Middle East
Key trends shaping the Middle East's labor and immigration landscape
Long-term residency and talent attraction
UAE
The UAE continues to refine its long-term visa schemes to attract and retain high-value residents. Recent changes to the 10-year Golden Visa now require applicants in the highly skilled category to demonstrate at least two years of continuous employment with their current UAE employer. This policy shift aims to prioritize stability and long-term contribution to the local economy over short-term stays.
In a move to bolster the creative and digital economy, Dubai has launched a new Golden Visa track targeting social media influencers, artists, filmmakers, and writers. Applicants must meet specified professional benchmarks and demonstrate impact within their fields, reinforcing the Emirate’s commitment to becoming a regional creative hub.
Workforce nationalization and labor reforms
Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, updates to Saudisation quotas and visa issuance policies are driving national employment efforts in both strategic and general industry sectors. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has also issued new compliance guidelines for companies seeking to hire foreign talent. In parallel, ongoing labour market reforms are being introduced to create more job opportunities for local talent, with frequent updates to the percentage requirements for enhanced Saudisation job titles. Companies must stay informed of these changes to ensure continued compliance with evolving regulatory expectations.
Oman
Oman has introduced a formal process for the temporary transfer of expatriate employees between private sector companies. This procedural shift aims to increase labor market flexibility while maintaining regulatory control, and marks a step forward in modernizing Oman’s employment landscape in line with its Vision 2040 strategy.
Qatar
Qatar has added a new administrative requirement for family visa applicants, mandating that the educational status of children aged 6 to 18 be registered with the Ministry of Education prior to approval. While positioned as a procedural update, the change reflects Qatar’s increasing focus on dependent oversight and national data integration.
Modernization and digitization
Kuwait
Kuwait is enforcing biometric fingerprinting requirements for all residents and GCC nationals. Individuals who fail to complete the mandatory registration now face restrictions on travel, visa renewal, and sponsor changes. The policy underscores Kuwait’s push toward a digitized and secure immigration system.
UAE
In Abu Dhabi (UAE), new employment regulations within the ADGM free zone came into effect on April 1, 2025. The reforms introduce clear definitions for remote and part-time work, remove the two-year cap on end-of-service gratuities, and confirm that remote workers based outside the UAE no longer require a local employment permit. These updates reflect a growing recognition of diverse work models and the need to align immigration frameworks accordingly.
Türkiye
In Türkiye, a mid-year increase to the minimum wage has triggered a recalibration of salary thresholds tied to work permit eligibility. The change affects employers sponsoring foreign nationals and illustrates the link between labour policy and immigration compliance.
Visitor and entry visa updates
UAE
The UAE has expanded its visa-on-arrival eligibility for Indian nationals, allowing 60-day stays for those holding valid residence permits from select countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, and Singapore. This move facilitates smoother business and personal travel for a key demographic.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has suspended the issuance of one-year multiple-entry visit visas for nationals of 14 countries, including India, Pakistan, and Egypt. The policy comes amid Hajj season preparations and is expected to cause processing delays for affected applicants seeking single-entry permits up until the June 15, 2025.
Compliance and administrative procedures
Qatar
In Qatar, in certain cases, employers under the Mainland jurisdiction must now secure Ministry of Labour approval before cancelling residence permits for foreign employees. This adds 2–4 business days to the process and aligns with broader efforts to improve oversight of employment transitions.
UAE
In Abu Dhabi (UAE), immigration authorities have recommitted to strict enforcement of Tawtheeq tenancy registration. In cases where the visa sponsor and employer are not both based in Abu Dhabi, dependent visa applicants may face rejections without a valid Tawtheeq contract. The enforcement is part of a broader drive to harmonize immigration approvals with municipality records.
Grace periods and amnesty measures
UAE
The UAE has introduced a 180-day grace period for Blue Residency visa holders following visa cancellation or expiry. The same benefit now applies to foreign spouses of Emiratis. Notably, there are no restrictions on time spent outside the country during the grace period, offering greater flexibility to long-term residents managing family or work transitions.
Qatar
In Qatar, an immigration amnesty program launched on February 9, 2025 allows individuals with irregular status to exit the country without penalties through designated channels. The program runs through to May 9, 2025 and is part of Qatar’s broader efforts to manage compliance through reconciliation rather than punishment.
Broader policy trends
Immigration reform across the Middle East is increasingly tied to long-term strategic goals. Countries are using immigration as a lever to support national transformation agendas—whether through policies that reinforce labor nationalization, attract high-value residents, or adapt to emerging work models.
A growing trend is the formal recognition of remote and flexible work structures. Abu Dhabi’s ADGM reforms are an early signal that Gulf governments may begin reworking traditional permit models to accommodate international and hybrid workforces, a move that aligns with the region’s ambitions to position itself as a global business hub.
We’re also seeing greater use of immigration policy to incentivise innovation and sustainability. The UAE’s targeted visa categories for creatives and environmental contributors exemplify how the region is tailoring residency frameworks to support priority sectors.
At the same time, compliance frameworks are becoming more digitised and data-driven. From Kuwait’s biometric rollout to Qatar’s education-linked family visa screening, governments are integrating immigration with other administrative systems, allowing for more holistic policy implementation and enforcement.
Want more information on Middle Eastern immigration policy and updates?
Reach out to our experts.
Rekha Simpson
UAE Immigration Lead
Ali Ibrahim
KSA and Bahrain Immigration Lead
Antoine Salloum
Qatar Immigration Lead
Nasrine Abdi
Immigration Manager, UAE