UAE not planning to cap residence visa, says Al Mansouri

Based on indicators in the first five months of 2011, the UAE gross domestic product is expected to grow between 3 to 3.5 per cent this year, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 21st meeting of GCC ministers for planning and development in Abu Dhabi, Al Mansouri said the GCC invitation for Jordan and Morocco to join the group would, if takes place, contribute to expanding the GCC Common Market and harnessing the huge human, investment and financial resources available in the eight countries.

“The UAE is not thinking of capping the residence of foreign workers in the UAE,” the minister emphasised, calling for creating a thorough advanced statistical system to provide accurate data on the demographic structure and workforce.

He disclosed that the ministry had prepared a list of commercial agencies that would allow traders to import goods from the origin producers directly without referring to the local agents.

The move, he added, aims at provision of commodities at local markets directly at lower prices in a bid to curb soaring prices.

He said the list would be submitted to the federal cabinet within few weeks for approval.