Sharjah issues its first golden visa to Indian businessman Lalu Samuel

Mr Samuel is the head of Kingston Group, one of the largest manufacturers of electrical products in the Middle East

Lalu Samuel. Courtesy Kingston Holdings

Sharjah has granted its first golden visa – to Indian businessman Lalu Samuel.

A long-time resident of the UAE, Mr Samuel is chairman of the Sharjah-based Kingston Group, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of electrical products in the Middle East.

He has lived in the Emirates for the past 37 years and Forbes Middle East named him one of the "top 100 most influential Indian business leaders in the Arab world" several times.

Mr Samuel was presented with the golden card on Sunday.

He thanked the UAE’s leaders for the honour and expressed his gratitude to Sharjah for creating the conditions that have allowed his business to flourish.

The Kingston Group is based at Sharjah airport’s free zone and controls a huge network of warehouses at the sprawling site.

It has three manufacturing units, produces 1,200 products, including heating systems, cables, lights and home appliances, and exports to more than 100 countries across the globe.

Rexton, one of the flagship brands under the Kingston umbrella, it opened an LED manufacturing and testing facility in Sharjah last year.

Many cities, organisations and homes are switching to LED lights as they are more efficient and last longer than traditional bulbs.

Even the chandelier lights at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque were switched to LEDs a few years ago.

Kingston is also involved in several joint investment ventures including one with GP Batteries, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of the products.

The “golden card” has been touted as a permanent residency scheme and was announced by the UAE in May. It is automatically renewed every 10 years, subject to certain conditions.

So far, 6,800 investors and residents have been identified as beneficiaries of the golden card, including Yusuff Ali, the Lulu Group chairman; Mohammed Rahman, chairman and managing director of Al Haramain Group, and Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and managing director of VPS Healthcare.

______________

UAE's first golden card visa holders - in pictures