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Congrats, you have got a 10-year visa, KT informs expat professor

Dubai - 20 expats were granted this special visa for the first time after it was announced last year.

Khaleej Times became the bearer of good news for a Sharjah-based professor who became one of 20 expats to be granted 10-year residence visas on Wednesday. The UAE government granted the first batch of long-term visas to the winners and finalists of the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.
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First 10-year UAE residency visa granted to 20 expats
After KT broke the news to Dr Ghaleb Husseini (pictured, right), professor and associate dean of engineering at the American University of Sharjah, he said: "Oh my God, I had no idea I was actually being considered ... A woman had contacted me earlier, asking me for a copy of my passport with the visa page. Thank you so much for letting me know about this. I had no clue!
"I had applied for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinguishment last fall, was interviewed and got shortlisted, but I didn't win."
In November 2018, the UAE Cabinet had issued a decision to adopt a new system of entry visas for investors and professional talents by providing them with long-term residence permits. The system will grant up to 10-year residency visas for specialists in medical, scientific, research and technical fields, as well as for all scientists and innovators. It will also grant 10-year visas for exceptional students and five-year ones for others.