Mashable: Following Canada and the US, the next destination for Indians to migrate to is the Middle East. According to a report published by the UN in The Print, there are 3.5 million Indians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 2.5 million in Saudi Arabia. Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman also follow UAE’s suit. In 2021, the Indian diaspora amounted to 18 million individuals living across the globe.

However, due to the pandemic, many couldn’t travel abroad as a result of varied restrictions imposed on them. When the UAE recently tweaked the Golden Visa’s rules, the country noticed a sharp rise in the demand for luxury residences in Dubai and other cities. “Buying a house is the simplest way of investing and securing a golden visa. Dubai also has no capital gains tax, which makes investment in real estate a compelling proposition,” said Akash Puri, director, international business, India Sotheby’s International Realty. Moreover, the investment rates have reduced for eligibility of the visa to AED two million (approx. Rs. 4.3 crore) from five million. The duration of the visa duration has also been extended to ten years.

The reason why many Indians prefer the middle east is because of it’s a growing economy. With the Golden Visa, wealthy Indians can purchase an apartment or even start a business there. Celebrities such as Kamal Hassan, Boney Kapoor and his family, Salman Khan, Mouni Roy Nambiar, Mohammed Azharuddin, and many others have also secured their golden ticked.

While the country has its own set of challenges, it has shown tremendous growth in varied sectors such as economy and architecture. Moreover, UAE offers a better lifestyle, economic growth opportunities, luxurious infrastructure, and to some families, the lack of communal violence. In addition to this, many choose UAE over Europe because of a sense of community, which other cultures may not offer. The distance between India and Dubai, a 2.5 hours ride, works in the favour of Indians.

Being able to move out of our home country for a better prospect has been the dream of many Indians, and that drives them to restart their lives from scratch, which isn’t an easy decision to begin with. UAE, while a foreign land, isn’t as alienating either. All of this makes UAE a great stepping stone for emigration. While nobody knows what tomorrow may bring, a glimpse into MENA’s present portrays the possibility of a brighter future.