Kanoo backs permanent visas for long-term expats

By Joanne Bladd
  • Monday, 15 February 2010 11:14 AM
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SUGGESTION: Mishal Kanoo has lent his support to calls for long-term expatriates in the UAE to be granted permanent residency visas.

SUGGESTION: Mishal Kanoo has lent his support to calls for long-term expatriates in the UAE to be granted permanent residency visas.

A prominent Emirati businessman has backed calls for expatriates with long-term ties to the UAE to be granted permanent residency.

Mishal Kanoo, deputy chairman of the Kanoo Group, one of the country’s largest family-run businesses, said skilled foreign workers with roots in the UAE should qualify for permanent residency.

“Someone who has been here for 30-odd years, in the country, they should naturally get residency. This is my opinion. This does not represent government policy but that is my opinion,” he told Arabian Business.

“I have no issues with residency. As long as people are coming in to add value, why not? I think anyone who is willing to come and invest in my country, why should I say no to the best and the brightest?”

Under current visa laws, expatriate workers in the UAE are sponsored by their employers. Should an employment contract be terminated, the visa will expire. UAE immigration laws prohibit unemployed expatriates from residing in the country.

Qualifying expatriates would need to pass a background check and, in a reflection of immigration policy in Europe, the US and Australia, prove their job could not be filled effectively by a UAE national, Kanoo suggested. A failure to speak Arabic, however, should not necessarily be a barrier.

“[The language]… not necessarily. You can pick it up. But I do expect there to be a background check on people, which is done in every other country, to confirm they are genuine. And if I can replace them with my own population, fine. But if I can’t replace them? Then these people are bringing benefits to the country.”

The issue of permanent residency is a hot topic in the energy-rich Gulf countries, which rely heavily on imported foreign labour to support their economies. Each of the six GCC states has flatly refused to consider extending citizenship to long-term migrant workers, partly for fear of overwhelming the minority local population.

Bahrain has said it may introduce a residency cap for unskilled expatriates later this year, which would restrict their stay in the Arab state.

Kanoo, however, dismissed fears that opening up permanent UAE residency to qualifying expatriates would engulf the local population, arguing that the percentage of qualifying workers would be small. Expatriates currently account for roughly 80 percent of the country’s population.

“Let me properly put this in perspective. If I removed the labourers, who are building the country, I’ve probably removed 20 to 30 percent of the population of the UAE,” he said.

“The question the policymakers should be looking at is whether they want to have a concentration of one population, or they want to have a spread. But that is an issue for policymakers.”

When asked whether the introduction of residency for certain expatriates is inevitable, Kanoo said: “I personally don’t see why not.”

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Posted by: Nafees Ahamed Tuesday, 23 February 2010 1:37 PM[UAE] - UAE

@freelancer Of course we knew that we did/do not have the right for request for residency in UAE. Things change over the time! Kanoo?s idea is dated 2010 not 1970?s, perhaps nobody had this in minds. Kanoo has given his view and we are making our views as well. Even in western countries, the migration program keeps on changing as per particular country?s requirements. This could happen in UAE in the future! If UAE government to consider PR, there are valid grounds. You and me can?t predict what the government would do in the future. Employing expatriates was necessary for UAE since they did not have the expertise locally. Finally, it is win-win situation (at the current set up), where expat employee get paid and UAE gets the labour/expertise. As such, it is bilateral. Once again, I reiterate the fact that our views supporting PR need necessarily be treated as complaints.

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Posted by: Ramchandran Iyer Saturday, 20 February 2010 7:38 PM[UAE] - UAE

I feel people should not be discriminated on any grounds irrespective of caste or religion UAE is a country known for unity in diversity. As Mr. Kanoo says it will really add value to the culture of UAE. Definitely there should be criterion based on which the status should be given. If all the criteria are met i dont see any thing stoping this phenomenon.

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Posted by: Omar Al Mazrouei Saturday, 20 February 2010 12:18 PM[UAE] - UAE

May be our guests must value their motherlands a little more, they seem to have forgotten that their motherlands are waiting for them and their contributions. After all our guests are not refugees so i hope our guests restrict their endless demands. By the way, remember that if PRs will ever be granted which is the biggest impossibility, Arabic will be a prerequisite, not alien languages. Keep dreaming!

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Posted by: freelancer Saturday, 20 February 2010 11:40 AM[UAE] - UAE

@nafeees Yes , You are still a guest , You come here to work for some time .. and according to the work contract AND the law, it doesnot state that IF You raise ALL Of your kids and Grand children, YOu will be granted a Permanent Visa .. Sorry .. !! I am surprised that Some are complainining that after they Stayed for SO many many years, they didnot GET the Permanent visa .. well the work contract and the LAW donot grant permanent visa even if you stayed 100 years .. and YOU agreed upon these conditions .. SO why complain NOW when you simply Agreed to the work contract since Starting working Here many years ago .. ?? !!

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Posted by: Gandhi.P.K. Friday, 19 February 2010 2:57 PM[UAE] - INDIA

By allowing permenant visa to expatriates , UAE will prosper and money earned here will be invested here thus giving a boost to economy.Look at USA , they are very open hence it is the number country in the world.Of course govt should impose certain conditions like minimum saty and owner of property.Knowing arabic lengauge should not be a barrier.

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