ABU DHABI: People who own property in the UAE can now enter the country on a multitrip entry visa and stay up to six months under a new resolution issued by the UAE Interior Minister Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
A confusion in this regard has been prevailing for quite some time. The new ruling clears the confusion.
There was an uncertainty around the promise that buying a freehold property came with a 99-year residency visa included as part of the deal. Although there was no law to back this up, many property companies were using it as a sales tool.
Last week, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Makoutm, UAE vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, had said that the property companies didn't have the right to offer the visa promise.
However, under the new resolution, the multi-entry permit can be renewed according to a set of specific requirements and conditions. State news agency WAM said that the resolution is a part of government's efforts to introduce adequate legislations that stimulate and boost the domestic economic environment and provide all factors that will ensure highest rates of growth and prosperity.
In view of the resolution, a new paragraph will be added to article 33 of the executive regulations of the law for entry and residency of foreigners. It will read: "Owners of built-in properties can stay for six months from the date of entry into the country. After this, the owner has to depart for homeland or any of the GCC countries. He will only be allowed to enter the country again after meeting the required conditions."
Article 34 will be incorporated into the by-law stipulating that the owner should submit a multitrip entry visa in regards to the property as per the following conditions: The property should be built-in (this case doesn't include owners of vacant lands). The owner should obtain a title of the property from the property registration authority. The unit, be a house or an apartment, should be wholly owned by the concerned person. The same article stipulates that the value of the unit should not be less that AED1 million. It should be fit for accommodation.
The article permits the owner to include in the visa application his spouse and children but demands an insurance cover for all, valid for the limit of the stay. Article 34 stipulates that owner should have a fixed income of AED10,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies whether inside or outside the country. The visa is only to live in the country and not for employment.
