The UAE has officially expanded its Golden Visa program to prioritize individuals in Artificial Intelligence (AI), climate tech, and related innovation sectors, shifting away from its earlier focus on capital-based residency.
“The UAE is now scouting for global talent that adds real economic value—not just capital,” said Gaurav Keswani, managing director of JSB Advisory.
Dubai’s government issued 158,000 Golden Visas in 2023, with approximately 60% going to professionals across diverse sectors. Of these, a rising number were specialists in AI, cloud computing, IoT, and climate technologies.
Government Shift from Capital to Talent
The Golden Visa initiative, originally launched in 2019 to attract foreign capital, has now entered its second phase. According to Keswani, this evolution began post-COVID when Dubai was keen to secure capital through real estate and financial investments.
Key Highlights:
- 40% of 2023 recipients were investors
- 22% were professionals in banking, AI, and environmental sectors
- $48 billion in capital brought by 8 of the world’s top 20 hedge funds
Keswani emphasized that the government is now “empowering ministries” such as Culture, Sports, and the Abu Dhabi Residents Office to globally identify high-impact professionals who can make the UAE their permanent base.
Expert Voices: Talent Now Drives the Vision
“Residency and investment are legally independent,” noted Keswani. “This flexibility is key in attracting skilled executives who want freedom to evolve their investments.”
His firm has assisted more than 250 applicants in the past six months, with notable growth in demand from:
- Private bankers
- AI consultants
- Climate change researchers
- Cloud computing engineers
These individuals are often the brains behind large projects or direct investors themselves, contributing significantly to the local innovation ecosystem.
Why This Matters for Business and Global Professionals
The revamped Golden Visa offers 10-year residency with fewer restrictions:
- Freedom to switch employers or start a business
- Ability to invest in property while maintaining independent residency
- No risk of residency loss if investments are reallocated
The UAE is also actively targeting the Asia-Pacific talent pool, particularly senior executives like CTOs and CEOs with scalable influence.
What’s Next?
With the strategic shift well underway, new categories are expected to be introduced in the near future. Sectors like robotics, fintech, biotech, and sustainable infrastructure may be added next.
“The goal is economic diversification through global human capital,” Keswani concluded.
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