New Abu Dhabi residents office to attract overseas talent

Officials will handle services for 'golden visa' applications and enquiries about living in the city

Abu Dhabi was named the second most cultural city in the world by Skyscanner.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was singled out by Skyscanner as one of the city's most important cultural offerings.

The mosque looks just as beautiful at night, and warrants a return trip to see it from a different perspective.

Louvre Abu Dhabi is just one insitution that's helped Abu Dhabi make it to the top of the world's most cultural cities.

Kayak tours of Louvre Abu Dhabi were launched earlier this year, and Skyscanner says this is an "experience to remember".

The poll made special mention of the architecture, which was designed by Pritzker-winning French architect Jean Nouvel.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi also warrants a trip at night.

The article also made special mention of the Abu Dhabi National Theatre. Antonie Robertson / The National.

Inaugurated in 1981, the National Theatre has an impressive 2,250-seat auditorium that hosts plays, movie screenings, conferences and exhibitions.

Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest and most significant building in Abu Dhabi, wasn't mentioned in the Skyscanner poll, but is worth a visit.

Shish Shawerma, near the Corniche, was singled out as local fare to experience.

Abu Dhabi has launched a new service that will offer guidance to foreign talent looking to move to the emirate, including opportunities to secure a long-term golden visa.

Abu Dhabi Residents Office will streamline existing programmes and opportunities.

It will also carry out research and hold regular engagement activities to better understand the needs of non-Emiratis.

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Added), which will oversee the new division, said the new body will further boost the emirate's position as a popular destination to live and work.

“We will be focusing on greater access to information, processing golden visas and other long-term residency options, and most importantly, understanding the needs of our residents so that we can work across Abu Dhabi to ensure that together we are always growing and enabling the population here to thrive," said Sameh Al Qubaisi, executive director of the executive affairs office at Added.

Abu Dhabi is home to more than 2.2 million non-Emiratis representing more than 200 nationalities.

The emirate has been ranked as the world's safest city for five consecutive years, according to Numbeo's Quality of Life index, and has been recognised as the world’s leading city for its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Deep Knowledge Group.

The emirate was also ranked the world's fifth most preferred place of work for foreign citizens in 2021, by the Boston Consulting Group and The Network.