Sunday: 03/05/2009:
Ministerial Decision on property owners’ visas
HH Lt. General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior has issued a Decision allowing property and residential units owners to enter UAE and to stay up to six months in the country. This multi-entry permit can be renewed under certain conditions.
The aim of the Decision is to enhance the local economic environment and to provide all fundamentals that help ensure economic growth and prosperity in UAE. The new Decision adds a new paragraph to Article No. 33 of Entry and Residency Law Regulations: “Owners of built-in properties across the country can stay for six months from the date of entry into the UAE. After this period the owner pledges to depart for his home country or any GCC country. He will only be allowed to enter the country again after meeting the required conditions”.
Under the Decision, another new Article No. 34(Repeated) stipulating that the owner should submit a multi-entry visa application under certain conditions. These include that the property should be built-in, the application does not cover owners of vacant lands, and the owner must obtain a title of the property from the registration authority in the Emirate concerned and the unit whether it is a house or an apartment should be wholly owned by the concerned person.
The same Article stipulates that the value of the unit should not be less than Dh1 million. The unit should be fit for family accommodation and suits the number of the family members. These conditions will be confirmed through the Naturalization and Residency Departments in the country. The Article allows the owner to include in the visa application his spouse and children and attaches a comprehensive insurance cover for the family valid for the limit of the stay in the UAE. The owner should have a fixed income of at least Dh10, 000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies, whether inside or outside the UAE. The visa does give the owner the right to work in the country. The permit, in all cases, will be cancelled if any of the above conditions is not met. The Decision shall effective from its issue date and its publication in the Gazette.
The Decision reflects that the UAE government takes into account family stability of these people. This permit is a separate Document of the passports. It is issued by The Department of Naturalization and Residency. The visa is stamped on the foreigner’s passport which allows him to enter the country accompanied by the persons mentioned in his passport or the Document. It can be obtained from the UAE Consulate abroad or the Department of Naturalization and Residency inside the UAE.
