Property, infrastructure, engineering and materials
Authorities in Dubai and the UAE have updated regulations covering tourist visas, property owner residency, and specialized entry permits. Changes include faster digital processing times and dedicated visit visa options for artificial intelligence and event professionals.
Abu Dhabi has outlined the eligible categories of relatives that foreign property owners can sponsor under the real estate owner residency visa. According to official guidelines reported by Legit.ng, qualifying visa holders may sponsor their spouse, parents, and children. The framework imposes an age cap of 25 years for sons, while exempting unmarried daughters and children of determination from upper age limits.
Dubai and UAE authorities have updated entry and residency frameworks across tourist, property, and long-term visas. Key changes include broadened visa-on-arrival eligibility, faster 48-hour tourist visa processing, removed minimum property purchase thresholds for sole owners, and linking residency renewals to unpaid traffic fines. Expanded categories for the 10-year Golden Visa and new specialized visit visas have also taken effect.
African investors and business leaders at the Sharjah Investment Forum 2026 highlighted Sharjah's infrastructure and logistics capabilities as a launchpad for economic partnerships. The discussions coincided with UAE-Africa non-oil trade reaching approximately $158 billion in 2025, up 41.6% year-on-year. Business representatives pointed to opportunities across the automotive sector, consumer goods, real estate, and local manufacturing as alternatives to Asian sourcing.
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