Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho gets UAE golden visa

The superstar is a two-time Fifa World Player of the Year

Ronaldinho with Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai. The football star has been awarded a gold card visa. Courtesy: GenerShow more

Brazilian football superstar Ronaldinho is the latest recipient of the UAE's gold card residency visa.

The move was confirmed on Tuesday by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

Ronaldinho, 41, whose full name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, is a two-time Fifa World Player of the Year.

He was considered one of the best players of his generation, renowned in particular for his exploits with his country and Spanish side Barcelona.

Ronaldinho helped the club to win the Spanish league and the Champions League during his time there.

He joins a number of other stars to have received the 10-year residency visa honour including another football star, Cristiano Ronaldo, and tennis champion Novak Djokovic.

The gold visa is a programme announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in May of last year.

Sheikh Mohammed said the programme was the UAE’s way of welcoming “all those seeking to be a part of the UAE’s success story and making it a second home”.

It aims to generate foreign investment, encourage entrepreneurship, and attract top engineers, scientists and students.