UAE Golden Visa Targets AI

The UAE has broadened the reach of its well-regarded Golden Visa programme, transitioning from merely attracting foreign investments and wealth to promoting long-term economic value creation.

Entrepreneurs, tech founders, and investors are now assessed not just by their investment size but by the overall impact they can have on the local ecosystem, as stated by Gaurav Keswani, founder and managing director of JSB, a Dubai-based advisory firm focused on company formation and visa services.

“Following Covid-19, the government’s main objective was to draw capital into the country. This is why, during the initial wave in 2022–23, many Golden Visa recipients were real estate investors,” Keswani mentioned to Khaleej Times in an interview.

“However, from 2023–24 onwards, we entered the second phase of the programme. The government empowered various departments — including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Sports, and Abu Dhabi Residents Office — to globally identify individuals who could make the UAE their second home and add significant value to the economy.”

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

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

Of these, around 40 per cent were investors, with the remaining 60 per cent distributed 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.”

He added that the initial phase of the programme was focused on capital. “In recent years, we’ve seen eight of the world’s top 20 hedge funds establish operations in the UAE, bringing approximately $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.”

The Golden Visa currently offers a 10-year residency to a diverse group 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 soon.

“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.”

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 benefit 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.”