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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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.