UAE launches residence permit for remote workers

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a residency permit for telecommuters, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Arab country's vice president and prime minister, has announced.

"Any employee anywhere in the world can reside in the UAE to practice work remotely even if the company is not present in the country," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. 

This decision comes in light of the work-from-home policy that was widely accepted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to encourage workers employed around the world to relocate to Dubai.

The vice president and prime minister of the UAE noted on the social network Twitter that "development is continuous, the change will not stop… our teams continue day and night to consolidate our international economic and political position and establish a quality of life that is the best in the world for our people and all those residing here," he said. 

Meanwhile, following its latest meeting, the UAE government has announced that it will adopt multiple-entry tourist visas for all nationalities, which will facilitate travel to the country. “The UAE is a global economic capital and all our decisions will be based on this vision”, as reported in the Gulf Mail. All of this is part of the UAE's economic strategy aimed at diversifying its economy and boosting all types of sectors so as not to depend exclusively on oil. 

In October, Dubai announced an online work programme to allow professionals to live in the emirate while employed by companies abroad. Through this initiative, applicants can obtain all the services available to permanent residents in Dubai, including telephone and internet, utilities and education.