The Chairman of Lulu Group who is a native of Kerala and a business tycoon who runs business in Saudi & UAE is the first Indian to get Saudi Green Card.

MA Yusuffali, the Chairman of Lulu Group can now own business and property in the kingdom. He has received Saudi Arabia’s Premium residency earlier this week. The Premium Residency program was introduced as a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform plan.

Yusuffali is into the supermarket business in the kingdom. The Lulu Group owns and operates more than 35 hypermarkets and supermarkets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which also includes ARAMCO Commissaries and National Guards super stores.

He said, “The Kingdom became an attractive investment destination due to the remarkable growth in economy”.

This special residency permit called Privileged Iqama or new Green Card style Iqama will allow expats to get benefit with this new residency scheme in which the expatriates can live in Saudi Arabia without a Saudi Sponsor (kafeel) or employer.

Privileged Iqama will only be provided to following Skilled Expatriates

• An Investor or Entrepreneur who can own a property in the Kingdom
• A person who can recruit other employees
• A person who has his own transport & Land

The residence permits will also include a family status so that a holder can issue visit visas for relatives (family).

There will be 2 types of systems under this residence permit, one which can be used for an unlimited period and the other valid on a yearly basis and subject to renewal.

Requirements for Expatriates to obtain the new Privileged Iqama permit include having a valid passport, a good credit report, a health report, and a clean criminal record.

6 Conditions for Expats to get Privileged Iqama

“This will enable non-Saudis to practice their work according to the systems available in the government. It will allow them to invest and buy residential, commercial, and industrial property,” al-Qasabi said.

“Investors will hence be registered in the commercial community. This will limit commercial concealment and help us build a realistic economy,” the minister added.

If a Green Card is approved, it will be announced soon as per Fahad Al-Skeit told Al-Hayat Arabic daily on Thursday.

Green Card in Saudi Arabia

Sure there will be some eligibility for attaining the Green Cards in Saudi Arabia which will be absed on the number of entities topped by the Ministry of Commerce and Investment.

Saudi Green Card Eligibility criteria:

• Expat must be a unique skilled worker
• Expat must posses a scientific skill
• Expat must posses a profession which is in demand in Saudi Arabia
• Expatriate Skill or professional qualities must be not easily available in the kingdom, which means Expat skill must be better than Saudi and difficult to find anywhere in Saudi nationals.
• Expatriate who is a company owner and ready to invest in Saudi Arabia

If an expatriate possesses any of the below Skill mentioned in the Eligibility criteria he will be able to get the Saudi Green Card.

Initially, there will be limited cards for Expatriates due to the tough criteria and also because foreigners are able to obtain a Saudi investment license.

This will also be a key step towards Vision 2030 where-in Saudi government are collecting investments from Expatriates and foreign workers to increase or develop economy and businesses in Saudi Arabia. Which will also give space for gender equality, wherein men and women will be getting equal opportunities in Saudi Job market.

Saudi Green Card benefits :-

1. Saudi Green Card give you the freedom to work in any company in Saudi Arabia.
2. Saudi Green Card give you the benefit of starting Company in your name instead of working for Kafeel or Sponsor.
3. Saudi green card will also allow Expatriates to own property and undertake business activities in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.O ther conditions include high solvency, long-term investments, realizable investment gains, compliance with Saudization rules and ability to enhance the kingdom’s economic value.

United States of America has the same system of proving Green Cards to foreigners living in USA. Saaudi Green Card helps the Expatriates to get permanent residence status in KSA and Saudi Economy will also increase as Expatriates those who invest in Saudi will be eligible for Green Card in Saudi.

You might be asking several questions to yourself that why you might need a Green Card in Saudi Arabia? Why Do you Need Green Card in KSA? What are Benefits of having a Green Card in Saudi.

Here are the Benefits of Saudi Green Card:

• Green Card Holders in Saudi will be able to change their Jobs easily
• Processing of VISAs for Self and Family Exit Re-Entry VISa without Sponsors (Kafeel)
• Green Card Holders will get a Permanent Residence  Status in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will be eligible to buy a House or property (real-Estate in Saudi Arabia) on their names.
• Expatriates can run their own Business without any interference of Saudi Sponsors (Kafeel) and can act as Self Sponsors.
• Getting a Green Card is a first Step to toward getting a Saudi Nationality
• Saudi Green Card Holders will not come under the Kafala System and Iqama residence permit.
• Saudi Green Card will be charge a fee of 14,200 SAR every year.
• Get VISAs quickly and in Short time, if you;re a Green Card Holder in KSA
• Monthly Pension after retirement for Expatriates
• Saudi Government & Hospital Services free for Green Card Holders same as Saudi Nationals.
• Saudi Arabia Green Card HOlders will also get additional two VISAs to employ workers for domestic purpose
• Green Card Holders in Saudi can have 3 Vehicles ( 7 Seater & 4 Seater) on their Own name