The permanent residency ‘Golden Card’ will be granted to “exceptional talents and everyone who positively contributes to the success story of the UAE…

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has unveiled a new gold card system for permanent visa-holding residents in Dubai.

The Golden Card will “grant permanent residency to investors and exceptional doctors, engineers, scientists and artists” according to a Tweet by Sheikh Mohammed.

Under the first round of applications, around 6,800 people have been granted permanent residency and gold card status. Those 6,800 residents collectively pledged investments of approximately Dh100 billion, according to the Dubai Ruler.

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In a second Tweet, Sheikh Mohammed said that “the permanent residency “Golden Card” will be granted to exceptional talents and everyone who positively contributes to the success story of the UAE.”

“We want them to be permanent partners in our journey. Residents are an indispensable part of our country,” he concluded.

The UAE’s new permanent residency visa was announced in May 2018, and in a Tweet in March 2019, Sheikh Mohammed confirmed that the cabinet had begun reviewing applications for the long-term visas. At the time, Sheikh Mohammed said that the new visa system will ensure that the UAE remains “a global incubator for talents and a permanent destination for pioneers”.

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