According to recruitment and HR consultants, the new visa regime will encourage expatriates to stay in the UAE for longer periods resulting in an increase in the average duration spent there.

For investors, property buyers, students and professionals, the UAE has introduced many new long-term residency permits, such as the Golden Visa, Green Visa, Retirement Visa, and Freelance Visa.

In the past, the UAE has been seen as a transient place, where professionals spend a year or two before migrating elsewhere. However, the introduction of long-term visas will increase the country’s appeal among skilled and professional workers from the Gulf, Asia and African regions.

Executives in the human resources industry noted that the time span of UAE residents had increased to over five years and is set to grow more as the country strengthens its position as one of the safest.

According to Nicki Wilson, managing director at Genie Recruitment, more flexible visas will encourage individuals to stay in the UAE for a long period of time and also allow HNWIs to settle in the UAE and plan their futures here.

With the new long-term visa options, we will see a shift in mentality with an increase in average stay durations in the UAE. Talent is increasingly living in the UAE for longer periods of time, say five years or more, but in the future, more and more residents will have even longer tenures,” Wilson says.

For a stronger passport, many skilled and qualified UAE residents have opted for permanent residence in other countries, such as Canada, the UK, and Australia. “We might see more individuals staying for longer rather than moving around as frequently.”

Since the launch of the Golden Visa in 2019, there has been an increase in high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) moving to and remaining in the UAE, according to James Swallow, commercial director of PRO Partner Group. It has been referred to as a "millionaire magnet" due to the availability of visas for individuals with high net worth.

“Dh2 million investment via property category allows HNWIs to obtain a Golden Visa. Hence, property value numbers are increasing, reaching record levels towards the back end of 2022. This shows that residents are here to stay, thanks to security and stability,” he said.

Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs issued 151,666 Golden Visas between 2019 and mid-November 2022, reflecting a steady increase in interest and successful residency approvals.

The hybrid option is gaining currency because people are more mobile geographically.

There are steps being taken by the UAE to ease visa requirements for expats who are not based in the UAE, and this has enabled many to enjoy the Dubai lifestyle without necessarily looking for employment in the country. You may have people now working on global projects but living in the UAE,” she added.