A dedicated service for golden visa holders and major employers in the UAE has been introduced.
Dubai's immigration service, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, said a new team was set up to handle applications for holders of golden visas, major companies that have more than 10,000 workers and operators of four and five-star hotels.
The ‘You Are Special’ team will be available 24-7 from July 7 to deal with applications and ensure they are processed promptly.
“We have taken great steps to achieve the goals of the UAE’s national agenda through enhancing and improving our services that meet the needs of our customers,” said Maj Gen Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of the GDRFA.
“We seek to be at the forefront and aim to achieve customers’ requirements through services that distinguish Dubai from the rest of the world.”
People can log on to smart.gdrfad.gov.ae or call 8005111 to inquire about the service.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of a golden card visa scheme in May 2019 to give exceptional workers and foreign investors the opportunity to create deeper roots in the country and allow the nation to benefit from their expertise.
The 10-year residency scheme is aimed at attracting workers in the fields of health, engineering science and arts.
The scheme has been expanded since it was launched to include medical personnel, scientists, workers with backgrounds in computer and electrical engineering and those with AI and programming expertise.
This week, the UAE government announced that high-school pupils who achieved top marks in their final exams would be granted golden visas.
Children who scored 95 per cent or more will receive a 10-year visa for themselves and their immediate families.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
