🟢 What’s Officially Happening
- UAE’s Federal ICP (Identity & Citizenship authority) has denied any scheme selling lifetime golden visas for AED 100,000 (~₹23 lakh). They confirmed no legal basis exists, and warned of “legal action against parties … that published these rumours” tbsnews.net+15thenationalnews.com+15ndtvprofit.com+15.
- Golden visas are not sold—all applications are vetted and approved by official UAE authorities reddit.com+6businesstoday.in+6thenationalnews.com+6.
🟡 What the Rumors Say
- Various Indian outlets reported a pilot nomination-based Golden Visa for Indians/Bangladeshis at AED 100,000 (~₹23.3 lakh)—much lower than the previous AED 2 million investment route thenationalnews.com+12indiatoday.in+12businesstoday.in+12.
- Media claimed up to 5,000 applications could be submitted in the first 90 days under this scheme en.wikipedia.org+4indiatvnews.com+4timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4.
🧩 The Reality Check
- This AED 100k pathway isn’t brand-new; nomination-based golden visas have existed since 2019, though rarely and in limited quantities timesofindia.indiatimes.com+15businesstoday.in+15businesstoday.in+15.
- The new twist: India (and Bangladesh) are reportedly included in this pilot—eliminating the need for property/business investment. But applicants still need:
- Nomination by authorized agencies (e.g., Rayad Group, VFS Global, One Vasco)
- Rigorous screening: background check, AML audit, social media scan businesstoday.in+11businesstoday.in+11timesofindia.indiatimes.com+11indiatoday.in+1indiatimes.com+1
- Limited slots, not an open application process reddit.com+2businesstoday.in+2timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2.
đź’¬ Social Media & Public Reaction
Indians online are sharing excitement and skepticism. On X (formerly Twitter):
“Dubai offering Golden Visa for 23 lacs. … if you are someone earning more than 40 lac per annum, this is a great deal.”
“This is how nations attract talent and capital … while others build for the future, we’re stuck debating the past.” oneindia.com+1ndtvprofit.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+15businesstoday.in+15oneindia.com+15
Memes range from celebrations to satire on India’s tax and bureaucratic hurdles .
âś… What You Should Know
| Fact | Status |
|---|---|
| ❌ No official “pay-to-get” â‚ą23 lakh visa exists | Official denial |
| âś… Nomination-based golden visa (no investment required) | Has existed, now piloted in India/Bangladesh |
| ✅ One-time fee AED 100k (~₹23.3 lakh) covers admin processing | Specified in multiple reports |
| ⚠️ Nomination + vetting still mandatory | Not open-access; criteria-based selection |
| 🎯 Limited pilot for select professionals | Includes skilled teachers, nurses, content creators, yacht/maritime professionals |
🔍 Bottom Line
- The UAE hasn’t launched a public ₹23 lakh golden visa that anyone can buy—rumors about wide-open access are false.
- However, this nomination-driven pathway, now piloted in India/Bangladesh, makes it easier—cost-wise—for select skilled professionals to gain long-term UAE residency.
- If you qualify in terms of skill, nomination, and vetting, you might apply for a golden visa under this pilot—with no property or business investment.
