logo
UAE Shuts Down Golden Visa Rumors for Crypto Investors

UAE Shuts Down Golden Visa Rumors for Crypto Investors

UAE Moments07-07-2025
The UAE has officially shut down the buzz claiming that cryptocurrency holders—specifically Toncoin investors —can score a Golden Visa just by staking digital assets.
Over the weekend, Max Crown, CEO of the Ton Foundation, fired up social media by saying Toncoin holders could grab the UAE's 10-year Golden Visa for a $35,000 fee plus some crypto staking. But UAE authorities weren't having it.
Here's What's Actually True
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP), Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), and Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) released a joint statement saying this simply isn't true.
Golden Visas are strictly reserved for specific groups like:
Property investors
Entrepreneurs
Scientists and experts
Outstanding students
Humanitarian leaders
Frontline workers
Crypto investors? Not on the list.
VARA Clears the Air on Toncoin
VARA added that Toncoin isn't even licensed or regulated in Dubai. They reminded crypto companies to follow the proper government visa processes —no shortcuts, no workarounds.
Public Advisory: Don't Fall for the Hype
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Indian jeweller Titan eyes shifting some manufacturing to Gulf as US trade tensions escalate
Indian jeweller Titan eyes shifting some manufacturing to Gulf as US trade tensions escalate

Zawya

time16 minutes ago

  • Zawya

Indian jeweller Titan eyes shifting some manufacturing to Gulf as US trade tensions escalate

India's biggest jeweller and watchmaker Titan is exploring shifting some manufacturing to the Middle East Gulf to maintain low-tariff access to U.S. markets amid trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi, Managing Director C.K. Venkataraman said on Tuesday. Titan, part of the Tata Group conglomerate, announced this month plans to acquire a majority stake in Dubai-based luxury retailer Damas, which operates 146 stores across the Gulf. In light of the deal, valued at $283 million, Venkataraman told Reuters the region is being considered 'as a manufacturing base to export to the U.S.' His comments reflect how global companies may seek new routes to navigate trade barriers, as the U.S. levies or threatens tariffs on international trade partners. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump slapped a surprise 25% tariff on imports from India and threatened further hikes this week over India's purchases of Russian oil. In contrast, the United Arab Emirates faces a 10% tariff under Trump's baseline rate. Titan's Tanishq brand has several U.S. stores and is planning a major expansion, while its diamond-focused label CaratLane launched in the U.S. in October, the company said. Titan began talks to buy Damas in 2024, before U.S. trade policy shifts came into focus. Shifting some manufacturing to a Gulf Cooperation Council country would be a way to mitigate recent rises in U.S. tariffs, Venkataraman said in a video call with Reuters. The U.S. is a less feasible manufacturing base due to cost and skills constraints, especially for artisan-made jewellery, he said. "If the tariffs remain like what they are currently threatened to be, then any arbitrage on a tariff ... any significant arbitrage would be meaningful for us to consider," Venkataraman said. (Reporting by Luke Tyson; Editing by Susan Fenton)

Lower interest rates spur strong loan growth at UAE banks amid Gulf-wide lending boom
Lower interest rates spur strong loan growth at UAE banks amid Gulf-wide lending boom

Al Etihad

timean hour ago

  • Al Etihad

Lower interest rates spur strong loan growth at UAE banks amid Gulf-wide lending boom

5 Aug 2025 18:36 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)Leading UAE banks posted robust loan growth and strong second-quarter profits in 2025, capitalising on a lower interest rate environment across the Gulf, according to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The favourable monetary conditions helped stimulate lending across the GCC, but UAE lenders, particularly First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and Emirates NBD, stood out for their growth momentum and upgraded full-year the country's largest bank by assets, reported a 10.71% year-on-year increase in loan growth, accelerating from 6.34% in the same period last year. The performance prompted FAB to upgrade its full-year loan growth guidance to the low double-digit range, from an earlier single-digit outlook. The bank also posted a record net profit of $1.50 billion in the second quarter, marking a 29% jump from $1.16 billion a year NBD, another top-tier UAE bank, reported even higher loan growth at 14.28%, also revising its full-year guidance upward to the low double digits. Its net interest income (NII) grew 6% year-on-year to $2.28 billion. However, the bank's net interest margin (NIM) narrowed by 22 basis points to 3.36%, largely due to pressure from its Turkish subsidiary, DenizBank. A $31 million impairment charge dragged Emirates NBD's quarterly profit down by 10% compared to a year earlier, when the bank had posted a reversal of $374 million in positive loan growth trend was mirrored across other Gulf markets, with Saudi Arabia's Al Rajhi Bank reporting the sharpest year-on-year rise among major regional lenders. Al Rajhi's loan book expanded by 19.31%, up from 7.37% a year earlier. The bank also posted a 25% jump in NII to $1.95 billion, supporting a 31% rise in net profit to $1.64 billion for the National Bank (QNB) posted 9.38% loan growth and revised its full-year loan guidance to 7%–9%, up from 5%–7%. Almost half the growth stemmed from Turkey, according to Durraiz Khan, senior vice president for group financial consolidation. QNB's NII rose to $2.34 billion, up from $2.12 billion a year ago, although margin pressures persisted due to high rates in Turkey. Khan noted that a projected rate cut in Turkey could aid NIM recovery in the second half of the National Bank also recorded solid loan growth, rising to 12.21% from 10.25% in the prior-year UAE-based banks, such as Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), also saw steady growth. ADCB reported high single-digit loan growth and continued to expand its retail and SME lending book. DIB maintained its strong performance in corporate and Islamic finance segments, benefitting from improved liquidity and lower funding costs. S&P analysts said they expect loan growth momentum to continue in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, supported by anticipated US Federal Reserve rate cuts later in the year, which Gulf central banks are expected to follow. As rates soften further, banks in the region—particularly those with diversified portfolios and strong funding bases—are poised to benefit from increased credit demand and margin stabilisation.

UAE leads youth-driven startup surge in the Middle East
UAE leads youth-driven startup surge in the Middle East

Khaleej Times

timean hour ago

  • Khaleej Times

UAE leads youth-driven startup surge in the Middle East

Entrepreneurial ambition among young people in the Mena region is on a sharp rise, with 46 per cent of workers expressing interest in starting their own business. Nowhere is this intent more visible than in the UAE, where a dynamic ecosystem of startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is enabling youth to turn vision into reality. A new PwC Middle East report, Future Ready Mena, highlights the urgent need to strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities across the region. It notes that the survival rate of small businesses doubles when guided by experienced mentors, and that mastery of emerging technologies — from artificial intelligence to digital commerce platforms — has become critical as the global workforce braces for the disruption of more than a billion jobs by 2030. The UAE's record in fostering entrepreneurship is already world‑leading. According to the 2024–2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the nation ranks first globally for the fourth consecutive year as the best destination for startups and SMEs, surpassing 55 other economies. It leads in 11 out of 13 indicators that measure institutional support for entrepreneurship, including access to financing, regulatory ease, integration of entrepreneurship in education, and supportive cultural attitudes toward enterprise creation. SMEs are a cornerstone of the UAE's non‑oil economy, numbering around 557,000 and contributing an estimated 63.5 per cent of non‑oil GDP. That share is expected to rise as the nation pushes towards its target of one million SMEs by 2030, driven by an expanding digital economy, government funding programmes, and improved access to financial services. The third edition of the Mastercard SME Confidence Index shows that 91 per cent of SMEs in the UAE are optimistic about their business prospects this year, while 90 per cent expect revenue to match or exceed 2024 levels. The country's startup scene is equally vibrant. More than 5,600 active startups operate in the UAE, the highest number in the GCC. In May 2025 alone, these ventures attracted nearly $87 million in funding across 14 deals. Abu Dhabi's Hub71 has become a key catalyst, hosting over 260 startups as of mid‑2023 and offering equity‑free incentives, investor introductions, and global market access. In Sharjah, the Sheraa entrepreneurship centre has helped over 450 startups raise $297 million in capital and generate $372 million in revenue, with more than half being women‑led. This growth in entrepreneurial activity is supported by evolving education and cultural attitudes. Surveys among Emirati university students show a strong correlation between self‑confidence, institutional support, and entrepreneurial intention. While public sector careers remain attractive, a growing share of youth see business ownership as a viable, even preferred, career path. PwC's report recommends that governments, educators, and the private sector collaborate to expand structured entrepreneurship education, develop mentorship networks, empower women entrepreneurs, and promote technological proficiency. Programmes such as university incubators, government‑backed accelerators, and industry‑linked training are critical in translating youth ambition into scalable enterprises. The UAE already has a track record of producing high‑growth, tech‑driven ventures. Success stories like Talabat, Tabby, Swvl, and Tamara demonstrate how digitally native business models can rapidly scale when built on a foundation of entrepreneurial agility and strong market understanding. The World Economic Forum notes that Gulf states benefit from a maturing startup environment, strong investment flows from sovereign wealth funds, and regulatory innovation that reduces barriers for new businesses. Nearly 49 per cent of GEM's global respondents cite fear of failure as a barrier to launching a business, a sentiment shared by many in the region. But policymakers and investors in the UAE are addressing these concerns with simplified licensing processes, early‑stage funding opportunities, and structured mentoring support designed to build resilience among young founders. The convergence of strong youth ambition, robust ecosystem frameworks, and institutional backing positions the UAE as a model for inclusive, sustainable entrepreneurial growth in the Mena region. Yet experts stress that maintaining this momentum will require deeper mentorship engagement, embedding entrepreneurship across all levels of education, and ensuring equal opportunities for women and underrepresented groups. As PwC Middle East's education lead Roland Hancock points out, entrepreneurial capabilities extend far beyond traditional business knowledge. 'It's about adaptability, creativity, problem‑solving, and digital fluency. By investing in these capabilities now, the region can unlock the full potential of its youth and establish itself as a global hub for innovation and industry leadership.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store