expat

United Arab Emirates: More expats say planning to stay longer in the UAE

The number of UAE expats planning long-term residency in the UAE has increased mainly due to falling property prices, UAE-based finance comparison group compareit4me.com has revealed.

Kuwait: Dependants’ residency renewal limited to sponsor’s residency validity

Director of the Interior Ministry’s Residency Affairs Department Major General Talal Maarafi stressed that starting from January 10, 2016, the renewal validity of expatriates dependants’ residency visa (article 22) would be tied to the validity of those of their own sponsors. “This means that if an expat’s residency is valid for one year, he can only renew those of his wife or kids for a single year,” he explained

Kuwait: Kuwait expats to see 200% surge in health insurance fees

A Kuwait government plan to ban foreign workers getting access to public healthcare services will cause a series of consequences to the expatriate community, local media has reported.

Kuwaiti Economics Committee in the Supreme Council for Planning and Development recently proposed a two-layered alternative health plan for the three million of expats residing in Kuwait which would cause expatriates’ annual health insurance fees to triple to not less than KD150 ($493).

Qatar: Qatar to provide health insurance for all expats next year

Qatar’s Social Medical Insurance Scheme (Seha) is set to be extended to expats from next year, according to the local media agency.

The Minister of Public Health, Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani told Qatar News Agency that the extension of health cover to expats is part of the third and last phase of Seha, which will include all resident employees, workers, domestic helpers and visitors. 

Kuwait approves plan to increase expat visa fees

Kuwait Interior Ministry has approved a proposal to increase expat fees for visas in the country.

The Interior Ministry’s assistant undersecretary for Nationality and Residency Affairs, Major General Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, said the approval will see expat fees increase for visit and tourist visas, temporary residency, self-sponsorship and family dependency visas.