How Indians were sold on a Rs 23 lakh Golden visa that never existed
Jul 10, 2025
Synopsis
Indian social media was abuzz with excitement after reports claimed that UAE was offering a lifetime Golden Visa to Indian citizens for just ₹23 lakh (AED 100,000). The story quickly went viral, appealing to wealthy Indians eager for overseas residency options. However, the excitement was short-lived.
Reports, reactions, and a flood of memes. Indian social media buzzed with excitement as news of a UAE lifetime Golden Visa for Rs 23 lakh for Indians began making rounds a couple of days ago.
But the excitement was short-lived for visa aspirants and consultants. The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) dismissed reports of the UAE granting the visa to certain countries, including India.
The ICP underscored "all UAE Golden visa applications are managed exclusively through official government channels within the country, and no internal or external advisory body is considered an approved party in the application process."
Too good to be true
Unsurprisingly, the story of the new visa went viral on Indian social media. Investment visas and residency programmes have been lapped up with great zeal by well-heeled Indian citizens in recent years.
While controversial, such visa programmes have become a common route for wealthy families globally to relocate for tax, lifestyle, education and other reasons.
Therefore the prospect of a lifetime visa to enable relocation to Dubai, a city of choice for many, at the price of a mid-range SUV, seemed too good to be true and it in fact was.
Before the UAE's official confirmation, The Economic Times first reported that a leading Golden Visa consultant based in Dubai claimed UAE authorities were unaware of any change in the Golden Visa rules that would allow Indian citizens to obtain a lifetime visa to the Emirates by paying AED 100,000.
The story that went viral
It all started with a story by the wire service PTI, disseminated widely, that claimed a new kind of golden visa was being piloted by UAE for India and Bangladesh, which would dramatically lower the financial outlay from about Rs 4 crore of investment to a mere Rs 23 lakh. The story made the distinction that this new kind of nomination-based visa was being offered in a test phase to Indian and Bangladeshi nationals.
The story quoted Rayad Kamal Ayub, MD of Rayad group, a consultant that has just launched an advisory programme for the UAE golden visa with visa services provider VFS Global, in India and Bangladesh. But the nomination-based route, which recognises an individual’s ability to contribute to the economy of the UAE, and does not require any financial investment, has existed from the beginning of the golden visa programme in 2019 and is entirely granted at the discretion of the UAE government.
Rayad Group says sorry
After the UAE officially denied the reports, the Rayad Group apologised and took "full responsibility" for disseminating "incorrect" information in the media.
"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.
[The Economic Times]
