By Sakshi Arora
<p>In a marked shift from previous residency norms, the United Arab Emirates has introduced a nomination-based Golden Visa scheme that allows eligible Indian nationals to secure a 10-year residency in Dubai — no multimillion-dirham real estate investments or business ventures required.</p>
<p>The new model, currently in its pilot phase, enables applicants to apply through a nomination system for a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (approximately Rs 23.3 lakh). This comes as a departure from the earlier requirement of investing at least AED 2 million (around Rs 4.66 crore). The policy is being piloted in India and Bangladesh, with the Rayad Group overseeing the rollout in India.</p>
<p>Rayad Kamal Ayub, Managing Director of the group, described the programme as a “golden” opportunity. Industry insiders say around 5,000 Indian applications are expected in the next three months alone.</p>
<h2><strong>Process Behind Golden Visa</strong>