Category: Newsletter

Government of Oman has introduced sweeping changes to its labor law, with priority given to its citizens and employees granted a host of new and extended paid leaves.

It was a landmark decision that both employers and staff have lauded, saying it would modernise rules and address key aspects of employment in the country, according to local media reports.

Major reforms that were made under Royal Decree No. 53 of 2023 included extended leaves for parents, caregivers, and those who are sick. Part-time employment was introduced, and regulations were set in managing redundancies in the workplace.

New, extended leaves for both citizens and expats
These leave benefits are given to employees each year under the new law:

• Working mothers will now get 98 days of paid maternity leave which covers the periods before and after a child’s birth. They can also avail of unpaid leave for up to one year for child care. Once they get back to work, they are entitled to an hour for child care every day.
• Fathers can file paternity leave for seven days.
• Those who need to take care for a sick family member have the option to avail of a 15-day leave.
• Employees are entitled to 182 days of sick leave, with certain conditions applied. Full pay will be given for the first day until the 21st day; 75 per cent of salary for 22nd until 35th; 50 per cent for 36th until 70th; and 35 per cent for 71st until 182nd day.
• Fifteen days of study leave are granted to employees enrolled in schools, institutes, or universities.
• A female Muslim worker is entitled to 130 days of leave in case of her husband’s death; and 14 days for a non-Muslim woman.
• Workers can be granted special leaves without pay.

Part-time work

The law now allows employees to temporarily work for another employer — a decision aimed at easing business operations and reducing recruitment costs.

Probation, appraisals

Employers may terminate an employee’s contract if he/she fails to achieve performance and productivity goals. The worker shall be notified about areas of inefficiency and given no less than six months to address them.

Business owners are also required to establish a performance appraisal system.

Omanisation

Expat employees can be terminated if an Omani worker is employed to replace them in the same position. This provision seeks to facilitate the process of ‘Omanisation’, according to the government.

Women’s area

A dedicated rest space should be created in establishments with more than 25 female employees.

UAE Relaxes the Visa Rules for Residents & Tourists: Highlights

Glad tidings! World-renowned for expat-friendliness, the United Arab Emirates is to ease the visa rules for resident ex-pats from the month of September this year while implementing new visa types for foreigners. Now you have more options and reasons to visit or migrate to your favourite emirate! Let’s quickly have a look at those remarkable changes in the UAE visa system that UAE lovers the world over have been wishing for a long time.

A quick recap

A few months ago, on 18th April 2022, the Executive Regulations to Federal Decree-Law on Entry and Residence of Foreigners (the “Regulations”) received approval from the UAE Cabinet. The Regulations present a host of new, flexible visas to the UAE and residency permits which include perks for individuals and their families, facilitating and simplifying the requirements of all residence types.

The highlights of the new “Regulations”

The UAE recently has brought into existence about ten different types of new entry visas, and residence permits, and has extended the categories of Golden Visa, effective from September 2022. According to the recent amendment in the visa system, foreigners have now a wide range of choices in the Entry Visa category and residents and their family members can enjoy more flexibility in terms of their grace period after visa expiration or cancellation. New 5-year residence tracks have been introduced to lure talents, skilled professionals, and freelancers. Ahead, we are going to rattle through the major changes done in the UAE visa system.

1. Sponsorship of UAE residents’ offspring

• The sponsorship age limit for sons of parents residing in the UAE has been extended from 18 years to 25 years.
• There is no limit on the sponsorship of unmarried daughters
• Differently-abled children are eligible for a special permit regardless of their age

2. Green Residence Visa

Applicable to skilled workers, self-employed, freelancers, and their likes, the Green Visa (or Green Residence) offers the below-mentioned benefits to the holders under the new Law

Skilled Employees

• Skilled employees are offered a 5-year residency without the need of a sponsor or employer, provided the applicant has a valid employment contract and is classified in the first, second or third occupational level as per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
• The applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and receive a salary of at least AED15,000
• Green Visa holders are allowed to sponsor first-degree relatives as well
• Children of determination are awarded a residence permit regardless of age.

Freelancing & Self-Employment

• This track of Green Visa offers a 5-year residency for freelancers and self-employed individuals without requiring a sponsor or employer in the UAE, provided they acquire a freelance/ self-employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE)
• The applicant should be in possession of a bachelor’s degree or specialised diploma
• The annual income from self-employment for the last two years should be at least AED360,000, or that the applicant proves financial solvency throughout their stay in the country.

Investor or Partner

• This Green Visa track offers a 5-year residency (previously 2 years) for investors venturing or partaking in commercial activities
• Approval of the investment and proof of investment is required from the applicant
• The total invested capital will be calculated in case the investor (partner) has more than one licence.
• Approval of the competent local authorities is also obligatory
• Green Residence holders are entitled to receive residence permits for their first-degree relatives, and in all cases, the validity of sponsored members’ residency shall not be different from that of the sponsor (original residence holder)

3. New Entry Visas

Under the new visa system, UAE visitors have a plethora of visa types to choose from, depending on the purpose of their travel. And for the first time, they don’t require a host or sponsor. The new Entry visas provide loose visa durations to meet the individual needs of the visitors and the purpose of their visit and are obtainable for single or multiple entry options and are renewable for a similar period(s). Additionally, every Entry visa comes with a validity of 60 days from the date of issuance. Let’s look at the different types of Entry visas and their features below:

Job Exploration Entry Visa

• Designed for young talents and skilled professionals who are willing to travel to the UAE in search of jobs
• Applicants don’t need a host or sponsor to obtain the visa
• Dispensed to those categorised in the first or second or third skill level as per the MoHRE
• Fresh graduates of the world’s best 500 universities are eligible for this visa type as well
• Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is the minimum educational level required to attain the visa

Business Entry Visa

• Structured for investors and entrepreneurs so that they can explore business and investment opportunities in the UAE
• Allows the holder easy entry without requiring a sponsor or host

Tourist Visa

• This visa type does not require a sponsor or host
• The visa holder is allowed to stay in the country for up to 90 days in a row,
• Extendable for a similar period, provided that the entire period of stay does not overextend 180 days in one year requiring proof of bank balance of US$4,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies) during the last six months prior to submitting the application
• There exists a five-year multi-entry tourist visa in addition to the regular one that is sponsored by tourism establishments in the UAE

Visit Relatives or Friends

• A visitor can apply for this entry permit if they are a relative or friend of a UAE citizen or resident
• The applicant of this visa type does not require a sponsor or a host

Temporary Work Mission

• Suitable for individuals with a temporary work assignment like probation testing or project-based mission
• Sponsored by the employer of the applicant
• Submission of a temporary work contract (or a letter from the employer clarifying the visit purpose) and proof of medical fitness to work is mandatory to obtain this visa type

Study & Training

• Introduced for those who are visiting the UAE to attend training and study courses and/or participate in internship programs
• The visa type must be sponsored by either a UAE-licenced university or academic institution or research organisation (UAE licenced) or government or private entities
• A letter from the entity, clarifying the details of the study or training or internship programme and its duration, must be presented to acquire the visa

4. Golden Visa

• Golden Visa is issued to scientists, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, humanitarian pioneers, frontline heroes, star students/graduates and investors on purchasing property worth AED 2 million or more
• UAE residents holding a 10-year Golden Visa can sponsor their family members with no age constraints
• The Golden Visa holder and their families can stay outside the UAE without the fear of losing their residency now
• In the event of the death of the Golden Visa sponsor, family members are allowed to stay in the UAE till the end of their residency permit
• The family members can also sponsor domestic workers without any limits
• Skilled professionals withdrawing monthly salaries of AED 30,000 ($8,100) or more will now find it easier to achieve a Golden Visa.

5. Residence Permit Issued on Humanitarian Grounds

• Granted to a female UAE resident whose husband passed away, and she has a child or more
• Applicable to the parents of children of UAE citizens bearing foreign passports

Get in touch with GulfJobSeeker.com regarding your UAE visa needs or business setup assistance in Dubai or any other emirates of the UAE. Your first consultancy in UAE is First Impression Management Consultancy.