United Arab Emirates: Relaxed Medical Fitness Requirements for Residency

The Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates relaxed certain medical requirements which will increase the number of individuals eligible to obtain residence. For example, foreign nationals testing positive for HIV may now be eligible for residence, subject to approval by the Minister of Health and Prevention, or another relevant authority, where their applications would previously be automatically denied. Further, those testing positive for Hepatitis B or C (the test is mandatory for certain professions) now have 30 days to change the purpose of their residency to a category that does not require Hepatitis testing, up from 14 days. All other medical fitness eligibility requirements for residence remain unchanged.