Malayalam actors Mohanlal and Mammootty have received the golden visa from the United Arab Emirates government. The special visa allows them a ten-year residency in the UAE.
The actors shared the news on their respective social media handles.
The duo extended their gratitude to businessman MA Yusuffali, Chairman and Managing Director Lulu groups, for facilitating the golden visa.
The special visa was presented by HE Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, in Abu Dhabi on Monday. In a video, he thanked both the actors for being part of the initiative and said that the programme’s aim was to attract different talents and important individuals from India and across the world.
“There are a lot of benefits with the golden visa which includes a ten-year residency permit that can be renewed later. This is a big recognition and honour for us. The (UAE) government also assured us that it would help in promoting our industry and production-related works,” Mohanlal added.
Noting that he is very happy to receive the golden visa, Mammootty credited the people of Kerala for bringing them the honour. “If not for the people of Kerala, we would not be here,” he said.
Recommended
According to the UAE government, the golden visa is a new system for long-term residence visas was implemented in November 2019. It enables foreigners to live, work, and study in the UAE without the need of a national sponsor. These visas will be issued for 5 or 10 years and will be renewed automatically. They are offered to investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents, researchers in various fields of science and knowledge, and bright students with promising scientific capabilities.
Tennis player Sania Mirza is one of the Indian celebrities to hold the visa. Previously, actors Sanjay Dutt and Shah Rukh Khan, who predominantly work in the Hindi film industry, also received their golden visas.