A Dubai-based group in the midst of the contentious ‘lifetime UAE Golden Visa’ has accepted full responsibility for the alleged nomination-based resident effort, which includes references to a fixed Dh100,000 price equal to about Rs 23 lakh, reports Khaleej Times.
In a statement sent to Khaleej Times on Wednesday, a day after the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) issued a strong statement debunking such a claim of “lifetime visa” arrangement, Rayad Group issued a clarificatory statement saying:
“The Rayad Group acknowledges the recent media coverage and public discussions regarding a purported nomination-based UAE Golden Visa initiative, including references to a fixed Dh100,000 fee and a so-called “lifetime visa” arrangement.
To clarify, the initiative in question was part of an exploratory collaboration between the Rayad Group and licenced partners specialising in immigration services. This effort aimed to assess the feasibility of providing advisory support for Golden Visa applications to eligible individuals, particularly those aligned with the strategic priorities of the UAE.
Rayad Group underscored: “All visa decisions remain solely under the jurisdiction of the relevant UAE government authorities. Our role has been limited to providing private advisory support to individuals, at their own discretion, seeking to apply through existing legal pathways.
We have always maintained that application facilitation does not imply entitlement, nor does it bypass official procedures,” the Dubai based group added, as reported by Khaleej Times.
“We concur with the statement issued by the ICP, which affirms that all Golden Visa applications must be processed through official, government-approved channels.
Rayad Group “apologised unreservedly for the public confusion caused by recent reports and commentary, adding: “We take full responsibility for ensuring future communications are clear, accurate, and consistent with the UAE’s stringent regulatory frameworks.
We also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge that certain public comments made by Rayad Group’s Managing Director were misplaced and have contributed to the misinterpretation of our role and the nature of the initiative in question.
These statements did not accurately reflect our intent, our scope of services, or the limitations of our authority in relation to the UAE Golden Visa programme.
To reiterate with full clarity: no guaranteed visa, fixed-price programme, or lifetime UAE residency product currently exists, and the Rayad Group does not offer, support, participate, or endorse any such arrangement.
“Due to the confusion caused, the Rayad Group is discontinuing private advisory services for Golden Visas,” the statement ended.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has previously refuted rumors that the United Arab Emirates is giving lifetime Golden Visas. These rumors were spread by local and international media outlets and websites.
The ICP, in the statement, stated, “all UAE Golden Visa applications are managed exclusively through official government channels within the country, and no internal or external advisory body is considered an approved party in the application process.”
“The categories of golden residence, their conditions and controls are determined by the UAE laws, legislation and official ministerial decisions,” ICP added, noting: “Those wishing to know the requirements for the UAE Golden Visa can obtain them through the ICP website or smart application.”
As of now, UAE golden visas are offered under four major categories – As a business investor, As a real estate investor, As an Entrepreneur, and as Outstanding Specialised Talents, including doctors, scientists, outstanding students, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes.
As a business and real estate investor, one needs an investment of 2 million dirhams, around Rs 4.67 crore, while the minimum investment as an entrepreneur is 500,000 dirhams, around Rs 1.16 crore.
On Monday, July 7, when the nomination-based UAE Golden Visa was announced, FE Online was skeptical from the start. “But is the path to UAE residence as simple as it sounds? “Getting a UAE Golden Visa for a mere Rs 23 lakh?” is how we responded to the development.
On July 8, FE Online reported on the development and exclusively revealed that the Rs 23 lakh UAE Golden Visa is a marketing gimmick and just’rebranding’.
Today, July 9, ICP, the UAE’s highest immigration body, confirmed that the nomination-based visa news is a rumour.
Also Read: UAE Golden Visa for Rs 23 lakh is a rumour, confirms UAE officials, ‘no consultancy entity involved’