Dubai firm apologizes for spreading false UAE ‘lifetime Golden Visa’ information

Dubai consultancy group apologises for ‘incorrect’ information on UAE Golden Visa rules

Dubai-based private firm Rayad Group has issued an apology and accepted full responsibility for spreading "incorrect" information in the media about the “new United Arab Emirates (UAE) Golden Visa rules”. The company had incorrectly claimed that the UAE government would offer lifetime Golden Visas for approximately Rs 23.30 lakh.

The apology from Rayad Group, a visa advisory firm, came shortly after the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) dismissed reports quoting the company.

Rayad had claimed that lifetime Golden Visas could be obtained from outside the UAE under simplified conditions through consulting or commercial agencies. One of the outlets that reported the claim was PTI on Sunday.

"We apologise unreservedly for the public confusion caused by recent reports and commentary, and we take full responsibility for ensuring future communications are clear, accurate, and consistent with the UAE's stringent regulatory frameworks," the Rayad Group said in a statement quoted by news agency PTI.

We also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge that certain public comments made by Rayad Group’s Managing Director were misplaced and have contributed to the misinterpretation of our role and the nature of the initiative in question," it further added.

This followed a report quoting the group that claimed the UAE government would issue lifetime "golden visas" for a one-time payment of approximately ₹23.30 lakhs. On Wednesday, the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) rejected these claims.

"These statements did not accurately reflect our intent, our scope of services, or the limitations of our authority in relation to the UAE Golden Visa programme. To reiterate with full clarity: no guaranteed visa, fixed-price programme, or lifetime UAE residency product currently exists, and the Rayad Group does not offer, support, participate, or endorse any such arrangement. Due to the confusion caused, the Rayad Group is discontinuing private advisory services for Golden Visas," it said.