Is the UAE's new five-year visa a game changer for expat retirement?

Financial advice for expatriates in the UAE has traditionally focused on investing offshore, to ensure pension pots are accessible in whatever country they choose to relocate to.

A new plan announced by the Cabinet on Sunday, however, will allow non-Emiratis aged 55 and over to secure a five-year retirement visa - a move that could change how residents choose to live out their golden years.

Tariq Bin Hendi, executive vice president and head of wealth products and advisory for retail banking and wealth management at Emirates NBD, says the UAE is a great place to live, "at each stage of life, from school to retirement".

Julian Vydelingum, a Chartered Financial Planner at fee-based financial advisory AES International says the development is “fantastic" for those "who have established businesses and own property in the UAE, as they now do not have to look to exit their businesses or sell property holdings at retirement”. 

Details of the long-term visa for retirees were set out following a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Under the proposal, non-Emiratis over 55 can secure the visa if they have an investment property worth at least Dh2 million, or financial savings of Dh1m, or an active monthly income of Dh20,000 or more. The visa is valid for five years with the “possibility” of renewal for those retirees who wish to stay longer and still meet the eligibility criteria.

Paul Kelly, operations director of real estate consultancy Allsopp & Allsopp, says the visa offers a sense of security for those nearing retirement age and may encourage them to put down more stable roots.

"The UAE property market will benefit greatly as a result, with more expats investing in family homes," he says. “Most expats have a money-making mindset when they move to the UAE with a short-term plan and goal before moving back to their home country. The Cabinet’s decision to enforce the long-term visa law now allows expats to look at the UAE with more longevity.”

Keren Bobker, a senior partner at financial advisory Holborn Assets, says the knowledge that residents can stay after the standard retirement ages may well encourage people to invest in the UAE for the long term.

“With the growth in property ownership it was really a matter of time before this became an option," she says. "Those with substantial assets may find it attractive to remain in a low taxed environment especially if there are political issues in a home country."

The new visa may also encourage more residents to hold balances in UAE banks rather than shipping their earnings offshore, says Rasheda Khatun Khan, a wealth and wellness planner. “It certainly becomes attractive to build a deposit here and also invest in property, but I always recommend a balance," she says. "Have cash offshore, too, to ensure diversification.”

Mr Bin Hendi says while many customers are aware that the "banks and regulators in the UAE are governed, managed, and held to the highest international standards", others are "sometimes unaware of how sophisticated the local banks are, relative to their international peers".

"The UAE has a sophisticated financial market and its banks already have very comprehensive offerings," he says. "However there is a positive impact: as the demand for dirham income-generating products increases, market liquidity could become better."

While it is not clear if the Dh1m in savings option has to be held in the UAE, Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com, advises against keeping all your assets and sources of income in the UAE while you save to meet these thresholds.

“In general, expats are better off holding surplus cash offshore, either as cash, invested in property or globally-diversified stock or bond ETFs through an offshore broker,” he says. “There is no strong need though to invest significantly in the local stock market or keep all your cash in local banks. While saving and in retirement, you should save in US dollars so that you don't face exchange rate issues.”

Emirates NBD's Mr Bin Hendi says there needs to be a distinction between the underlying investment strategy to reach a goal for retirement and the legal structure to make it transportable to any given country.

"The investment strategy is basically identical wherever you want to retire, but staying in the UAE would simplify the structure between the client and his or her assets, which in time could reduce the overall cost," he says. "During retirement, it would be wise to dedicate part of your investments to generate income in the local currency to match your current expenses."

Mr Vydelingum says: "The tried and tested ABC rule is still prudent: 'If you come from country A, reside in country B, you should bank in country C' as most retirees will still have multi-currency liabilities outside of the UAE and income from foreign pension sources, despite now being able to stay in the UAE during retirement."

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in The National on Monday September 17th, 2018 http://bit.ly/TNUAE5yearvisa