Come On In

Following the UAE government’s announcement that it would change laws to provide residence visas for top IT talent, how will the country’s technology industry be affected? James Dartnell asks regional and national heads of some of the world’s biggest tech firms if they think this could be a turning point for innovation in the nation, and other opportunities it spells for the country.

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On 27th January, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, and halting all refugee admissions. Nine days later, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced a new visa scheme to attract skilled individuals to the country, including those with ICT expertise.

Coincidence? While we can second-guess the government’s motives, on the face of it this seems to be a timely move designed to turn what will be America’s loss into the UAE’s gain. Sheikh Mohammed said the scheme would be carried out in phases, starting with tourism, health and education visas. The IT industry would be next to benefit, he said, along with medicine, science and research. “The new system aims to attract entrepreneurs, pioneers and talented minds in the medical, scientific, research, IT and intellectual sectors,” he tweeted after the cabinet meeting at which the changes were agreed. “The UAE is a country of vast opportunity. We aim to provide a tolerant environment that can nurture potential and support outstanding talent,” he said.

Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, senior vice president, Middle East and Africa, Oracle, believes the changes to the law will accelerate the groundwork that has already been laid for the country to be a technology leader not only in the region, but in the world. “The UAE’s visionary leadership has committed to establish the country as a key global hub for innovation, and the new visa law initiative is a great step towards achieving this objective,” he says. “It will certainly help the country further strengthen its global position as a key driver of innovation.”