For the purposes of this this Resolution, the following words and expressions shall have the meaning assigned thereto respectively, unless the context requires otherwise:
State: The United Arab Emirates.
Authority: The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
Competent Entity: Any federal or local body in the State.
Foreigner: Any natural person who does not hold the nationality of the State.
Investor: A foreigner who spends his capital to realize profits and financial returns, in accordance with the controls mentioned herein.
Entrepreneur: A foreigner who owns an economic project of a technical or future nature, based on risk and innovation, in accordance with the controls mentioned herein.
The Specialized Talent: A foreigner who has excellence, skills, leadership or outstanding performance and talent in the fields of science and knowledge, in accordance with the controls mentioned herein.

The provisions hereof shall apply to the foreigner of the following categories:
1. Investor.
2. Entrepreneur.
3. Specialized Talents and researchers in the different fields of science and knowledge.
4. Outstanding students with promising potentials in science.

The Authority may grant the Investor and his family members consisting of the husband, wife and children, the residence permits for the periods defined below, subject to renewal, without the need for a sponsor inside the State, provided that the Investor meets the rules and conditions set out herein.

1. The following conditions shall be met for granting the residence permit to the general Investor:
    a. He must have a deposit in the amount of at least (10) million dirhams in an investment fund inside the State.
    b. He must establish a company with a capital at least (10) million dirhams inside the State, or hold a share of at least (10) million dirhams in an existing or newly incorporated company.
    c. He must have investments inside the State of at a total value of at least (10) million dirhams (provided that the minimum investment in other than real estate is 60% of the total of such investments).
2. In order to grant a residence permit to an Investor in real estate projects, the real estate project or projects not be less than (5) million dirhams in value.
3. In addition to the above-mentioned requirements, the following shall be fulfilled:
    a. The invested amount must be wholly owned by the Investor, and not as a loan, and he shall prove that.
    b. He shall retain the investment for at least (3) years from the date of issuance of the residence permit.
    c. The Investor must not be indebted of civil claims or awards that reduce his solvency below (10) million dirhams.
    d. He must submit a comprehensive medical insurance policy for himself and his family members during the period of his residence in the State.
4. The residence permit of the general Investor shall be (10) years, and for the real estate Investor shall be (5) years, and it may be automatically renewable, provided that the prescribed fees are paid and the requirements prescribed by the Authority are fulfilled.
5. The investor may obtain a visa for a maximum of (3( domestic servants, depending on the family size, in accordance with the relevant legislation.
6. The foreign investor shall be granted a multi-entry permit for a period of six months, which may be renewed for another six months, to facilitate the completion of the procedures of establishing his project in accordance with the controls applicable in the Authority for issuing entry permits.

An Investor who establishes a company in the State may submit an application to the Authority for issuing a residence permit for one senior officer who acts as a managing director or advisor, and his family members for a period of (10) years, without the need for a sponsor inside the State as long as the following conditions are met:
1. He must work for the establishment of the Foreign Investor during the term of the residence permit.
2. He must take out a comprehensive insurance certificate for himself and his family members during the period of his residence in the State.
3. He must obtain the approval of the committee concerned.

a. The Authority may grant the Entrepreneur and his family members consisting of the husband, wife and children, residence permits for a renewable period of (5) years, without the need for a sponsor inside the State if he fulfills the following conditions:
    1. He must have a previous and successful project of at least (500,000) dirhams in a field approved by the Committee.
    2. He must obtain approval from a business incubator approved by the Authority in the State for establishing the business proposed to be practiced in the State.
    3. He must submit a comprehensive medical insurance policy for himself and his family members during the period of his residence in the State.
b. The Authority may grant residence permits for a renewable period of (5) years to (3) managing directors who work with the Entrepreneur, in accordance with the following conditions:
    1. He must work with the Entrepreneur during the term of the residence permit.
    2. He must submit a comprehensive medical insurance policy for himself and his family members during the period of his residence in the State.
    3. He must obtain the approval of the committee concerned.
c. The Entrepreneur may obtain a visa for one domestic servant in accordance with the relevant legislation.
d. The Entrepreneur shall be granted a multi-entry permit for a period of six months to facilitate the completion of the procedures of establishing his project in accordance with the controls applicable in the Authority for issuing the entry permits.

The Authority may grant the Specialized Talent or researcher in any different fields of science and knowledge and his family members consisting of the husband, wife and children, residence permits for a renewable period of (10) years, without the need for a sponsor inside the State if he fulfills the conditions set out below.

The Authority may grant residence permits to Specialized Talents and researchers in the different fields of science and knowledge, in accordance with the conditions set out below and for the following categories:
1. Physicians and Specialists:
The granting of a residence permit to physicians and specialists requires fulfilling at least two of the following conditions:
    a. He must hold an academic degree rendering him a Prof. Doctor from the best (500) universities in the world and accredited by the Ministry of Education.
    b. He must hold an award or appreciation certificate in recognition of his work in the specialty of the applicant.
    c. He must contribute to large researches of scientific and practical nature related to the applicant’s area of work.
    d. He must have articles or scientific books in distinguished publications in the applicant’s area of work.
    e. He must have a membership in an organization related to the applicant’s area of work, which requires outstanding work to accept the membership.
    f. He must have an academic degree not less than a doctorate, in addition to practical experience not less than (10) years in the applicant’s area of work.
    g. The specialty must be in scientific fields required and significant in the State.
2. Scientists:
The granting of a residence permit to scientists requires fulfilling one of the following two conditions:
    a. They must be accredited by the Emirates Council for Scientists; or
    b. They must have been awarded Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.
3. Creative Intellectuals and Artists:
The granting of a residence permit to the creative intellectuals and artists requires that the author must be accredited by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development.
4. Inventors:
The granting of a residence permit to an inventor requires obtaining a patent adding value to the State’s economy, as well as obtaining approval from the Ministry of Economy.
5. Elites:
A residence permit shall be granted to persons with outstanding mental faculties documented by patents or scientific research published in distinguished international periodicals.
6. Managing Directors:
A residence permit shall be granted to a managing director subject to the following conditions:
    a. He must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent.
    b. He must have at least (10) years of work experience.
    c. His monthly salary must not be less than (AED 30,000).
    d. He must have a valid employment contract in the State.
    e. He must submit a comprehensive medical insurance policy for himself and his family members throughout the period of his residence in the State.
7. Specialists in Priority Educational Areas:
A residence permit shall be granted to a specialist in educational areas, subject to the following conditions:
    a. He must be specialized in one of the rare fields or specialty of priority for the State, as determined by the committee concerned.
    b. He must submit a comprehensive medical insurance policy for himself and his family members throughout the period of his residence in the State.
    c. He must obtain the approval of the committee concerned.
The above-mentioned categories may obtain an entry permit for a period of six years, in accordance with the rules and conditions applicable in the Authority for issuing entry permits. They may obtain a visa for one domestic servant in accordance with the legislation regulating the same.

The Authority may grant a residence permit for (5) years renewable to the outstanding student who has promising scientific potentials, and his family members without the need to a sponsor inside the State if he fulfills the following conditions:
1. The student must have an excellence grade or at least 95% in the General Certificate of Secondary Education or its equivalent, provided that the certificate is accredited by the competent entity in the State.
2. The student must be enrolled at any of the universities accredited in the State and his Grade Point Average must not be less than (3.75) or its equivalent in any scientific specialties determined by the Authority in coordination with the competent entity.
3. He must obtain the approval of the competent committee.
4. He must submit a proof of registration with a university or institution approved in the State.
5. He must submit a comprehensive medical insurance policy for himself and his family members throughout the period of his residence in the State.
6. The outstanding student with promising scientific potentials shall be granted a multi-entry permit to the State for a period of six months to facilitate the completion of procedures of his registration in accordance with the conditions and controls applicable in the Authority for issuing entry permits.

1. The Authority may take the necessary action to ensure that the conditions referred to herein are continuously fulfilled by the persons covered by the provisions of this Resolution during the term of residence permit.
2. The provisions of the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No. (6) of 1973 Concerning the Entry and Residence of Foreigners, as amended, and the resolutions and regulations in force in the State, shall apply to the cases where no provision is made herein.
3. Two committees shall be formed by a resolution of the Chairman of the Authority, for the purpose of implementation of the present Resolution, as follows:
    a. An Investor Committee, to be chaired by a representative of the Authority and to take charge of examining the applications for investor residence permits referred to it by the Authority.
    b. An Entrepreneurs and Specialized Talents Committee, to be chaired by the General Secretary of the Cabinet and to take charge of examining and expressing its opinion on the Entrepreneurs’ and Specialized Talents’ applications referred to it by the Authority.
    c. The chairmen of both committees shall propose members of the committee and the mechanism of its meetings, and such proposal shall be presented to the Chairman for approval.
    d. Both committees shall submit their recommendations to the Authority.
4. The rules and conditions set out herein shall not prejudice any relevant requirements, conditions or documents enforced by the Authority in respect of issuance of visas and residence permits for foreigners inside the State.
5. Any provision that contradicts or is in conflict with the provisions of this Resolution shall be repealed.
 

The Chairman of the Authority shall issue the resolutions necessary for implementing the provisions of this Resolution.

This Resolution shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force as from 3rd of February 2019.