Sharjah has granted its first golden visa – to Indian businessman Lalu Samuel.
A long-time resident of the UAE, Mr Samuel is chairman of the Sharjah-based Kingston Group, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of electrical products in the Middle East.
He has lived in the Emirates for the past 37 years and Forbes Middle East named him one of the "top 100 most influential Indian business leaders in the Arab world" several times.
Mr Samuel was presented with the golden card on Sunday.
He thanked the UAE’s leaders for the honour and expressed his gratitude to Sharjah for creating the conditions that have allowed his business to flourish.
The Kingston Group is based at Sharjah airport’s free zone and controls a huge network of warehouses at the sprawling site.
It has three manufacturing units, produces 1,200 products, including heating systems, cables, lights and home appliances, and exports to more than 100 countries across the globe.
Rexton, one of the flagship brands under the Kingston umbrella, it opened an LED manufacturing and testing facility in Sharjah last year.
Many cities, organisations and homes are switching to LED lights as they are more efficient and last longer than traditional bulbs.
Even the chandelier lights at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque were switched to LEDs a few years ago.
Kingston is also involved in several joint investment ventures including one with GP Batteries, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of the products.
The “golden card” has been touted as a permanent residency scheme and was announced by the UAE in May. It is automatically renewed every 10 years, subject to certain conditions.
So far, 6,800 investors and residents have been identified as beneficiaries of the golden card, including Yusuff Ali, the Lulu Group chairman; Mohammed Rahman, chairman and managing director of Al Haramain Group, and Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and managing director of VPS Healthcare.
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UAE's first golden card visa holders - in pictures
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Rizwan Sajan, founder and chairman of property developer Danube, was given a golden visa in 2019. At the time, he also welcomed the decision to allow mid-level managers earning Dh30,000 ($8,000) per month to apply for long-term visas. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Dr Azad Moopen, chairman and founder of Aster DM Healthcare, was also granted a 10-year residency visa. Randi Sokoloff / The National -
Fragrance tycoon Mohammed Rahman (C) receives his golden card visa at Dubai's immigration service, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. The businessman, who runs Al Haramain Group, was the first Bangladeshi to receive the visa. Photo: GDRFA -
Firoz Merchant, founder of Pure Gold Jewellers, said it was 'a huge honour' to be granted long-term residency in 2019. Photo: Firoz Merchant -
MA Yusuff Ali, chairman and managing director of supermarket chain Lulu Group, pictured with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, was the first recipient of a golden card. The National -
Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, founder and chairman of VPS Healthcare, receives UAE permanent residency in summer 2019. Photo: Dr Shamsheer Vayalil -
Indian-Arab businessman Balvinder Sahni, owner of RSG International, which builds hotels and residential towers, was an early recipient of long-term visa. Reem Mohammed / The National -
Sharjah’s first golden card recipient was Lalu Samuel, chairman and managing director of Kingston Holdings and Chairman of Sharjah Industry Business Group. Photo: Kingston Holdings -
Siddique Pallolathil, head of hypermarket chain Nesto Group, was the first recipient in Ajman to received long-term residency. Photo: Siddique Pallolathil
