UAE offers lifetime Golden Visa? Rayad Group retracts on false claim
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The United Arab Emirates has officially denied reports claiming the introduction of a lifetime Golden Visa scheme for Indian citizens in exchange for a one-time payment. The clarification comes after several media outlets reported that Indian and Bangladeshi nationals could obtain lifetime residency in the UAE without real estate or business investment by paying a fixed fee of Dh100,000.
On Tuesday, the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) released a statement rejecting such claims. The statement, published by the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) and confirmed on ICP's official social media channels, dismissed all rumours of lifetime visa eligibility for “certain nationalities,” calling them inaccurate.
The denial follows widespread coverage suggesting a nomination-based Golden Visa model linked to the 2022 UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). According to earlier reports, the initiative was expected to attract over 5,000 Indian applicants in the first three months, with the application process managed by Rayad Group, a UAE-based consultancy.
In response to the ICP’s statement, Rayad Group issued a clarification on Wednesday. The consultancy acknowledged its role in an exploratory collaboration with licensed immigration service providers. The group emphasized that the proposed initiative was aimed at assessing the feasibility of offering advisory services for Golden Visa applicants aligned with the UAE’s strategic priorities. It reiterated that final visa decisions rest solely with the UAE authorities.
Rayad Group distanced itself from any claims of guaranteed lifetime visas, stating its involvement was limited to private advisory support for eligible individuals using legal and existing visa channels.
As of now, the official Golden Visa policy remains unchanged. The UAE offers 10-year renewable residency to investors, skilled professionals, scientists and exceptional talents, subject to specific eligibility and government approval.
