Page 55 - MINISTRY OF CULTURE PR REPORT - JUNE 2025

“After Covid-19, the government’s primary goal was to attract capital into the country. That’s why,
during the initial wave in 2022–23, many of the Golden Visa recipients were real estate investors,”
Keswani told Khaleej Times in an interview.
“However, from 2023–24 onwards, we entered the second phase of the programme. The
government empowered multiple departments — including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of
Sports, and Abu Dhabi Residents Office — to scout globally for individuals who could make the UAE
their second home and add meaningful value to the economy.”

Keswani emphasised that the programme is no longer just about capital inflow. “It’s now about
long-term growth potential. We’re seeing candidates from sectors like AI, IoT, cloud computing, and
private wealth management. The government’s approach has evolved; it now targets individuals
with specialised skills who can contribute to the broader community.”

Gaurav Keswani
The UAE introduced its long-term residency programme in 2019 to attract foreign investment.
According to the latest figures, 158,000 people received Golden Visas in Dubai alone in 2023.

Of these, approximately 40 per cent were investors, with the remaining 60 per cent spread across
various other categories. “About 22 per cent of the total were professionals from banking and non-
banking sectors, including those involved in AI and climate change,” Keswani noted. “The
government has made substantial investments across various industries and is now strategically
attracting talent aligned with those sectors.”

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/golden-visa-ai-climate-tech