2009-05-03 10:30:20
WAM Abu Dhabi, 2nd May 2009 (WAM) -- Owners of properties in the UAE can enter the country and stay up to six months as per entry permit ( a multi-trip entry visa) under a new resolution issued by Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior.

Under the new move, the multi-entry permit can be renewed according to a set of specific requirements and conditions.

The resolutions is part of the UAE government 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 as per the vision of the prudent leadership and its continuous directives to improve and upgrade procedural formalities and frameworks to satisfy demands of local markets and serve public interest.

The move also underlines the government commitment to serve interests of all persons who view the country as an oasis of stability and peace, therefore possessing properties in it. By allowing those persons to bring in their wives and children, the government shows its keenness to ensure family stability to them.

In view of the resolution, a new para 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-up properties can stay for six months from the date of entry into the country. On the expiry of this period, the owner pledges to depart for his homeland or any of the GCC countries. He will only be allowed to enter the country again after meeting the required conditions''.

Another new article, carrying number 34 bis, will be incorporated into the by-law stipulating that the owner should submit a multi-trip entry visa in regards to the property as per the following conditions.

The property should be built-up and this case doesn't include owners of vacant lands. The owner should obtain a title of the property from the property registration authority in the emirate. 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 Dh 1 million. The unit should be fit for accommodation and for members of the family. The departments of naturalisation and residency will scrutinise this point. The article allows the owner to include in the visa application his spouse and children and attaches an insurance cover (for him, his wife and children) valid for the limit of the stay in the country.

Article 34 stipulates that owner should have a fixed income of not less than Dh 10,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies whether inside or outside the country though the visa doesn't give the owner of the property the right to work inside the country.

In case these terms are not met, the permit shall be null and void.

The resolution shall go into effect from the date of its issuance and be published in the gazette.

WAM/TF