Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) on 12 January unveiled the “Verified Contributors Programme”, a fast-track residency and work-authorisation route that lets foreign researchers, designers and policy specialists take on short-term, project-based assignments for the emirate (m.economictimes.com).
Successful applicants are added to a talent pool that DFF taps for strategic foresight studies across AI, sustainability, aviation and urban planning. Contracts are remote-friendly and paid, but contributors who spend extended periods in Dubai will be sponsored for a one-year renewable residence visa under the existing Remote Work or Specialist Permit categories, according to officials familiar with the rollout.
![Dubai Future Foundation opens ‘Verified Contributors’ visa track for global experts]()
Whether you’re an individual expert weighing up the move or an HR manager coordinating a team, VisaHQ can streamline every step of the UAE visa process—from remote-work permits to specialist residencies. Its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) consolidates requirements, fees and timelines, helping applicants sync their paperwork with DFF’s tight project schedules.
For multinationals the scheme offers a compliant way to second niche experts into UAE projects without triggering standard labour-quota hurdles. HR teams should note that visas will be issued through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security’s (ICP) smart-services portal, with biometrics captured on arrival. Dependants can be sponsored once the primary holder’s Emirates ID is activated.
The initiative strengthens Dubai’s positioning as a “laboratory city” for global talent and follows last year’s expansion of the Golden Visa to creative and digital professionals. Companies planning 2026 project cycles should flag the new channel as a low-friction alternative to ad-hoc visit visas.
Successful applicants are added to a talent pool that DFF taps for strategic foresight studies across AI, sustainability, aviation and urban planning. Contracts are remote-friendly and paid, but contributors who spend extended periods in Dubai will be sponsored for a one-year renewable residence visa under the existing Remote Work or Specialist Permit categories, according to officials familiar with the rollout.
Whether you’re an individual expert weighing up the move or an HR manager coordinating a team, VisaHQ can streamline every step of the UAE visa process—from remote-work permits to specialist residencies. Its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) consolidates requirements, fees and timelines, helping applicants sync their paperwork with DFF’s tight project schedules.
For multinationals the scheme offers a compliant way to second niche experts into UAE projects without triggering standard labour-quota hurdles. HR teams should note that visas will be issued through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security’s (ICP) smart-services portal, with biometrics captured on arrival. Dependants can be sponsored once the primary holder’s Emirates ID is activated.
The initiative strengthens Dubai’s positioning as a “laboratory city” for global talent and follows last year’s expansion of the Golden Visa to creative and digital professionals. Companies planning 2026 project cycles should flag the new channel as a low-friction alternative to ad-hoc visit visas.
