UAE expands golden-visa scheme to include nurses, teachers and e-sports professionals

The United Arab Emirates launched a 10-year golden-visa programme in 2019, initially requiring a $545,000 property investment for residency. Expansions in 2020 and 2022 added doctors, nurses, engineers, technology specialists and professional gamers to the eligible pool. Dubai alone has issued more than 1,400 visas to nurses and midwives and over 223 to educators, while targeting 30,000 gaming positions and about $1 billion in GDP growth by 2033.

The visa offers tax-free status and can be held independently of an employer, attracting both high-net-worth investors and skilled expatriates. Despite recent Iranian missile and drone attacks that briefly cut Dubai's population, authorities helped stranded visa holders return and unveiled a $272 million relief package to speed residency processing. Analysts say the scheme helps the UAE manage a population that is 90 % foreign-born and diversify its economy.