planning to escalate its strikes in Lebanon, but did not know in advance the timing, location, or target of the strike."

Speaking from the site of the Israeli strike, Lebanese MP Ali Ammar condemned the attack as part of a broader campaign of aggression that has targeted "all of Lebanon since the Washington-sponsored ceasefire."

He stated that "any attack on Lebanon is a violation of red lines; this aggression is part and parcel of the entity that targets Lebanon's dignity, sovereignty, and security of citizens."

Ammar went on to say the resistance is responding with "utmost wisdom, patience, and will confront the enemy at the appropriate time."

"Unfortunately, the enemy is emboldened to commit its aggression by voices within Lebanon that have turned themselves into tools that support its aggression," he added.

The Israeli attack on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital is the latest blatant violation of the ceasefire Israel signed with Hezbollah in November 2024, which was intended to end hostilities that had escalated into full-scale war.

An Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon late Tuesday killed at least 14 people. It wounded several others, including young students, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The military claimed the attack targeted “a Hamas training compound” used to plan and carry out attacks against the regime -- a claim that has frequently been made without evidence.

Hamas rejected the allegations as “a blatant lie aimed at justifying the massacre,” stating it had “no military installations in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon” and that the targeted site was merely “an open sports field.”

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli attacks have killed approximately 4,000 people and displaced more than 1.2 million residents across the country since October 2023.

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News Network
November 27,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 27: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s camp is reportedly on alert as the Congress leadership tussle in the state intensifies, particularly amid speculation over the potential promotion of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Siddaramaiah is said to be in a “wait-and-watch” mode after admitting to “confusion” earlier this week and urging the party to “put a full stop” to it.

Sources say his supporters are ready to act if senior leaders — including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi — give any indication of backing Shivakumar. If the party insists on a leadership change, Siddaramaiah’s camp has a list of alternatives, underscoring the deep rift between the two leaders. One possible candidate is Home Minister G. Parameshwara, a Siddaramaiah loyalist and influential Dalit leader.

The strategy was reportedly finalized at a meeting led by PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, another Siddaramaiah supporter, who stressed that Delhi leaders need to resolve the issue. Kharge and the Gandhis are expected to meet soon, after which Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar may be summoned to Delhi.

Shivakumar has largely stayed non-confrontational, publicly endorsing Siddaramaiah and downplaying speculation about his own ambitions. However, he has made pointed comments emphasizing the importance of honoring promises, directed at Siddaramaiah.

The feud traces back to the 2023 state election, when Siddaramaiah was chosen as Chief Minister while Shivakumar, who led the party’s campaign, was made Deputy CM and state party chief — a departure from the Congress’ usual “one post per person” rule.

There were also hints of a prior understanding that Siddaramaiah would step down midway through the term. As the halfway mark passed last week, Shivakumar-aligned lawmakers have ramped up pressure on the party for a leadership change, with Shivakumar himself hinting at stepping down as state party chief to pursue the top job.

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News Network
November 22,2025

gaza.jpg

The Israeli regime’s forces have killed two Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip every day since the ceasefire began in early October, UNICEF has warned.

The UN children’s agency said on Friday that Israeli forces continue to attack Palestinians in Gaza even though the agreement was meant to stop the killing.

“Since 11 October, while the ceasefire has been in effect, at least 67 children have been killed in conflict-related incidents in the Gaza Strip. Dozens more have been injured. That is an average of almost two children killed every day since the ceasefire took effect,” UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said in Geneva, reminding that each number in the statistics represents a child whose life had ended violently.

“These are not statistics,” he said. “Each child had a story, a family, and a future that was stolen from them.”

Data from Palestinian factions, human rights groups, and government bodies recorded since the US-brokered ceasefire deal went into effect on October 10 show that Israeli forces have carried out numerous attacks, each constituting a separate ceasefire violation.

UNICEF teams say they repeatedly continue to witness heart-wrenching scenes of fearful Palestinian children sleeping outdoors with amputated limbs, while others live as orphans in flooded, makeshift shelters.

“I saw this myself in August. There is no safe place for them. The world cannot normalize their suffering,” Pires said, lamenting that the UN could “do a lot more if the aid that is really needed was entering faster.”

The UNICEF spokesperson warned that with the advent of winter, the risks for hundreds of thousands of displaced children will increase.

He warned, “The stakes are incredibly high” for children as winter acts as a threat multiplier, where children have no heating, no insulation, and few blankets. He said respiratory infections rise.

“Too many children have already paid the highest price,” Pires said. “Too many are still paying it, even under a ceasefire. The world promised them it would stop and that we would protect them.”

“Now we must act like it,” the UNICEF spokesperson added.

Since the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza in October 2023, it has killed nearly 70,000 people in the territory, most of them women and children, and injured over 170,000 more, while reducing most of the structures in the enclave to rubble.

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