It's pretty clear that the UAE is making its mark on the global stage economically. It's probably no coincidence that it is also experiencing an unprecedented population growth, as expats from all over the world pour into the country (and Dubai in particular). New statistics show that during the 12-month period between 2022 and 2023, almost 100,000 people made the move to the Emirate. That's a lot of people. But why are so many making the move to the UAE?
Sunshine, security and the opportunity for financial growth, mainly. Not only that, but the UAE government are investing heavily in the country, as you can see from the following news sources:
‘Dubai will spend 18 billion dirhams ($5 billion) on building a new metro line as the Middle East’s premier business and tourism hub looks to expands its public transport system amid a surge in the city’s population’ – Bloomberg, November 2023.
‘Hot on the tail of its huge Boeing 777X order yesterday, Emirates has announced plans to build a $950 million maintenance mega-hub at Dubai World Central Airport (DWC). According to the carrier, the facility will be "the largest and most advanced of its kind to be operated by an airline" and will open in 2027’ - simpleflying.com
‘The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast that the UAE's real GDP will grow by 3.4 percent in 2023 and 4 percent in 2024’ - wam.ae
The UAE government also seems to be putting things in place to make moving to the UAE more accessible. They've opened up a wide range of pathways to get a visa, making it easier than ever for anyone looking to make the UAE their new home.
The most prestigious of these pathways is the UAE Golden Visa. As the name suggests, it's the golden standard for visas. The UAE Golden Visa allows the holder to live and work in the UAE for 10 years and sponsor family member. Also, it isn't held to the same entry / exit restrictions as other visa types - those with a UAE Golden Visa are free to come and go as they please. They are quite exclusive, though. Only those with something significant to contribute are eligible - whether that's professional expertise or property investment. If you're applying for a UAE Golden Visa, it's important to work out which documents you'll need to submit for your application.
Do I need to attest documents for my UAE Golden Visa application?
Yes - even with the prestigious UAE Golden Visa, you will still need to attest your documents before you can submit your visa application. Attestation is a non-negotiable part of the process.
Which documents you need to attest will always differ depending on your application, but the authorities may require legalisation of: professional certificates, medical clearance certificates, police clearance certificates and personal documents (marriage certificates / birth certificates). You should clarify this with whoever you're presenting the documents to.
If this is your first experience of expatriate life, the attestation process will probably come as a complete (and unpleasant!) surprise. If you've handled document attestation before, you'll likely know how lengthy, expensive and frustrating it can be. But that doesn't need to be the case. Vital Certificates can help you.
Before you start your visa application process, get in touch with our team of trusted attestation experts. We'll be able to guide you through the attestation process and make sure you've got everything ready in good time. We can help you attest documents from hundreds of countries, so no matter where your documents originate from, it's likely we'll be able to help.
Don't underestimate document attestation. It's so important to be prepared and plan for your move in advance. The document attestation process can take a lot longer than people first suspect - in some cases it can take 3 months, and that's before you've even started the visa application! If you want to avoid these delays, get in touch with us today.
Plan ahead. Call our friendly team of attestation advisors today on +971 (0)4 871 6718 and find out exactly what's what before you get started on your journey. We can work with you to make sure your documents are attested properly and ready to be used on time!
