The golden visa period in Abu Dhabi is updated to a period of 10 years for all categories, instead of 5 years, according to Mark Dorzi, Director of Operations at the Abu Dhabi Residents Office.

Holders of this visa can sponsor spouses, children and parents regardless of age, with the addition of new main categories and sub-categories based on recommendations from the relevant offices such as the Abu Dhabi Office for Residents, Dorzi added.

The Abu Dhabi Residents Office indicated that the golden visa is now valid for ten years and offers a wide range of residency options for professionals and researchers in the fields of science and knowledge such as doctors, specialists, scientists and inventors.

The UAE government previously launched the Golden Residency Programme, with the aim of providing long-term residency permits which give holder the opportunity to reside in the country without the need for a guarantor.

It is allegedly issued for a period of 5 or 10 years, depending on the category.

The golden visa holder enjoys exclusive benefits including: a multiple-entry visa for a period of 6 months to complete the golden visa procedures, and a renewable residence visa for a period of 5 or 10 years.

The golden visa holder can also stay outside the UAE for longer than 6 months, and he is entitled to obtain residence permits for family members including the husband and children

The maximum number of support service labourers who can be brought to the UAE canceled, and family members can stay in the country for the duration of their residency validity, even in the event of the death of the sponsor who held the golden visa.