UAE cabinet approves a 5-year Visa for Expat Retirees

UAE Cabinet approves a law to provide special residency-visa privileges for expat retirees

The UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has approved a law to provide special residency-visa privileges for expats retirees over the age of fifty-five years for a period of five years, with the possibility of renewal, according to specific conditions.

The law, which will be in effect as of 2019, outlines the requirements to qualify for the long-term visa such as having an investment in a property worth AED2 million, or having financial savings of no less than AED1 million, or having an active income of no less than AED20,000 per month.

As part of the government's keenness to develop the human competencies across the federal government and to optimise human resources, the UAE Cabinet has also approved the project of Succession Planning and Talents Pool in the federal government. The project aims to ensure that the Emirati manpower is equipped with the necessary tools to assume leadership and specialised positions.

The Cabinet also adopted a resolution to support the industrial sector by introducing reduced fees of electricity consumption for large, medium and small factories.

"We launched today an initiative to support the industry sector and to affirm UAE’s position on the global map as an attractive investment destination that provides an integrated environment for growth and sustainability," said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

"We are investing in a sustainable industrial sector through the collaboration between different government entities and our goal is to be a successful model for the green economy to preserve our environment for future generations," His Highness added.

The initiative introduced a reduced tariff for electricity consumption for the industrial sector, to be in effect as of Q4 of this year while achieving sustainable growth by reducing dependence on non-environmentally friendly sources such as liquid fuels.

Large factories will be supported by reducing the electricity consumption charges by 29%, while the small and medium factories will have reduced fees by 10 per cent to 22 per cent, in addition to waiving the service connection fees for new factories.

The Cabinet also approved the launch of the "one-day court" system to provide the fastest and most efficient services to the community. The "one-day court" will contribute to speeding up the ruling in minor criminal offences. The initiative also affirms that the UAE is a state of institutions and law, possessing a distinguished judicial system that is based on modern mechanisms and systems.

The Cabinet adopted the unified national standards for public and private hospitals, which is in line with the UAE Vision 2021 to improve the level of services provided in the UAE in accordance to best standards and best international practices. The new unified standards provide guidelines for health care professionals and hospital design, as well as other standards for medicines, patients' rights, and patients’ families.

Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution launches electronic service for court fine payment

People convicted over minor criminal offences that only involve fines and not a jail sentence, can now pay the court fines electronically and get clearance without visiting the Abu Dhabi courts.

The Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution has launched the new online payment service that enables defendants convicted in minor criminal offences to pay their fines electronically through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) website.

And after making the payment, the person will receive an SMS showing that they have been cleared by courts.

The move is part of the judicial department's strategy to improve customer services. It is also intended to make everyone achieve justice through the use of modern technology in the provision of judicial services.

Officials from the ADJD said they have over the recent years introduced digital services through the use of modern technology in order to meet the requirements of rapid growth in various judicial services.

"The new online fine payment service aims at easing services for customers and speeding up the collection of fines as people have been lining up in queues to pay through the counters at the judicial department offices," said a judicial official.

"Payment of fines for people convicted in minor offences can be made online from anywhere and at any time as people no longer have to visit the courts or judicial department to clear the court fines."

Explaining the new online payment system, the official said besides being convenient to people, the system is very accurate and easy for auditing. "It should be noted that this online service for payment of fines for people convicted in minor offences is limited to fines only," said the official.

He said it includes authorities sending a notification about the fine sentence to the defendant through a text message after a ruling has been made. In the text message, the person is told about the option of paying the court fine online through the judicial department's website to avoid legal action in case of failure to pay.

The Public Prosecutor's Office explained that the SMS notification sent to the convict includes the case number and the online payment link, where the user can log in and pay the due fines.

UAE amnesty seekers exit permit valid only for 10 days

Illegal residents who have availed of the amnesty initiative must leave the country within 10 days after getting an exit permit, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) has announced.

The FAIC also pointed out that violators who got their fine waived can obtain exit permits from the amnesty centres by paying a nominal fee of Dh220. Those who wish to change their status, transfer their residence or obtain new residence must provide evidence of a new sponsor and a certificate of health fitness.

However, authorities concerned at the Directorate General of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) will charge a fee of Dh500 from violators who amend the status of the visa without exiting the UAE.

The FAIC has launched the three-month amnesty programme Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status on August 1 allowing expatriates living inside the country illegally to change their status, either leave or modify the residence status, without paying their overstaying fines.

The violators, who wish to change their status to leave the country, must bring a number of documents, including a passport, to avail of the scheme. Since the launch of the initiative, the immigration centres across the country have received thousands of applicants and many were issued permits to amend their status and have a fresh life in accordance with the UAE regulations.

However, the initiative has excluded two categories of people from the amnesty programme: People who are blacklisted and those having police cases lodged against them.

Exemption from fines:

Meanwhile, six categories were granted the right to benefit from the amnesty without paying fines.

The first category comprises people who are residing in the country with expired residence and visas. They would get full exemption from all the fines and has the option either to leave the country or get a new visa.

The second category is those who are unemployed, who can obtain unmediated temporary residence or self-sponsorship visa for six months, which allows them to interact with potential employers under the supervision of the Ministry of Human Resources and Employment.

The third, people who had entered the country illegally through informal outlets. They will be allowed to leave the country but cannot enter the country for a period of two years.

The fourth category is people who ran away from their employers. The fifth category covers victims of wars and natural disasters, who will be granted a one-year residency visa regardless of the status of their visas or nationalities.

The sixth category is widowed or divorced, and their residence is extended for one year without the need for a sponsor.

The amnesty programme, which runs until October 31, is applicable to illegal residents who have been living inside the country before August 1.