There is a good news for creative people to have a chance to get a 10-year residence visa in the United Arab Emirates, the land of opportunities, a safe hub to 200+ nationalities. Implementing rules will be announced hopefully in the third quarter of 2018.
As far as I know, employment visa for expatriates is good for two (2) years, investors, three (3) years and students, one (1) year, renewable. If 10-year visa will be approved for creatives, then the country can incubate and produce home-grown talents who can potentially be the players for unicorn businesses in the future.
Merriam Webster Dictionary defines 'creative' as 'having the quality of something created rather than imitated'. When we hear the word 'creative', we think of artists, performers like singers, writers, etc.
Being creative requires an imaginative mind to think of something new and better which gives a happy feeling. Everything is created in the mind first before making it real as done by the hand or any part or parts of the body. Creativity is an expression of self. It is a mirror of the soul and a reflection of times. Ed Sheeran's Perfect is a perfect expression of a man's love for a woman -- every word in the lyrics and the way the music is arranged amazingly connects the writer, the singer and the viewers / listeners.
Being creative requires an imaginative mind to think of something new and better which gives a happy feeling. Everything is created in the mind first before making it real as done by the hand or any part or parts of the body. Creativity is an expression of self. It is a mirror of the soul and a reflection of times. Ed Sheeran's Perfect is a perfect expression of a man's love for a woman -- every word in the lyrics and the way the music is arranged amazingly connects the writer, the singer and the viewers / listeners.
When you want to lead, you must be creative. Every leader is an artist because leadership itself is an art. According to Mentalfloss.com, four (4) US presidents who painted for fun and profit are ex-President Grant, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and George W Bush. Former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill found painting as the one of greatest hobbies and his 'other world'. Audacity or willingness to take bold risks, was his first word for budding artists. Prince Charles is also good in painting.
In 1978 (I was a grade 6-schooler) I underwent a ruptured appendectomy surgery. My surgeon was Dr. Ramon Pastor (RIP), my favorite doctor who performed a gall bladder surgery on Marilyn Monroe. I loved the way he talked to his patients, even the young ones. He loved to draw while explaining affected parts of body in a human anatomy, helping me understand appendicitis better and how to avoid complications.
The "Lost Book of Nostradamus" features images -- as there are things which cannot be described perfectly by words.
In 1978 (I was a grade 6-schooler) I underwent a ruptured appendectomy surgery. My surgeon was Dr. Ramon Pastor (RIP), my favorite doctor who performed a gall bladder surgery on Marilyn Monroe. I loved the way he talked to his patients, even the young ones. He loved to draw while explaining affected parts of body in a human anatomy, helping me understand appendicitis better and how to avoid complications.
The "Lost Book of Nostradamus" features images -- as there are things which cannot be described perfectly by words.
The move of the UAE government is indeed very timely, not only because the World Expo 2020 is near but because stimulating, incubating and growing creative talents here is very important today more more than ever. The minds of the leaders are hugely creative in that they carefully and continuously study, evaluate options, and implement strategies to overcome the challenges of heat, scarcity of trees, lack of rains, drop of gas and oil prices, and others, to attract and retain best talents to help in sustainability programs.
The residents here are blessed to have a chance to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi, an art and civilization museum established in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 8 November 2017. This inspires more artists to 'see humanity in a new light', as the tagline says, to create artworks with world-class quality, and to flourish. (By the way, I read an article that a wise investor invests in real estate, jewelry and classic paintings.)
I think with the new 10-year residency plan for creatives, it will help if some rules will be relaxed to allow talents to grow without spending much for separate license. For example, in social media -- there are employed talented people in other fields but they can do some creative designs to help promote brands of friends or friends of friends for gratis or simple tokens just to enhance skills. They grow organically. Over time they can establish their own businesses.
Maybe in the future we will see also some paradigm shifts like in other countries where a person can do other part-time jobs after regular tour of duty, in much, much easier ways. Or there can be an online platform for creatives who are employed, on husband or father's visa or on investor visa but the trade license activities are not related to creative activities, to utilize their gifts and generate revenue, stress-free and without spending a fortune. They will flourish with many options to get paid quickly, say thru bank account transfer, remittance via exchange centers like Western Union, purchase vouchers, prepaid debit cards, basic groceries on sale, transferrable gift certificates, tuition fee voucher, etc. This will help the entities they promote to reach more customers as well as the merchants from which they buy the products and services as they have increased revenues, and ultimately, the economy to grow.
Will this hurt other players in creative fields? I want to look at them on equal footing with other entities. Let's look at trading companies with multi-level marketing model. They invite and train members to sell their products for a profit, but the members do not have to register a separate license yet they upgrade their marketing skills for free and earn money. They also use social media to promote their items. Everything is 'in the box' -- products, product knowledge, marketing model that can be imitated or duplicated, etc. But for the creatives -- they must think outside the box, must be unique, must be daring and must create something ideally not imitated that makes others happy. This creativity helps create bold entrepreneurs, and sooner or later they start their own businesses.
I think it is worth considering to allow inclusion of creative activities related to main business activities ('sister' activities) for trade license application or renewal. It will help boost revenue generation to help the company survive and thrive.
Since most people frequent malls during free time, some restaurants or coffee shop operators and adjacent hotels can host creative activities from time to time, and there must be merchants to sell creative materials and related services.
Contests for creatives with easy-to-join rules, attractive prizes which can be crowdfunded or sponsored by some companies to encourage participants to persevere, and themes that will help provide solutions to some problems, can be held to improve lives of people.
Some online and / or offline courses with certification for creatives will also pave way to creating and nurturing more talents. So it goes without saying that creative mentors employed in schools or training centers here, are worth considering also for a 10-year visa.
Establishing DIY (do-it-yourself) recycling centers in different strategic areas where creative people can do something to recycle and reuse old materials, like clothes, electronic items, scrap home decors, soda cans, among others, will be a great idea.
It will create a long-lasting positive impact if creative employees who want to do business may be given chances to register for a creative start-up business at floor rates here so risks are minimized as they can use their salaries directly or through bank financing with salary collateral -- as we all know that the first five (5) years of business is very tough -- particularly these days. Doing creative work is therapeutic and helps erase one's pains and loneliness that promotes one's well being, which is important in productivity.
Creatives who can be eligible for 10-year visa can bring their families. Definitely it will also help build strong communities, will promote peace and pave way to prosperity, as they create moments and memories together to cherish for a lifetime. We think of our family as our refuge and anchor when kaliwali with matching hand gesture or look, is the response of a person next to us during our low moments. As Robbin Williams said, "I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone."
Imagine a family whose members share in the responsibilities of doing the laundry, cleaning the house, shopping groceries, cooking foods, fixing damaged parts of flat / villa and other household routines instead of one doing all for himself / herself or calling the assistance of outside helpers if needed or when there is a budget. Imagine a family going on domestic tours, food-tripping, viewing concerts and buying things for home they can call their own for at least a decade and maybe more, as they consider this as their next home, a safe haven to stay in. With various needs of diverse population, there is a call for innovation so it all follows -- creators create innovative solutions to what most people need.
Imagine a family whose members share in the responsibilities of doing the laundry, cleaning the house, shopping groceries, cooking foods, fixing damaged parts of flat / villa and other household routines instead of one doing all for himself / herself or calling the assistance of outside helpers if needed or when there is a budget. Imagine a family going on domestic tours, food-tripping, viewing concerts and buying things for home they can call their own for at least a decade and maybe more, as they consider this as their next home, a safe haven to stay in. With various needs of diverse population, there is a call for innovation so it all follows -- creators create innovative solutions to what most people need.
This opportunity for creatives is one of the firsts in the country -- and indeed a big game-changer. For sure there are many of us who are passionately motivated to be more creative in this part of the world -- and thrive.
Are you creative? What are your areas of interests when it comes to creativity? Do you have related blogs / vlogs, website or anything that showcases your works? Please share and comment below. I am excited to view them!
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| My granddaughter as she shows her interest in painting at her early age. I sent her a painting kit recently. It gives me a sheer delight to feel her passion. |
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Photo credits: Pixabay
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