It will soon be easier to sponsor your family in the UAE as an expat, thanks to a new set of criteria announced on Sunday (March 31)
According to a statement from the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, the amended provisions now indica
te “income” as a requirement for sponsoring family members, as opposed to the previously listed “professions” which allowed workers to sponsor their loved ones.
Previously the residency visa regulations have been based on an individual’s job title and those wishing to sponsor their family needed a job title of managerial level or above with a monthly salary of 4,000 AED for men, and for women, a doctor, engineer or teacher, with a salary of 4,000 AED per month with an option of petitioning should she be in a different industry and earning a monthly salary of 10,000 AED.
The General Secretariat of the Cabinet announced that “The decision aims at enhancing family stability of foreign workers and social cohesion, as well as attracting highly skilled workers while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life”.
Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation stated that this decision will improve the family lives and social ties of private sector workers.
He also highlighted the decision’s positive effects on the labour market, as it will increase productivity, support the national economy, and improve the performance of workers within a comprehensive environment that will integrate the entire community.
In his statement yesterday (Monday 1st April), Al Hamli stressed that the UAE hosts over 200 nationalities and guarantees their rights, which are safeguarded by national legislation, as it considers everyone to be active partners in the development process, making the UAE the first-choice destination for manpower and experts who see the country as a safe place to work and live.