UAE drafts law for 100% foreign ownership of firms

The UAE is at an advanced stage of drafting a foreign investment law that would allow 100 percent foreign ownership of businesses in some sectors, the economy minister said on Monday.

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, speaking at an international investment conference in Dubai, did not specify the sectors or say when the law might be passed. The process of drafting and enacting major laws in the UAE often takes years.

But the initiative may mark a more aggressive push by the Arab world's second biggest economy to attract investment. At present, foreigners generally cannot own more than 49 percent of any UAE firm unless it is incorporated in a special "free zone".

A new companies law, anticipated to take effect within months, was originally expected to relax this restriction, but that reform was dropped because of strong opposition from some Emiratis who feared they could lose out to foreigners.

Mansouri said on Monday, however, that the UAE was determined to diversify its economy beyond oil and saw foreign investment as a key way to do this.

"Economies face pressures from changes in the international environment, including the drop of the oil price," he said.

While Mansouri did not say how the new foreign investment law would work, it may require fully foreign-owned firms to transfer technology in sectors that are strategically important for the UAE. Officials have previously said they are keen to attract technology for industries such as aerospace.

New foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UAE rose 25 percent to $13 billion in 2014, Mansouri said, adding that the government aimed to raise FDI to 5 percent of gross domestic product in coming years. GDP was AED1.540 trillion ($420 billion) last year, he said.

6 ways to get your working visa

So many countries offer working holiday visas these days, allowing you to earn some extra money while you travel and take in the culture. Here are the countries that offer such visas and how to go about applying for them – and, for those that don't, the other visas that are available to you.

1. Australia

Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Australia's Working Holiday programme allows people aged between 18-30 to travel and work within the country for 12 months. Travel is open, you can enter and re-enter as much as you want during this time, but the employment must be the secondary purpose, and only be for six of the 12 months. Employment can only be extended in exceptional conditions.

Visitors from America apply for the Subclass 462 visa, while travellers from the UK, India and Canada for the Subclass 417 visa. New Zealand passport holders can work in Australia without restriction.

For non-US applicants, generally you can apply for a second working holiday visa after completing three months of work on your first visa. Working holiday visa holders are permitted to undertake any kind of temporary or casual work.

2. UK

UK Border Agency

The UK's Youth Mobility Scheme is available to nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand aged 17-30, allowing holders 24 months to work and travel during the full two-year period. Although this is a time limit which cannot be extended or put on hold, travel is open for you to leave or re-enter the country to your heart's content.

There are no restrictions on the type of work you are allowed to do, except that you can't start up your own business, work in professional sports or as a trainee doctor. You also don't need a UK sponsor.

Indian citizens require a general visitor visa for tourism, which extends to no longer than six months and does not include employment. However, if you visit the UK on a regular basis, you can apply for a multiple-entry, long-term visa for one, two, five or ten years.

You can also apply under British ancestry if you are want to work in the UK and are a Commonwealth citizen and can prove that at least one of your grandparents was born in the UK. This allows you to stay and work in the UK for five years or more.

3. America

American Visa Bureau

Those hoping to visit America just for travel from the UK, Australia or New Zealand can be covered for three months' travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), as long as an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application is completed. Under the B2 American Tourist visa, you can extend this up to six months, however no employment or financial gain is permitted. The J1 visa does cover on the job training for the extent of an exchange program, both for casual and more specialised work environments.

America unfortunately does not offer work holiday visas, but there are temporary employment and tourist visas available. The H1B required a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in the specialty, the relevant work experience and any lisence, registration or certificate needed to authorise practice. These are generally issued for three years, and may be extended. L1 applicants must be related to an American organisation, have continuously worked for the organisation for at least one year in the past three and be a person of specialised knowledge.

There are 10,500 E-3 visas open on a first-come, first-serve basis to Australian nationals, provided they have an offer of specialty employment already in place. These are valid for two years and can be renewed indefinitely on a two-year basis. Canadians can also be employed under a TN visa as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

4. New Zealand

Immigration New Zealand

Conditions for a working holiday visa in New Zealand vary from country to country, but Australian nationals are able to live and work in New Zealand at any time for any duration. Working holiday visas are available for US, UK and Canadian citizens. British eligibility requires that applicants be between 18-30, and can apply for a 12 or 23-month stay, although must not work for more than 12 months of this time.

Americans and Canadians have the opportunity of 12 months with a working holiday visa. Applicants from the US must be between 18-30, whereas Canada extends this up to 35. Most travellers can also enrol in one training or study course of up to three months during this time. Visa holders are free to leave and re-enter the country at will during the allotted time.

For purely tourist purposes, Canadians can visit New Zealand for up to three months without a visa. British citizens for up to six months.

5. Canada

Canadian Visa Bureau

Canadian working holiday visas, or International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits are open to nationals of Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and the age restrictions, type of work allowed and duration varies.

New Zealanders between 18-35 can apply for a year's work permit, while British nationals between 18-30 can apply for a year. Australians aged 18-30 can apply for a visa for up to two years.

In terms of temporary work visas, not all jobs require a visa (such as clergy, film and media crew, public speakers, judges etc), although may need a temporary resident visa. The Canadian Visa Bureau has also advertised that certain IT workers can have their work permits processed faster, due to demand.

Most don't need a visa just to visit Canada, although Indian nationals do. A temporary resident visa may be required. Under NAFTA, US citizens are also able to access Canada more quickly and easily for business.

6. India

Indian Visa Application Centre UK

India unfortunately does not offer working holiday visas; those hoping to visit the country must instead apply for a tourist or an employment visa.

Employment visas for India require that you be employed by an Indian company or do honourary work with registered NGOs in India. The visas will have limited validity, irrespective of the length of contract you have with your organisation, but can be extended for up to five years.

Tourist visas are available for three months, six months or a year, and are non-extendable and cannot be converted into any other type of visa. Depending on how often you plan to leave and re-enter the country, you must apply for a single, double or multiple-entry visa.

This visa advice has been sourced for citizens of the UK, US, Canada, India, New Zealand and Australia. Many visas are open to other nationalities. Please see individual visa application websites (above) for further info.

Top 5 things to prepare before moving abroad

Research Visa Requirements

Visa requirements will vary from country to country, so it is important to research the different types of visas and find out which one suits you and your situation best. Some visas, such as the Canadian International Experience Class visa, have very limited places and fill up quite fast. For this reason, it is useful to research your visa options well in advance so as to be best prepared should a limited places approach apply to your desired visa. Our website has detailed information on the visa requirements of all of the countries listed from Australia and America to Germany and New Zealand.

Make copies of your I.D., Passport Photos and documents

Before you leave for your new country make sure to make photocopies of your ID and passport. Perhaps leave one of the copies with a friend or family member, so if you ever lose something you have a copy of it for the Embassy. Also make sure to bring along a few spare passport photos, these are handy to have when you first arrive and need to apply for local ID cards or travel cards.

Get your Qualifications Recognised

Remember that your qualifications may not be compatible to the qualification standards of your chosen country. Make sure to research if your qualifications are recognised and if not, you will have to get them recognised by the local authorities in the country. For more information on getting your skills recognised see the Where to go section on our website.

Update your C.V.

The layout of a C.V. will differ from country to country. Some countries prefer detailed descriptions on previous work experiences while other countries will only be looking for concise details of your experience. You should update your C.V. to suit the requirements of your chosen country as it will work in your favour when applying for jobs. Remember also for some countries it is a good idea to get your C.V. translated into the local language, even if it is not a requirement it will present a good image of you being prepared.

Create a Budget

It may sound like a boring idea but creating a budget will enable you to know how long you can live in your new country off your savings and what is your time limit for finding a job. You should also check if your destination country requires you to have a minimum amount of money in your bank account, and factor this into your budget. Something else that is important to factor in, is the cost of living in your destination country, as this will have a huge influence on how far your money will go.

The most important thing to remember is research. Some people will move to a country with little or no research completed and as a result they are not prepared for what is ahead. Once you research and plan you will be prepared for whatever your new move throws at you and you can enjoy it to the full, as it is going to be one of the best times of your life.

Dubai, UAE, Visa Requirements

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION

Citizens of the following Countries will get their visa upon arrival to the UAE airports, if the duration of stay is less than one (1) month and they hold visas in their passports or entry stamps from other countries:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom (except the British overseas citizens), United States, Vatican

For all other nationalities, a visa must be applied for before the visitor enters the country either through their respective embassy, a local UAE sponsor or a local hotel.

GCC NATIONALS

Visa requirements for entering Dubai vary greatly between different nationalities and it is always advised to check regulations before traveling. Currently, every nationality entering the UAE needs a visa except citizens of GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) expatriate residents of the GCC (certain nationalities and professions) and British citizens with the right of abode in the UK, who will be granted a visa on arrival in the UAE.

GCC nationals can stay more or less as long they like. British citizens can stay for a month and then apply for a visa for a further two months.

Please note that Israelis and travelers whose passports bear Israeli stamps will be denied a visa.

VISAS THROUGH HOTELS

Tourists can get a visa from a tourist company or a hotel by first making a reservation for at least one night. They must fax/courier the hotel a copy of their passport along with the reason for the visit (tourism is an acceptable reason) and their arrival date. You must also make sure that the hotel faxes you a copy of the visa when it is ready. Airlines may require confirmation (preferably a fax copy of the document) that a visa is held before check-in at the airport. The original is held at Dubai Airport for collection before passport control.

SERVICE VISA ENTRY APPLIED THROUGH A HOTEL:

Standard process of application, but please check with your hotel first.

The visa is valid for 14 days from the date of issue and 14 days from the date of entry. The visa fees and security deposit will vary from country to country. The security deposit is also required per person and will be refunded once the visa holder leaves the country. It is advisable to contact your nearest Dubai Embassy or the hotel for more details.

Please be aware that once the visa is applied for, charges for the cost of the visa will not be refunded in such cases as Expiration, Booking cancellation, Rejection.

For the visa to be processed by the hotel, the visitor must remain a guest in that hotel for the entrire duration of their stay. Port of entry and exit of the visitor must be Dubai only. Three working days are needed to process the visa excluding, Friday, Saturday and Public Holidays.

Documents required:

Visa Charges and Security Deposit. An authorisation letter with the signature of the cardholder, as well as a copy of the credit card used (front and back side). Passport copies of card holder and visitors.

Please note all document copies, passport copies and credit card copies must be scanned clearly and with colour when sent, otherwise they will be rejected by Dubai Immigration.

TOURIST VISA

This visa is issued through tourist companies and it is valid for 30 days. You cannot renew it or extend it. If the Visa holder of the tourist visa stays more than the 30 days, that person has to pay a fine per day plus some charges for an out pass.

VISIT VISA

This Visa is issued through DNRD. It is stamped for 30 days validity but it is valid for 60 days and can be extended for 30 more days by paying an extra amount. The extension needs to be done before the 60th day. If the visitor stays more than 60 days or more than 90 days (after the extension) they will have to pay a fine per day plus some charges for an out pass.

Certain passport holders can enter the UAE without obtaining a visit visa prior to arrival and stay up to 30 days.

Documents required:

1. Photocopy of the visitor's passport
2. Visit Visa Application form, completed and signed by the sponsoring company.
3. Photocopy of the trade license of the company
4. A Guarantee letter from the company stating its responsibility of the visitor during his visit.

WORK VISA

These visas are issued for people who want to work or do business in UAE. It is valid for 60 days only, during this the work residence visa has to be processed. If the person delays in stamping the residence he will pay 25 AED fine for each day.

There are different types of Work visas:

Private companies or Establishments employees (Issued from labor Office)

1. Servants
2. Partners
3. Investors
4. Governmental institutions and Ministries (Issued from DNRD) and the person can only work in governmental institutions.

We suggest that you check with your nearest UAE consulate or embassy whether you require a visa to be issued in your passport prior to flying to the UAE.

For more information please visit UAE Embassy in Washington D.C.

You could also find Links, address and phone numbers of Embassies & Consulates in the UAE on Dubai.com Blog.

Please note, the above rules and regulations are subject to change. Contact your local embassy/consulate to get additional information

Visa Requirements for the UAE

Abu Dhabi and Dubai Visas

Visiting the UAE is usually quite a straightforward process, albeit for working visas there can be many documents needed! 

There are quite a few types of UAE visas.For example, tourist visas, working visas and business visas are just a few!

Each visa has a different length of stay and requirements for application.

Below we look at the main types of visas and how to apply for each one.

We also offer a service with a reputable UAE company if you need help with attesting documents or document translation and delivery.

If you have any questions check out our FAQ Page.

Our Tip: For business or work visas prepare at least 20 passport size photos-you will go through them quickly!!

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UAE Work Visas

If you are planning to move to UAE for a job, then you must find a sponsor. This could be arranged by a person residing in the UAE or a company who will sponsor you.

You can apply for the temporary work visas (H1B) but before you apply, make sure that you meet the requirements to apply for the visa, that is, the applicant should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree or in the case of professional jobs such as chef, the relevant practical experience.

When you analyze the visa requirements for UAE, you will see that first you need to get a UAE residential permit which will enable you to get a labor card.

It is this labor card that is used to get employment in UAE. The residential visa needs to be sponsored by a relative or by the company.

Once you have been sponsored by the company, the law makes in mandatory for the company to account for all the formalities to get you the employment visa. So the best way to get into UAE would be to get sponsored by the company as they would then take care of the formalities.

For the approval of working visa or maid visa, there are certain other requirements including:

• your passport needs to have validity of at least 6 months.
• no Israeli stamps in your passport

If you become a UAE resident you will need to apply for an ID card. Details on the process are found here.

Details on getting your residency visa in your passport are talked about here!

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Business Visas in the UAE

There is also the Abu Dhabi business visa (or UAE business visa) one can opt for if you have a are coming to work on a short term basis or conduct meetings in the UAE.

This visa is generally opted for when you go for business meetings or similar purposes and in most cases, the company you are visiting will make full arrangement for these kinds of visas for their employees or business guests.

If your spouse is accompanying you, you should have your marriage certificate with you in case you are asked for it. Other than that, the essential documents like the ones proving your qualification details needs to be carried with you.

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Tourist Visas

If you are just going to visit the country to explore the place, then you can apply for tourist visa which will provide you with a fixed number of days to make the visit.

If you happen to be a citizen of a Gulf country you don’t require a visa then your passport is more than enough.

If you are a passport holder of an approved country, then you can get a free-of-charge, single visit visa. The countries in this list are UK, New Zealand USA, Japan and a couple of others.

Canada recently became a paid visa candidate due to a disagreement with the UAE so unfortunately it is quite expensive for Canadians to enter the UAE now!

A declaration signed by the applicant and 1 passport photograph which is not older than 6 month is required.

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