DUBAI: Dubai based AAA Associates immigration advisory has set up their South Asia regional headquarters in Karachi and Lahore, the two bustling business cities of Pakistan. The company said they were overwhelmed by the increased applicants from Pakistan and some interest from neighbouring countries for Citizenship by Investment and immigration programmes offered by some European and Caribbean countries that encouraged them to expand and establish its fully operational independent regional base.
AAA Associates is a leading immigration advisory in the Middle East. To meet the growing demand for second passport and foreign residency in Pakistan, the company has entered into a strategic joint venture with ARY Group, a renowned Dubai based business conglomerate, to form the ARYAAA, who also have a multisetor strong presence in Pakistan.
Newly formed ARYAAA will cater to the needs of applicants for second passport, residencies, entrepreneurial immigration, business investment programmes to USA, UK, Canada, Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Portugal and few other European countries.
“Pakistan is an emerging country and people are now more aware than ever about acquiring second citizenship and its multiple benefit. We, at our Dubai offices, noticed continuous increase in demand from Pakistani expatriates living in UAE as well as investors and businesses who are based in Pakistan. That is why we saw a need to establish a fully-fledged office there. Our Pakistan offices will also cater to Indian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Nepalese and Maldivian applicants,” said Imran Farooq, Chief Executive Officer of AAA Associates, an entity of Dubai-based Samana Group of Companies.
The citizenship-by-investment (CBI) and residency programmes offered by countries like Dominica, Hungary, Cyprus, Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts have caught the interest of Pakistani investors in recent years, following in the footsteps of dual-nationality seekers from the Middle East, China and India.
According to media reports, hundreds of Pakistani families are availing foreign residency opportunities each year. Dominica and St. Kitts & Nevis are the most popular countries, after North America and Europe.
“Here comes the need of serving Pakistani applicants right from their homes who are planning to get 2nd passport, foreign residency and investment. There are several immigration consultancies in the country, but what gives us an edge are wider expertise, experienced and licensed consultants, fully-fledged processing department, international associates, governments’ recognitions and licensure. AAA Associates has strong experience of serving various nationalities in the UAE, which gives us an edge over our competitors in South Asia”, Imran says.
Speaking about the joint venture with ARY Group, a Dubai-based business conglomerate, Imran Farooq said, “I met with many potential partners. Among them, we found perfect synergy with the ARY Group due to its strong credentials, wider base in Dubai and Pakistan. The group operates into media, consumer goods, education, real estate, financial services and retail. It was founded by a Pakistani business tycoon late Haji Abdul Razzak Yaqoob (alias ARY).
Though several immigration and citizenship by investment programs are available and are popular amongst prospect applicants but currently, among Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes, Dominica offers one of the cheapest economic migration packages, starting from US$100,000 through government’s donation programme, or US$200,000 investment in property – that allows the investor to gain the passport of Dominica that allows visa-free travel to 120 countries.
His Excellency Emmanuel Nanthan, Head of Citizenship by Investment Unit of the Commonwealth of Dominica in seminar held in Dubai, said: “The lower investment and minimum taxation in Dominica, an immigrant’s savings multiply as compared to other countries who tax all immigrants. My country offers full residence status and dual citizenship, with the right to live and work there and there is no requirement to reside in Dominica before or after citizenship is granted.” News Desk
