Department of Health streamlines golden visa process for doctors in Abu Dhabi

Doctors no longer need to personally source endorsement letters

Doctors who worked on the front lines of the pandemic in the UAE can use a new efficient service to apply for a golden visa.

Doctors in Abu Dhabi will find it easier to apply for golden visas owing to a new streamlined process launched by the Department of Health and Abu Dhabi Residents Office.

The packages will enable nominated medics to choose from three efficient services offered by the Yas Centre Tasheel for healthcare professionals, which is dedicated to processing long-term visas.

The centre will then collect all relevant and required endorsement letters from the Department of Health on behalf of the doctors, a process that should only take two weeks.

Through this collaboration, we look forward to further advancing our health sector, by attracting more doctors to Abu Dhabi

Dr Rashed Al Suwaidi,
Department of Health

Dr Rashed Al Suwaidi, executive director of healthcare workforce planning at the department, said the initiative showed the emirate's commitment to excellence in healthcare.

"As always, the safety and well-being of the people and communities of the emirate remain our number one priority," he said.

"Through this collaboration, we look forward to further advancing our health sector, by attracting more doctors to Abu Dhabi, inspiring them to make the emirate their home and providing these dedicated professionals with the support they need to further contribute to the sector, ensuring the safety, happiness and well-being of our community.”

The benefits of a golden visa

Lebanese singer Najwa Karam is one of many celebrities offered UAE's golden visa.

Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama

Egyptian actor Mohamed Ramadan Chris Whiteoak / The National

Fashion influencer Ola Farahat

Tunisian singer Latifa El Arfaoui

Lebanese singer Marwan Khoury

Egyptian actress Nelly Karim

Lebanese singer Walid Toufic

Egyptian singer and composer Hani Shaker

Lebanese television presenter Annabella Hilal

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan

Chef Izu Ani

Chef Reif Othman

Lebanese actress Nadine Nassib Njeim

Syrian actor Kosai Khauli

Indian actor and director Sanjay Dutt

Lebanese designer Karen Wazen

Lebanese-Canadian basketball player Ali Kanaan

Film director Mohammed Samy with his wife, actress Mai Omar

Lebanese actress Jessy Abdo

Lebanese singer Myriam Fares

South Indian actor Mohanlal

Kerala star Mammootty

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty

Kerala actor Tovino Thomas

South Indian actor Prithviraj.

Moroccan singer Imad Benaomar

Egyptian actor Karim Fahmi.

Egyptian actress Safia Alemary

Bollywood film producer Boney Kapoor.

Indian Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam.

Lebanese singer Elissa.

Giorgio Armani with his UAE golden visa in Dubai. Photo: Giorgio Armani

Pakistani actor Ali Zafar. Photo: Yash Raj Films

Pakistani actor Fakhr-e-Alam.

Bollywood star Ranveer Singh being presented his UAE golden visa in Abu Dhabi by Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, the chief executive of Miral. Photo: Yas Island

Golden visa holders can live, work and study in Abu Dhabi for 10 years without the need for a national sponsor.

The initiative was launched to recognise experts in various fields who play a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s progress. It also attracts skilled workers to the UAE.

Last month, doctors on the front line of the pandemic were encouraged to apply for golden visas in recognition of their contribution towards health care in the country.

All medics licensed by the country’s health regulatory bodies can apply for the 10-year permit from now until September at smartservices.ica.gov.ae.

Doctors licensed to practise in Dubai can apply at smart.gdrfad.gov.ae.

“We are pleased to have come to this understanding with the DoH in organising an effective process that aims to enable doctors to lead a solid and successful career in the emirate," said Sameh Al Qubaisi, executive director of the executive affairs office at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

“We aim to collaborate with more partners in providing world-class services that enable global talent in acquiring the golden visa.

"Through this aligned and collaborative approach, we hope to help as many people as we can, and encourage all nominated doctors to take full advantage of this opportunity."

Under the new process, nominated medics can choose between a VIP service that costs Dh4,000 ($1,089), or two non-VIP packages. The first costs Dh3,470 if paid through wire transfer and the second, which requires an online payment, costs Dh3,547.

The non-VIP packages include fees for application, change of status, visa stamping and Tas-heel processing.

The VIP service covers additional services such as Emirates ID, passport pick-up and drop-off, and visa hold services for dependents.

Visa cancellation and medical assessment fees cost extra, no matter which package is chosen.

Doctors' family members can also use the services when they apply for golden visas.

This week, Abu Dhabi Residents Office also set up a new web tool to help parents of pupils who performed well in exams to check whether their children are eligible for golden visas.

Pupils are required to achieve total scores of at least 95 per cent in high school exams.

Parents can verify their status by visiting www.adro.gov.ae and entering the Emirates ID details of their children.

Pupils hope to win golden visas - in pictures

Twin sisters Naz and Nil Karadede, pupils at Deira International School in Dubai, scored 45 points in their International Baccalaureate exams.

Naz and Nil with their proud parents, Ercan and Seda.

The twin sisters at their graduation ceremony.

Durga Chandrashekhar, 18, an Indian pupil at Dubai's Uptown International School, achieved a perfect 45.

Sidharth Hariharan, an Indian pupil at Gems Modern Academy in Dubai, received his perfect scores. He is pictured with his parents.

Pupils receive their final IB exam results at the Gems Wellington International School in Dubai. From left, top pupils Chetan Nair, Tala Salameh and Arghya Svivastav.

Tala Daher, a 17-year-old Jordanian pupil at Uptown International School, scored 45 in her International Baccalaureate tests.

Chetan Nair, a pupil at Gems Wellington International School, received his final IB results on Tuesday.