Gulf citizens to be treated like Emiratis in businesses: UAE

Salam Abu Shihab, Staff Reporter

The United Arab Emirates issued Federal Law Decree No25 for the year 2024, regarding the practice of economic activities and professions by Gulf citizens in the country, which came into force on October 1, 2024.

The Law states that Gulf citizens shall be treated as UAE citizens in the practice of economic activities and professions in the country, except for economic activities and professions which are decided by the Supreme Council of the GCC or by a decision of the Council of Ministers to exempt them.

The UAE also issued Federal Law Decree No26 for the year 2024, which cancels 7 federal laws, including: Federal Law No3 for the year 1973 regarding national planning, Federal Law No10 for the year 1974 regarding the establishment of the National Bank for Investments and Development, Federal Law No13 for the year 1980 regarding the establishment of the Urban Planning Authority, Federal Law No2 for the year 1981 regarding the establishment of the General Authority for Marketing Agricultural Production, Federal Law No4 for the year 1984 regarding scholarships and study grants, Federal Law No17 for the year 2004 regarding the fight against commercial concealment, and Federal Law No11 for the year 2007 regarding the regulation of the use of government housing.

The second article of this decree states that the decisions of study grants and the provision of study grants issued based on the provisions of Federal Law No4 for the year 1984, and being carried out at the time the decree is put into force remain valid as long as they meet the conditions for their continuation.

The financial allocations for study grants and study grants stipulated in paragraph 1 of this article are paid in accordance with the decisions in force concerning them, until their completion or the issuance of a decision from the Council of Ministers to end them for the public interest. The regulations and decisions issued in implementation of the provisions of Federal Law No4 for the year 1984 continue to be applied until the end of the study grant and assistance decisions referred to in paragraph 1 of this article or the issuance of what replaces them under the decisions issued by the Council of Ministers.

Recently, the UAE’s digital government has said that residents of the GCC countries who want to visit the UAE have to get an e-visa as this is a must-have for entering the country.

The UAE’s digital government also detailed 8 conditions which are to be fulfilled for getting and applying for e-visa.

Residents of any GCC country must get an e-visa to enter the UAE before travelling, the digital government said, noting that this visa allows them to stay in the country for 30 days from the date of entry, with the option to extend it once for another 30 days.

Additionally, it says that visa applications can be submitted via the entry permit service for GCC residents through the official website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA), or alternatively, via the entry permit service for GCC residents via the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

Once the e-visa application is approved, the visa will be sent to the email address provided in the application, the DGOV said.

The family members or domestic workers employed by residents or escorts of GCC citizens must be accompanied by their sponsor in order to be allowed to travel to and enter the UAE.

The validity of the entry permit for a resident of the GCC countries is 30 days from the date of issue, with a duration of stay in the country of 30 days from the date of entry, extendable once for 30 days, the DGOV added.

The entry permit for GCC citizens is valid for 60 days from the date of issue and the holder is allowed to stay in the country for 60 days from the date of entry. Extensions are possible for a further 60 days, but only once.

A GCC resident or escort will not be allowed to enter the country if his/her residency is found to be expired or cancelled.

Similarly, the holder of the entry permit will not be allowed to enter the country if his/her job in residency is found changed after applying for the visa.

In addition, the residency and passport of visitors must have at least three months of validity upon arrival at UAE ports of entry.

The UAE Digital Government has said that the GCC residents and their escorts wishing to visit the UAE need to apply online for a visa to enter the country. The e-visa is valid for 30 days and is extendable once for 30 days.

The DGOV explained that an e-visa is a prerequisite for entry into the UAE. It was recommended that the aforementioned e-visa be obtained from the website of the General Directorate of Residency for Foreigners Affairs in Dubai and the smart channels of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

The eVisa will be sent to applicants to their registered email address once the application is approved.