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You could move to Dubai and work there remotely for a year thanks to a new visa

Oct 20, 2020, 01:30 IST
Insider
You and your family could live and work in Dubai for a year.Shutterstock
  • Dubai's new "one-year virtual working programme" will allow remote workers and their families to stay there for up to a year.
  • To apply, workers must prove that they earn a minimum of $5,000 a month and have valid medical insurance and a passport that's valid for another six months.
  • The application costs $287, and remote workers don't have to pay income tax in Dubai.
  • While nonessential travel is no longer discouraged, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that "travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19."
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From Barbados to Estonia, a number of destinations around the world have created visa programs to attract remote workers during the pandemic.

Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is the latest spot to announce such a program.

Visit Dubai outlines a new "one-year virtual working programme" that it says will allow remote workers and their families to stay in the city for up to a year while working for companies based overseas.

To apply for this new visa, workers must prove that they earn a minimum of $5,000 a month by submitting proof of employment, their last month's pay stub, and three months' worth of bank statements, according to the tourism board's website.

Applicants must pay a $287 fee and are required to have medical insurance that's valid in the United Arab Emirates as well as a passport that doesn't expire for at least another six months at the time of applying, the website says.

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The website adds that approved remote workers can open a local bank account, get a local phone number and internet access, and enroll their kids in school.

Remote workers won't have to pay income tax in Dubai, according to the website. In fact, the United Arab Emirates' website says it "does not levy income tax on individuals."

Representatives for Visit Dubai did not respond to Insider's request for further information about the program.

What you should know about traveling to Dubai

Dubai reopened to all foreign tourists on July 7.

According to Visit Dubai's coronavirus advisory, anyone entering Dubai (and the UAE) must:

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  • Present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than four days prior to their arrival;
  • Prove that they have medical insurance with international coverage;
  • Sign a Health Declaration Form confirming that they don't have any COVID-19 symptoms;
  • Sign as a document stating that they will pay all potential costs of quarantine and coronavirus treatment if need be.

Depending on their country of origin and whether travelers are showing any symptoms, arrivals may be required to take a second test upon landing, the website says. Both Visit Dubai and the U.S. Embassy and Consulate
in the United Arab Emirates suggest checking with your airline as regulations change frequently.

Travelers arriving via Emirates airline will receive free health insurance and be covered for any COVID-19-related health expenses through December 31, 2020.

Dubai has introduced a "Dubai Assured" stamp that highlights establishments complying with safety and hygiene measures.Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images

The World Travel and Tourism Council awarded Dubai with a "Safe Travels" stamp, which recognizes the precautions made by the UAE in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Dubai has also introduced its own "Dubai Assured" stamp that highlights local hotels, restaurants, and shops that are complying with the safety and hygiene measures the government has put in place.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, the United Arab Emirates has seen 116,517 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 466 related deaths at the time of writing.

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It is important to note that while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer advises against nonessential travel, it does warn that "travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19."

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