The UAE has made changes to its visas in recent years. The National
The UAE has made changes to its visas in recent years. The National
The UAE has made changes to its visas in recent years. The National
The UAE has made changes to its visas in recent years. The National


The UAE's new visa rules modernise work


  • English
  • Arabic

September 06, 2022

As the world recovers from Covid-19 and its devastating effects, there are also lessons to be learnt and retained. One that is getting a great deal of attention is what the pandemic taught us about work. Norms were shattered. Remote work demonstrated its huge potential, but, suddenly deprived of it, so did the old collaborative environment of the office.

The principle tying all of these findings together is the importance of flexibility. This applies outside work, too. Forced to be at home, families were brought closer together, well-being was prioritised and life felt as stable as it could among such uncertainty. Many are understandably keen to keep these new arrangements in place.

The UAE’s economy is the perfect place to implement this flexibility. Since its establishment in 1971, the UAE has gained a reputation for welcoming the world and its creativity. This openness and dynamism is an economic necessity, as well as a cultural trait. From the hydrocarbons industry to the tourism sector, the Emirates will always draw on the contribution of many people with many different talents to realise its vast economic potential.

How the government goes about this is an ever-developing process, one that has seen particular revision in recent years. New visa rules that came into force on Monday demonstrate once again that the UAE is still gearing up to welcome more foreign workers and, crucially, for longer.

Immigration law has been going through a wider shake up in the past few years. In 2020, golden visas were introduced, designed to enable exceptionally skilled foreigners to live, work and study in the UAE without the need for a national sponsor. It also gives recipients the right to 100 per cent ownership of businesses on the UAE’s mainland. They are valid for 10 years, and are given to people whom the authorities deem of particular significance. A recent example includes healthcare workers who served during the pandemic.

In June, new labour laws allowed workers to remain in the country for a longer period of time after their employment is terminated. Now, former employees will have up to 180 days to find a job before they overstay their visa.

Monday's news is as significant. Green visas are now available for skilled workers, defined as people who earn more than Dh15,000 a month and who have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education. The biggest plus is a five-year residency, which will allow for more flexible working, particularly for freelancers, and create more investment in the UAE's economy. More certainty makes buying property, for example, more attractive.

The new visa recognises that there is more to sustaining a vibrant expatriate workforce than just working conditions. It also gives holders the right to bring first-degree relatives into the country for the entirety of their stay. Emily Roberts, principal consultant at Dubai recruiter Genie, told The National that: “A key benefit of the green visa is the advantage for families as there will be the extension for male dependents to be sponsored up to the age of 25 as previously it was restricted to the age of 18.”

As the UAE reopens apace after the pandemic, new employment laws are being drawn up to support the trend and make it happen as efficiently as possible. If programmes such as the golden visa work to attract a smaller, more targeted group of people in line with what the government deems as crucial sectors, the new green visa is more about letting the process of migration and a vibrant economy take its course, which has worked so well for the country throughout its history, and not losing sight of the importance of well-being in the process.

Rooney's club record

At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17

At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253

RESULT

Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)

Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp

Torque: 240Nm

Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)

On sale: Now

Dubai World Cup Carnival card

6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m

8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m

8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m

The National selections

6.30pm: Final Song

7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo

7.40pm: Dubai Icon

8.15pm: Dubai Legacy

8.50pm: Drafted

9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale 

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse

Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Grubtech

Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi

Launched: October 2019

Employees: 50

Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)

 

So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?

Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
 

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Updated: September 06, 2022, 3:00 AM`