H-1B Visagate: Gulf States Spot an Opportunity
The Trump administration is narrowing the immigration window one more time. The coveted H-1B work visa for the US will now cost $100,000 instead of the previous $1,000. This measure shatters the dreams of many talented IT engineers, junior bankers, and programmers – especially from Asia. The UAE is already courting the disappointed hotshots.
Over the weekend, the new visa policy from the Washington administration caused considerable confusion. H-1B visa holders canceled personal and business trips abroad for fear they might be denied re-entry by US border officials. On social media, videos went viral showing flights at US airports delayed because Indian guest workers were advised by their bosses – via phone or WhatsApp – not to leave the «land of opportunity» and to disembark just in case.
A Campaign Promise Fulfilled
In the meantime, US authorities have clarified: the new fee applies only to H-1B visas filed after September 21.
The H-1B visa is intended for highly skilled workers who are contractually employed for a limited time by a US company. With the astronomically high fee of $100,000 per H-1B visa, the Washington government aims to discourage domestic companies from hiring foreign talent – thus improving the prospects of American workers in the domestic job market (keyword: «America First»).
«Dubai Instead of Dallas»
Influential Emirati entrepreneur and founder of the Barjeel Foundation, Sultan Al-Qassemi, is already urging his home country and neighboring Gulf states to seize the opportunity. On X, Al-Qassemi posted: «The Gulf States should take advantage of the disruption of the H-1B visa program in the US and attract these highly skilled professionals—most of whom work in the fields of artificial intelligence and technology—to settle and work here.»
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai’s largest free trade zone, DMCC (home to 25,000 registered companies), dutifully retweeted the post. After all, DMCC also hosts the crypto center, where 800 companies from blockchain, fintech, and gaming have set up shop. These are precisely the future-oriented firms that are competing for the brightest minds in the industry. The UAE aims to transform its economy into a service and hitech-focused state for the post-oil era, and this future can only be created with talent.
In recent years, the UAE has introduced a number of visa facilitations for high earners and talented expats in select sectors. In addition to the «Golden Visa» valid for 10 years (for employees earning at least $8,200 per month or with $550,000 in net assets), there is also the «Green Visa» for talent in the environmental sector. These visa categories typically cost a few thousand dollars. By law, companies must cover the visa costs themselves if a formal employment relationship exists.
China Eyes Foreign Tech Talent Too. China is also targeting ambitious foreign tech and other talent with its new K-Visa. The first K visas will be issued starting 1 October 2025.
Trump Winds Blow Worldwide
Strict visa regimes are not uniquely American. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in Dubai told Finews that many NRIs are encountering increasing bureaucratic hurdles when applying for business or travel visas to various parts of the world—be it the Schengen Area, North America, or East Asia.
Many IT engineers and high-tech professionals with US ambitions had envisioned the start of autumn – which also marks the beginning of the busy business season in the third and fourth quarter – very differently. The global competition for talent is intensifying, as is the race for coveted work visas.
