Page 56 - MINISTRY OF CULTURE PR REPORT - JUNE 2025

He added that the initial phase of the programme was capital-centric. “In recent years, we’ve seen
eight of the world’s top 20 hedge funds establish operations in the UAE, bringing around $48 billion
in business. But with such a capital influx, there’s a need for the right talent — CEOs, CTOs, and
other key executives — to optimise and grow that investment. That’s why the government’s focus
has shifted from purely capital to a more strategic, talent-driven approach.”

More categories

The Golden Visa currently offers a 10-year residency to a wide range of individuals, including
outstanding students, scientists, graduates from top global universities, coders, and highly
qualified professionals.
According to Keswani, whose firm has arranged visas for over 250 individuals in the past six
months, additional categories are expected to be added in the near future.

“Yes, definitely — especially in areas like AI, climate tech, IoT, and cloud computing,” he said. “In
the past five months alone, we’ve seen a significant rise in the number of private bankers, AI
consultants, and cloud experts being shortlisted. These professionals are often behind large-scale
projects or are significant investors themselves, and the programme is adapting accordingly.”

Greater flexibility for professionals

Keswani also highlighted the flexibility of the UAE’s Golden Visa scheme.

“The long-term residency allows individuals to switch employers or even leave their jobs to pursue
entrepreneurship while continuing to reside in the UAE,” he explained. “The government has done
an excellent job targeting the Asia-Pacific talent pool. Moreover, senior professionals like CEOs and
CTOs with substantial income can invest in property here, obtain residency, and manage their
assets independently.”

He emphasised a key advantage of the programme: “Residency and investment are treated as two
separate legal entities. So if someone wants to liquidate an investment and move to a different
asset class, they can do so without affecting their residency status. This structure gives skilled
professionals flexibility and control, which is why the programme has resonated so strongly with
global talent.”

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