UAE Golden Visas: Dubai firm apologises for misinformation

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates’ Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) stated that rumours regarding the granting of lifetime Golden Visas to certain nationalities, which had been circulating on Indian media, were false.

Clarification by the ICP was needed after news articles claimed that a consultancy office based in Dubai, the Rayad Group, could issue a Golden Visa for all categories for a one time fee of just over $27,000. The ICP explained that these claims were made without consulting the relevant authorities within the UAE, and that they have no legal basis. Rayad Group has since issued an apology, which was quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

“We apologise unreservedly for the public confusion caused by recent reports and commentary, and we take full responsibility for ensuring future communications are clear, accurate, and consistent with the UAE’s stringent regulatory frameworks. We also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge that certain public comments made by Rayad Group’s Managing Director were misplaced and have contributed to the misinterpretation of our role and the nature of the initiative in question,” the Rayad Group was quoted as saying.

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The ICP reiterated that all applications are handled through official government channels and directed all concerned individuals to the authority’s website on which all relevant regulations are outlined.

Individuals were warned to not respond to false news, and to be wary of submitting personal documents or paying fees to any party spreading such claims. The ICP also threatened legal action to any party spreading false information.

“Legal action will be taken against entities spreading such false information in an attempt to illegally collect money from individuals aspiring to live and reside in the UAE, exploiting their hopes for a dignified and secure life,” the ICP stated as shared by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

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