Dubai has announced the introduction of a separate “Golden Visa” that will be available to specialists from the gaming industry. This visa provides Dubai residency for 10 years.
Why does Dubai need the gaming industry
The “Dubai Program for Gaming 2033” program was developed by the “Dubai Future Foundation” to attract specialists. The three main areas of this program are the development of talent, content and technology within the gaming industry in the country.
The initiator of the program was the Crown Prince of Dubai, His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation.
Already now, within the framework of the program, you can take training in development and design on the Pixel Machina platform. It is stated that the programs are designed specifically for a quick start in the gaming industry, taking into account the most modern trends in the industry.
For example, the following courses are offered:
- Game Design & Development workshop with Unreal Engine 5;
- Unreal Engine Workshop on Immersive Worldbuilding for Virtual Reality;
- Introduction: World Building Using Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).
Of course, the program does not only aim to develop the gaming industry. Due to the attracted specialists, it is planned to increase Dubai’s GDP by $1 billion, create 30,000 new jobs and make Dubai the leading city in the world in terms of income from the gaming industry.
What are the requirements for obtaining a visa
Almost all specialists in the gaming industry will be able to obtain a visa. Among them: developers, designers, content makers and entrepreneurs in the gaming industry, as well as other qualified specialists. Two more important requirements are being over 25 years old and having experience in the gaming industry.
To register your gaming business, you need to go through several steps:
- Choose your line of business;
- Find out the rules;
- Determine the business structure;
- Apply for a trade license;
- Open a bank account;
- Apply for a visa;
- Obtain additional permits if necessary;
- Apply for a Metaverse service provider license.
