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GCC Immigration Heads Propose Dual Residency

ABU DHABI — Professional expatriates would be able to hold dual residency in GCC countries under a move recommended by the Gulf nations’ immigration heads at a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

At the 24^th meeting of GCC directors-general of naturalisation and residency departments, the immigration officials said they would submit the recommendation to their respective government.

Brigadier Nassir Al Awadi Al Menhali, the Acting Director-General of the UAE’s Ministry of Interior Naturalization and Residency Department, told Khaleej Times that the UAE was studying how to implement the system.

“The UAE supports all the ways to facilitate the expatriates and nationals movement among the GCC countries,” Al Menhali said.

The dual residency applies to ‘first-degree’ professionals, such as doctors, engineers, accountants, PR agents and businessmen. The new system would make it easier for companies with branches in any GCC country to deploy their professionals.

“We allow the GCC residents to enter the country on visit visa(s) in accordance to the naturalisation and residency law and in case of finding a job they can apply to get the residency,” he said.

“The GCC Directors-General agreed that the GCC residents can enter as usual under the current laws, while each country has the right to approve the mutual residency with the other countries according to the naturalisation and residency laws and regulations.”

Meanwhile, Colonel Ahmed Fahd Bu Hindi, Deputy Secretary-General of Security Affairs at the General Secretariat of GCC, said recommendations focusing on generalising the e-link project achieved between the UAE and Oman had been finalised. The meeting, which began on May 31, concludes today.

ahmed@khaleejtimes.com