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The United Arab Emirates has announced initiatives to attract more digital and technology-focused companies.
The measures include speeding up licensing; issuing visas to skilled workers in bulk; banking facilitation; and unspecified commercial and residential lease incentives. They are also offering 100,000 “golden visas” to computer coders, the official Emirates News Agency reported.
The UAE’s Golden visa program offers long-term residency to talented investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, and students.
“We are offering hyper-practical measures to make it painless and rewarding for companies from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas to relocate here,” Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi said via Twitter.
The Emirates has set a goal of of increasing investment in startups from approximately $400 million to $1.3 billion. They specifically want companies and professionals in the artificial intelligence (AI), gaming, data science and software sectors. Some entities have already expressed interest in the initiative, including the Dubai International Finance Center and the Abu Dhabi Global Market, according to the Emirates News Agency.
Why it matters: The UAE is making significant efforts to attract more high-tech businesses to the country. An Emirati official told Al-Monitor in February that they are cutting businesses fees that need to be paid upfront to make it easier on startups. However, this policy is part of an overall tax increase.
The Dubai International Finance Center also launched a license for artificial intelligence and coding in March. The UAE is seeking to become a world leader in AI.
The Emirates has had some success attracting high-tech firms. Several cryptocurrency companies have announced moves to the Gulf state this year, for example.
What’s next: A first-ever 9% corporate tax will come into effect in the UAE in June of 2023. The move is part of the Emirati government’s efforts to increase government revenue and rely less on oil.
