Dubai real estate buyers visa law – No news yet

According to Emirates Business, a law that would clarify the rules on issuing residency visas to property buyers in Dubai will be released within this year.

“We believe this has to be cleared. We raised it to the government and the government came back and said there is a law that will come very soon and we feel it has to come,” said Hamad Buamim, Director-General of DCCI.

“The law will clarify who deserves a visa in terms of their investment in the real estate. We don’t know when it will be out but the government says it will be soon. I think soon means within this year.”

Apparently, the law has to come via a decree issued by the government, seconded by the Ministry of Interior and completely approved by the immigration.

Many developers during the boom were offering a 99-year visa for purchase of freehold property. But Al Shirawi said such guarantees are not within the jurisdiction of any property firm. “The government said there would be a certain arrangement but there was no specific law,” said Al Shirawi. When freehold properties were first sold,  ownership of property did not guarantee residence visa and some developers were forced to remove the offer of a visa back in 2008 – Guaranteed visas in Dubai withdrawn.

“Some of the developers just extended their promises for certain commercial benefits without having any legal back-up to substantiate their claims,” said Al Shirawi.

He further urged the government to have an official spokesperson to deal with the visa issues. “I do advocate the concept that we should have an official spokesman, who addresses these issues in a very clear and transparent manner.”

Unfortunately, “clear and transparent,” does not seem to be on the agenda in Dubai and this recent annoncement just adds to the confusion at the moment. In June 2008 it was announced that short term visas for foreign investors in Dubai would be introduced, which came to nothing and as the law stands currently, out of work foreigners must still leave the country within 30 days.