ABU DHABI: The UAE, which hosts more than 8 million (88%) expatriates, is an ideal hub for second citizenship and residency prospects for countries in Europe, America, Canada, the Caribbean and Australia – who attract wealthy investors and skilled immigrants through business and investment immigration programmes offered to boost their economic growth. The UAE residents from Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, India and Pakistan have increased demand for Caribbean citizenship to 51 per cent, especially to St. Kitts & Navis, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda and St. Lucia – the highest in the world.
As countries tighten their borders to immigrants, the second-citizenship industry is working and growing to bypass those restrictions and move into peaceful regions. International events including the interest by Britain to leave the European Union, policy changes of USA, social changes in Middle East and political changes in the Asian countries are driving new interest to own a second passport for expats in UAE.
The 10th edition of the International Real Estate & Investment Show (IREIS 2018), targets investors and consumers rather than trade visitors, will feature a dedicated pavilion to help visitors aspiring for dual citizenship, residency and international investment opportunities gain the right advice and information from leading immigration experts.
The show is set to run from 1st to 3rd November, 2018 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), will include a special segment themed ‘International Residency and Citizenship by Investment Expo’, where immigration specialists will offer real estate investment advice to those who are looking for investing or donating in return of dual citizenships. Citizenship and Residency Expo Pavilion at IREIS 2018 is set to help the large number of High-Net-Worth-Individuals (HNWIs) from around the world in finding their dream destination and investment opportunities.
The residency and citizenship has opened up a new dimension of possibility, with all the benefits of visa-free travel, financial security and personal freedom. Residency & Citizenship Expo at IREIS 2018 offers superior expertise in the complex decision-making necessary to gain the right citizenship and residency option. Seasoned consultants will assist on the complex decision-making, documentation and application process for a second citizenship and residency options across regions and countries including Canada, Cyprus, St. Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda and St. Lucia Spain, Italy, Singapore, Malaysia, Portugal, New Zealand, Thailand, the USA and the UK, among others.
Antoine Georges, Managing Director at DOME Exhibitions, organisers of IREIS 2018 said: “As the world is becoming a global community due to increasing digitalization, economic mergers and protectionism, we thought giving added value to our exhibitors, investors and visitors. IRIES 2018 is going to be a bigger and more valuable experience for our partners.
The 2018 edition of the International Real Estate & Investment Show (IREIS) is expected to draw the participation of more than 125 exhibitors from 25 countries, as well as over 12,000 regular, private and institutional investors, end-users, developers, and real estate brokers.
As part of the event agenda, IREIS 2018 will host an international conference to discuss various citizenship opportunities. The Developer-Agent Meet will carry an intensive day of carefully coordinated one-to-one meetings and informal networking sessions to showcase international property projects and facilitate partnerships between foreign property suppliers and local agents in the Middle East market.
Drawing the participation of 125 exhibitors from 24 countries and 8,521 investors from 73 nationalities, the last year show IREIS 2017 created a sales volumes of over US$180 million (Dh660 million).
Alexander Bello, Managing Partner of CS Global Partners, exhibitor, said “ It’s a great opportunity that we are here for the second time in Abu Dhabi at the IREIS event, very close to Dubai but still untapped. It was a very successful event for us in 2016 and out of that experience we confirmed our participation for 2017. We are promoting the three Caribbean countries that are Dominica, St. Kitts & Levis and Grenada where we are government mandated. We saw a high level interest in our premium real estate projects and in business immigration industry. It’s been a great experience with the ‘International Residency and Citizenship by Investment Expo.”
The Citizenship By Investment (CIP) industry is growing. The Caribbean region is the global capital of these programs. A passport from Dominica can be had in return for a $100,000 investment. In 2015, Caribbean nations effectively sold an estimated 2,000 passports through citizenship-by-investment programs, up 100% over the past five years.
UAE based Bayat Legal Services’ CEO Sam Bayat said: “We are into immigration and legal services since 1993. Says three quarters of population here in UAE are expats who do not want to go back to their home country and interested in migrating to another country. We are participating in IRIES from the last two years and have got excellent such enquiries. Our immigration advisors in Abu Dhabi are from different immigrating destination helping clients with best advise on their investments in the Citizenship By Investment (CIP) programs.
Dr Jean Philippe Chetcuti, Managing Partner, Chetcuti Cauchi said “We are excited to be in Abu Dhabi for the first B2C real estate and citizenship event – ‘International Residency and Citizenship by Investment Expo’. We really like the composition of IRIES and Citizenship by Investment Expo. The conference has been very encouraging. We received many family enquiries. Here we have actually signed up for Residency Programme of Malta too.”
Kate Hands of Engel &Volkers said “ We are excited to be a part of IREIS in Abu Dhabi. It’s a great experience for us to be here in Abu Dhabi and to meet local people to see who is interested in investing in Spain.”
DOME Exhibitions, organisers of IREIS 2018, hosts exhibitions in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, London, and Pakistan and helps bilateral trade and extend their reach and enhance their visibility in the global marketplace. News Desk
