Journalism of Courage
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday announced that the country will provide consular services for Golden Visa holders. According to the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the services offered to Golden Visa holders include a dedicated hotline, repatriation, and burial of expats who pass away abroad.
The ministry on Tuesday said Golden Visa holders can contact a dedicated 24/7 hotline (+97124931133) in case of emergencies while they are abroad.
For Golden Visa holders who lose or damage their passports while abroad, the UAE will facilitate their return by issuing an electronic Return Document. It can be accessed through the authority’s website and will be issued within 30 minutes.
Golden Visa holders can also contact the UAE missions abroad if they face emergencies and crisis situations while outside the country. The UAE missions in the respective countries will coordinate with local authorities to ensure the safety of Golden Visa holders and provide them necessary assistance during exceptional circumstances and crises.
In cases of the death of a Golden Visa holder abroad, the ministry will provide repatriation or burial support and assist families in arranging final rites in the UAE. This will allow families of these expats to swiftly complete all transactions through streamlined consular and procedural steps, while getting support during this difficult time.
The UAE introduced the Golden Visa scheme in 2019 to attract non-Arabs who would otherwise be ineligible to gain citizenship there. The Golden Visa offers long-term residency up to 10 years to eligible individuals to live, work, study, and own businesses in the country without needing a local sponsor.
Initially, it was only offered to high-net-worth individuals and investors who met specific financial requirements. However, in recent years, its criteria have been expanded to include high-skilled professionals in various fields.
The success of the UAE Golden Visa has also inspired other Arab countries to roll out similar schemes to attract investment and talent from around the world.
