The Golden Visa aims to attract professionals in the creative sector, including writers, filmmakers, influencers, photographers, and digital storytellers.

With Dubai emerging as a global hub for digital media and creative industries, this initiative seeks to provide long-term stability to content creators, allowing them to focus on their work without worries over visa renewals.

Unlike traditional work permits, the Golden Visa does not require a national sponsor, granting better flexibility to those in the creative field.

Who Can Apply?

The Golden Visa is open to individuals who have made significant contributions to the digital and creative sectors. Eligible applicants include:

• Writers

• Filmmakers

• Influencers

• Photographers

• Digital storytellers

To qualify, applicants must ascertain a strong record of impactful content creation, industry recognition, and the prospect to contribute to the UAE’s growing digital economy.

They must also show evidence of consistent audience engagement and career growth. Those already holding a UAE residence visa must cancel it before applying. Similarly, any dependents under the applicant’s sponsorship must also have their visas cancelled before submission.

Application Process

The process is managed by Creators HQ, the designated endorsing body for the Golden Visa. Interested content creators must follow these steps:

• Submit an Application – Applicants need to visit the Creators HQ website and complete an online form.

• Receive a Nomination – If the application is successful, the candidate will receive an email confirming their eligibility.

• Medical Examination & Documentation – The applicant must undergo a medical test and submit necessary documents, including a valid passport, Emirates ID (if applicable), and a passport-sized photograph.

• Visa Printing – After fulfilling the required steps, the applicant must visit a Services 1 Center to finalise and print the Golden Visa.

• Collection of Emirates ID – The final step involves collecting the Emirates ID from the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security.

Why Dubai?

Dubai has long been an attractive destination for digital professionals due to its modern infrastructure, tax-free system, and thriving digital community. With the introduction of the Golden Visa, the UAE seeks to strengthen its place as a creative and technological hub, giving content creators a stable environment to develop their careers.

The initiative allows filmmakers, writers, influencers, and photographers to establish themselves in a flourishing market with long-term opportunities.

With its straightforward application process and benefits, the UAE Golden Visa presents a great option for those looking to expand their presence in the digital and creative industries.

The key exhibition of the World Photography Conference – ‘City of the World’ – was held between 17 November and 15 December at the Lishui Art Museum and Lishui Museum in Zhejiang Province.

The exhibition was open to the world to collect the most representative works of cities from all over the world, displaying 548 works from 215 cities in 73 countries (regions) taken by 252 photographers and organisations.

The seven African-themed photographs selected by StarTimes were displayed on the exhibition, showing the charm of Africa vividly for the audience.

The exhibition is divided into thematic sections on ‘cities and people’,’ cities and culture’,’ urban development’ and ‘urban margins’, presenting the most representative cities of the East and West through a rich variety of art forms such as documentary, creative, conceptual and pictorial, reflecting the urban space, human history, social life and natural ecology of various countries around the world.

The African-themed photography works selected by StarTimes were taken by Li Chao, the Group’s full-time photographer, during his travels in various African countries.

The shutter framed the innocent smiling faces in the school of Gatumba village in Burundi and the concentration of children watching Chinese movies in Congo (Brazzaville); the camera drone witnessed the marvelousness of the first cathedral in Africa in Côte d’Ivoire; the gathering of the Kibera community in Kenya was recorded from the view on plane; the afterglow of the dusk of the Indian Ocean in Tanzania was touched with the lens; the winding Victoria Falls at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe was presented with the picture; the tranquility before sunset in the capital of Madagascar was sealed with the photo.

The world’s top photographic talents, high-end photographic products and advanced photographic technologies converge in Lishui to discuss the development trend of photography, comprehensively demonstrate the innovation of the industry and share the achievements of technological development in a diversified manner.

This year’s conference will comprehensively showcase the achievements of photography art and technology development around the world, promote global photography art creation, education and research, technology application enhancement, and cultural communication around the world.