High school pupils who achieved 95 per cent or more in their final exams this year will receive the UAE’s coveted golden visa – a long-term permit for the children and their immediate families to live in the country. Pupils in both private and government schools will be part of the initiative. The government said the move is in “appreciation of the efforts of outstanding students and their families, and within the framework of the UAE government’s direction to create an attractive and encouraging environment for talented people.”

The country aims to attract exceptional minds and talent to be permanent partners in the UAE’s development process.

The UAE also offers the long-term golden visa to local and foreign university students with a gross point average of 3.7. The long-term visa system has been rapidly expanded to residents in recent months, including everyone from scientists and academics to businesspersons and public figures.

The UAE is home to over 200 nationalities and expatriates account for 88.52 per cent of its population. The UAE has joined a select group of countries in offering investment-linked long-term residency visas. Today, over 20 countries or territories including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK offer Golden Visa programmes. The long-term visas are part of the UAE’s efforts to support the country’s move towards a globally competitive knowledge economy.