Bollywood and Marathi-cinema star Pushkar Jog revealed on social media on 6 November 2025 that he has received the UAE’s coveted 10-year Golden Visa, joining a growing list of creatives, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals granted long-term residency. The announcement sparked a lively debate among his fan base about brain drain, but for UAE policy-makers it underscored the programme’s role in attracting global talent.
Since its launch in 2019, more than 210,000 Golden Visas have been issued, according to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security. Initially focused on investors and professionals earning at least AED 30,000 per month, eligibility has expanded to include teachers, coders, athletes and, most recently, cultural figures who demonstrate “international distinction.”
![Indian Actor Pushkar Jog Joins UAE’s Golden-Visa Club—Here’s Why the Scheme Still Matters for Employers]()
For employers, the visa offers a retention tool: staff who qualify can reside in the country without corporate sponsorship, making it easier to shift between group entities or accept regional secondments while maintaining UAE tax residency. Companies can also nominate key employees, but HR teams must ensure that passports carry at least six months’ validity at the time of application—a point highlighted in recent government guidance.
While Jog’s individual case is celebrity-driven, it signals continued government enthusiasm for using long-term residency to diversify the economy beyond oil and finance. Free-zone authorities, from Abu Dhabi Global Market to DMCC, report that Golden Visa holders are 42 percent more likely to set up new ventures within two years of arrival.
The latest update to the scheme, rolled out in October 2025, grants Golden Visa holders access to a dedicated consular-support hotline when travelling abroad—a perk that effectively extends Emirati-style assistance to expatriates and simplifies duty-of-care obligations for employers with mobile workforces.
Since its launch in 2019, more than 210,000 Golden Visas have been issued, according to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security. Initially focused on investors and professionals earning at least AED 30,000 per month, eligibility has expanded to include teachers, coders, athletes and, most recently, cultural figures who demonstrate “international distinction.”
For employers, the visa offers a retention tool: staff who qualify can reside in the country without corporate sponsorship, making it easier to shift between group entities or accept regional secondments while maintaining UAE tax residency. Companies can also nominate key employees, but HR teams must ensure that passports carry at least six months’ validity at the time of application—a point highlighted in recent government guidance.
While Jog’s individual case is celebrity-driven, it signals continued government enthusiasm for using long-term residency to diversify the economy beyond oil and finance. Free-zone authorities, from Abu Dhabi Global Market to DMCC, report that Golden Visa holders are 42 percent more likely to set up new ventures within two years of arrival.
The latest update to the scheme, rolled out in October 2025, grants Golden Visa holders access to a dedicated consular-support hotline when travelling abroad—a perk that effectively extends Emirati-style assistance to expatriates and simplifies duty-of-care obligations for employers with mobile workforces.
