Revolutionary, trendsetting techniques and the UAE go hand in hand. The only thing constant in this country is change – change for the better, change that makes life oh-so-comfortable that many expatriates would rather spend the holidays here rather than in their home countries.

The leadership is willing to go full-on the extra mile to see that the mod cons suit every resident, without making a dent in his or her pocket. There’s no segment of living where comfort is not spelt with a capital C. Key necessities are quite affordable, whether it is housing, food or even clothes. Sometimes the garments are cheaper here than in countries such as India or the UK. Business can be set up in a trice; scads of unnecessary paperwork can be done away with and plans of investors greenlighted.

The new permit for virtual work is the newest lodestar of a professional’s paradise. Under the scheme, any employee anywhere in the world can reside in the UAE to perform work remotely even if his/her company does not have an office or factory here.

That’s not all. The government has also launched, in a unique move, a multi-entry visa regimen for tourists.

As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said on Twitter, “With the remote cutting-edge technologies today, we provide an opportunity for everyone to live in the most beautiful and safest cities in the world. Moreover, we decided to adopt multi-entry tourist visas for all nationalities ... the UAE is a global economic capital … and all our decisions will be based on this vision.”

The new measures will enhance UAE’s stature as an ideal work and tourist destination.

Sheikh Mohammed tweeted, “During a cabinet meeting I chaired, we approved a new Remote work visa that enables employees from all over the world to live and work remotely from the UAE even if their companies are based in another country.”

Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed that the government continues developing flexible programmes and initiatives to place the UAE as one of the world’s best governments to provide services, and offer the best quality of life for citizens and residents.

The idea is to boost the economic status globally and provide the best quality of life to citizens and residents. “Our journey of development endures.”

The major step, considered first of its kind in the region, aims to boost the competitiveness of the UAE’s tourism sector and support the national economy.

The new Multiple Entry Tourist Visa is a step that aims to facilitate the process for tourists and visitors. The five-year visa enables tourists to enter multiple times on self-sponsorship and remain in the country for 90 days on each visit, which can be extended by another 90 days.

Within one year, a single smart platform will provide 90 per cent of the UAE’s government services, with aims to bring customer satisfaction to more than 90 per cent.

It is little wonder then that last year, in a report, Abu Dhabi and Dubai were ranked the happiest cities in the Arab region.

The study indicated a number of key natural factors affecting happiness, such as weather, green spaces and water surfaces such as beaches and canals. Add to that new plans and projects to make life smooth and as easy as possible for both the professional and the investor, because red tapism can be a major headache and offputting for the overseas entrepreneur who wants to invest his capital. It is these wholehearted efforts to woo potential residents that put the UAE on a totally different pedestal. Amid stressful pandemic times, destressing is key, and the UAE has mastered it. It shows in the unique life here.