The United Arab Emirates is rapidly transitioning to a merit-based model of residency, which means that the old employer-funded visa program is giving way to one based on skills, qualifications and professional success.
The strategy is a subset of broader efforts to recruit international talent and contribute to long-term economic development, in addition to making the country a centre of innovation and high-value industries.
Move towards skills-based residency
Visa revisions have opened a new avenue for obtaining residency based on one’s professional profile, not just through employment.
They are long-term residency plans like Golden Visa and Green Visa, focused on skilled professionals, investors, freelancers and entrepreneurs.
The officials have indicated that they intend to develop a more mobile structure that becomes a reward for talent and allows one to play their part in the economy without having to be dependent on one employer.
More freedom to expats
To expatriates who are already established in the UAE, the change gives a greater degree of stability and freedom.
The eligible residents may:
- Move freely in the job
- Stay in the country without being sponsored by an employer at this time
- Family members in the sponsor programs with the longer visa program
According to the analysts, this minimises the uncertainty, and it enables professionals to strategise their careers with more confidence.
Openings in the labour market
The potential job seekers, who are planning to join the UAE market, will also benefit.
More visa options, such as job-seeker visas, and additional ways of entry provide additional opportunities, which means that applicants are free to go to the country and research their chances of finding employment without necessarily securing a job before going to the country.
This has significantly increased the talent pool where employers can tap, particularly in fields where there is a skills shortage, such as technology, healthcare and engineering, as observed by the experts in recruitment.
Target skills that are in demand
The government is placing more emphasis on recruiting people with specialised skills and with good academic or professional backgrounds.
Sectors that are likely to boom include:
Data view: Technology and artificial intelligence.
- Biology and healthcare.
- Finance and fintech
- Education and research
The plan is complementary to the long-term vision of the UAE, which focuses on creating a knowledge-based economy and decreasing the dependence on the traditional sectors.
Implications for the labour market
The shift to a merit-based system will probably change the job market by making it more competitive and demanding more when hiring.
Experts say that employers will be able to pay more attention to those applicants who actually have proven experience, certifications, and specialised skills and offer more flexible working options.
In the meantime, the rise of freelancers and other freestanding professionals would result in diversity in the workplace.
Challenges remain
Although the reforms bring new opportunities, there are some workers who may be challenged by the reforms.
Less skilled positions would be under pressure as emphasis is shifted to high-value talent. Moreover, job seekers might be required to improve their skills to keep up with the dynamic employment market.
As part of an overall strategy
The shift in the residency policy towards meritocracy is a reflection of the broader policy trend in which the UAE seeks to become a more competitive country and capture foreign expertise.
The country is aiming to develop a more dynamic and sustainable workforce by providing long-term residency opportunities and shifting away from more traditional sponsorship frameworks.
Outlook
As the system is further enhanced, they predict further modifications to the visa classes and qualifying conditions.
To the expats and job hunters, the shift portends an emerging trend whereby skills, flexibility and professional value will be central in facilitating access to opportunities in the UAE.
