Dubai has recently had another golden addition to its long-term residency program, which is known to be famous. The new category of visa, called a golden one, has officially been declared in the city, which offers Waqf donors the chance to make Dubai their permanent residence and longer-term location.
It is announced as a part of the agreement signed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) and the Endowments and Minors Affairs Foundation (Awqaf). The cooperation is to make social responsibility and foster charitable donations using the Waqf system.
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A Golden Welcome for Waqf Donors
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai has entered into a historic agreement with the Endowments and Minors Affairs Foundation (Awqaf) to create this new category.
According to the new regulations, Waqf (Islamic endowment or charitable trust) donors now have the opportunity to obtain a UAE Golden Visa in the category of financial contributors to humanitarian activities.
The purpose of this initiative is to reward those who make social welfare and charitable contributions to society so they will find it easier to live, work, and invest in Dubai on a long-term basis.
What This Means for Donors
This category is accessible to residents and non-residents of the UAE, and it will grant them a 10-year residency without a local sponsor.
As part of the process:
- Awqaf will appoint qualified endowers in accordance with Cabinet Resolution No. (65) of 2022.
- GDRFA Dubai will subsequently grant the golden visa after it has been approved.
- Two entities will establish a joint committee to ensure the program achieves its social and humanitarian objectives.
The move further helps support the effort by Dubai to identify philanthropy and social responsibility as defining aspects of its growth and identity.
Who Else Qualifies for the UAE Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa Program was initially opened to recruit and keep the top-tier talent, investors and contributors in the major sectors. Now it has expanded into a broad category of:
- Investors and entrepreneurs
- Scientists and researchers
- Skilled professionals
- Outstanding students and graduates
- Humanitarian pioneers and cultural influencers
In the recent past, Dubai has gone one step higher to enlarge eligibility to include:
- Teachers who meet specific excellence criteria
- Content creators and digital influencers
- Gaming professionals contributing to the growing e-sports sector
- Healthcare workers, including nurses and frontline staff
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Additional Perks for Golden Visa Holders
In October, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the holders of golden visas will now be given the same emergency consular protection as Emirati nationals when traveling abroad, an added value that strengthens the inclusive nature of the UAE towards long-term residents.
A City That Rewards Contribution
Having this new group, Dubai keeps demonstrating that the Golden Visa is not just a residency permit but an appreciation of input, skills, and dedication to the vision of the UAE.
The city is also integrating social responsibility into its future by extending the chance to Waqf donors not just to honor charitable giving but also to be involved in the process of doing so.