From Sonu Sood To Ranveer Singh: Indian Celebs Who Have Been Granted UAE¡¯s Golden Visa

Many Bollywood celebrities have been granted the UAE Golden Visa for long-term residence opportunities. That means they get to work, live and holiday in the Gulf country without bothering with heaps of paperwork.

It was in 2019 that the United Arab Emirates implemented a permanent residency program allowing foreigners to live, work and study there without the need for a national sponsor and with 100 percent ownership of their business. This is the first scheme of its kind in the Gulf, where foreigners are generally only granted residence permits of limited duration under the "Kafala" sponsorship system.

This visa, launched with the aim of attracting foreign investment and bringing to the country the best in the world in the most diverse areas of activity, has a duration of 10 years and is automatically renewed every decade as long as candidates meet the established requirements and conditions.

So who are the celebrities that got lucky? Read on:

Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan holds a UAE golden visa | Photo: BCCL

The ¡®Badshah¡¯ of the Indian film industry who ruled Bollywood for over 30 years was the first Indian actor to get the UAE Golden visa. Did you know Shah Rukh also owns luxurious properties in the country and was named brand ambassador of Dubai in 2016?

Sanjay Dutt

Honoured to have received a golden visa for the UAE in the presence of Major General Mohammed Al Marri, Director General of @GDRFADUBAI. Thanking him along with the @uaegov for the honour. Also grateful to Mr. Hamad Obaidalla, COO of @flydubai for his support?? pic.twitter.com/b2Qvo1Bvlc

¡ª Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) May 26, 2021

On May 27, 2021, Sanjay Dutt received the UAE Golden Visa. The actor shared the news on Twitter and wrote "Honoured to have received a golden visa for the UAE in the presence of Major General Mohammed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai. Thanking him along with the @uaegov for the honour. Also grateful to Mr. Hamad Obaidalla, COO of Fly Dubai for his support". In a statement to news agency IANS, Dutt mentioned that Dubai became a home for his family in the past year.

On the work front, he will be seen in his upcoming films - KGF: Chapter 2, 'rithviraj and Shamshera.

Sania Mirza

BCCL

After Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Dutt, tennis star Sania Mirza became the third Indian to be granted the 10-year UAE Golden Visa in the year 2021. Speaking to ANI, Sania Mirza said: "First of all I would like to thank Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, Federal Authority For Identity And Citizenship & General authority of sports Dubai for giving us the Dubai Golden Visa. Dubai is extremely close to me and my family."

"This is my second home and we are looking forward to spending more time here. Being one of the few selected citizens from India, this brings an absolute honour to us. This will also give us an opportunity to work on our tennis and cricket sports academy which we are aiming to open in the next couple of months," she added.

Boney Kapoor and family

Thank you to Dubai Government for granting me and my 4 children Golden Visa on my Birthday @DXBMediaOffice pic.twitter.com/vlVn5x6Bm1

¡ª Boney Kapoor (@BoneyKapoor) November 11, 2021

In September last year, Boney Kapoor, both his children Arjun Kapoor and Anshula Kapoor, and Jhanvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor were granted the UAE Gold Visa. The Producer of Mr India shared this news on Twitter and wrote, "Grateful to Dubai government for granting me and my family a 10 years golden visa. Dynamic and kind-hearted leadership. Best Destination ..... Dubai and UAE #Goldenvisa #Dubai #UAE (sic)"

Sanjay Kapoor

Sanjay Kapoor holds a uae golden visa | Photo: TOI

After brother Boney Kapoor, Bollywood actor Sanjay Kapoor has also been presented with the prestigious golden visa by the UAE Government. He shared pictures from the ceremony and said, ¡°A big ¡®Thank You¡¯ to the UAE, @uaegov and its progressive, forward-thinking leaders for granting me a Golden Visa ¨C a residency of 10 years in this amazing country, where a vision is never a dream, but a very tangible reality!¡±

Varun Dhawan

Varun Dhawan holds a UAE golden visa | Photo: Instagram

Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan has joined the list of Indian celebrities who have been granted the UAE Golden Visa. Varun Dhawan posted a picture on his Instagram and wrote, ¡°Having shot multiple films here I can first-hand say the UAE is a great destination to film,¡±. ¡°Very thankful to the UAE Government for giving me a Golden Visa,¡± he added.

Mouni Roy

Mouni Roy holds a UAE golden visa | Photo: Gulfnews

Indian actress Mouni Roy who worked in hit films like ¡®Gold¡¯ and ¡®London Confidential¡¯ also received the UAE golden visa last year in the presence of Anil Dhanak, Managing Director of Kanz Jewels. ¡°Calling Dubai my second home will be an understatement since I spent more time here,¡± the actress said in a statement. ¡°I am deeply honoured to receive the golden visa and I thank the authorities for considering me worthy to receive this privilege. For me Dubai is an ideal place for creative talents to pursue their dreams and I am sure some of my forthcoming movies will be shot in the UAE.¡±

Urvashi Rautela

Urvashi Rautela holds a UAE golden visa | Photo: Instagram

Urvashi Rautela is also among the Bollywood Celebrities who hold the UAE's Golden Visa and also became the first Indian woman, who got the golden visa of Dubai in just 12 hours. Sharing this good news, the actress wrote on her social media, ¡°I am the first Indian woman to get this golden visa for 10 years in just 12 hours. I feel extremely grateful for this wonderful identification with Swarna Niwas for me and my family. My best wishes to the UAE government, its rulers and people.¡±

Suniel Shetty

Suniel Shetty holds a UAE golden visa | Photo: Suniel Shetty

Popular Bollywood action star Suniel Shetty also holds a UAE Golden Visa. He received the visa last year and Sharing a photo on Instagram, Suniel wrote, ¡°A big Thank You to the visionary leaders and the government . authorities of the UAE. Thank you so much for the honour. @dubaimediaoffice @gdrfadubai @dubai @emiratesfirst @shafeeq7777 @atifrahman @abubaker.alali¡±

Neha Kakkar

Neha Kakkar holds a UAE golden visa | Photo: Instagram

Singer Neha Kakkar and Rohanpreet Singh received a UAE Golden Visa last year. The couple share the news on social media as she shared a photo of receiving the honour from the officials. Expressing her gratitude, she wrote 'I'm so honoured to receive the GOLDEN VISA from a country that I Love, UAE.Thanks to @filmdubai & @aljanahi sir for always supporting Artists, Musicians and Creative people from various fields! Also wanna thank @gdrfadubai @dubaiculture. #NehaKakkar #NehuPreet'.

Farah Khan Kunder

View this post on Instagram

Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan Kunder holds a UAE Golden Visa that allow her and her family 10-years of residency in the country. Farah Khan Kunder shared a picture of herself being awarded the visa and wrote ¡°However much we deny it, it always feels good to be appreciated.. I¡¯m so honoured to receive the Golden Visa in :uaeatexpo at @expo2020dubai. For my contribution to #indiancinema ,for my achievements in films n especially for the connect #happynewyear has with Dubai. Thanks to Dubai Film and TV Comission 4 supporting the creative people @filmdubai @aljanahi.¡±

Sonu Sood

Sonu Sood holds a UAE golden visa | Photo: National herald India

During the first wave, Sonu Sood helped migrant workers reach home. He gave them food and shelter as well. In the second wave, which turned out to be deadly, Sood tried his best to supply medical equipment and oxygen to as many people as possible. And for his humanitarian efforts during COVID-19, he recently received the UAE Golden Visa. While talking about the same, he said, "I am incredibly honoured and grateful to the Dubai government for the Golden Visa. Dubai has been one of my favourite destinations to visit. It is a dynamic place to thrive. I am thankful to the authorities for the privilege."

Ranveer Singh

Ranveer Singh holds a UAE golden visa | Photo: Tribune

Recently 36-year-old Bollywood star Ranveer Singh joined the list to be honoured with a UAE golden visa. Ranveer and his family received a 10-year golden visa from the UAE government on Yas Island after Ranveer was appointed as the brand ambassador of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. ¡°I would like to thank the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism for this privilege. As the island¡¯s brand ambassador, I hope to spread its message of fun and excitement while highlighting Abu Dhabi as a must-visit destination,¡± Singh said in a statement.

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