Oman has officially rolled out a 10-year Golden Residency scheme aimed at drawing foreign capital and highly skilled professionals as part of its Vision 2040 economic reform agenda. Announced on August 31, 2025, at the Sustainable Business Environment forum in Salalah, the program offers renewable decade-long residency permits with extended benefits for investors and their families.

Under the program, investors committing a minimum of 200,000 Omani rials (approximately $520,000) qualify for residency permits that cover spouses, children, and first-degree relatives, without any restrictions on age or number. Residency holders also gain access to fast-track airport services, the right to employ up to three domestic workers, and permission to own one property outside integrated tourism complexes in designated areas where non-Omani ownership is allowed.

Applicants can obtain eligibility through any of seven investment routes targeting strategic sectors: establishing companies with capital/assets valued at 200,000 OMR or more; purchasing real estate within integrated tourism complexes; holding government development bonds with two or more years to maturity; investing in listed equities meeting the threshold; maintaining fixed bank deposits for five years; owning firms employing 50 or more Omanis; or being nominated under the Foreign Investment Law. The program’s lowered investment threshold from prior levels signals Oman’s intent to remain competitive regionally.

The Golden Residency supports Oman’s goals of accelerating private sector expansion, job creation, and knowledge transfer, while enhancing the country’s reputation as a stable, investor-friendly market. The initiative also includes partnerships for targeted global promotion and digital enhancements such as the Oman Business Platform that facilitates commercial registration transfers.

Officials highlighted that the program embodies Oman’s commitment to balancing opportunity, stability, and quality of life, with Oman ranking fourth globally on the 2024 Quality of Life Index. The launch coincides with additional reforms, including the "Distinguished Companies" initiative that recognises high-performing domestic firms based on governance, export performance, and Omanisation rates.

Overall, the Golden Residency program is a key pillar of Oman’s Vision 2040, designed to stimulate sustainable economic growth by attracting long-term foreign investment and expertise.Oman Launches 10-Year Golden Residency to Attract Investors and Skilled Talent

Oman has officially launched a renewable 10-year Golden Residency program aimed at attracting foreign capital and professionals, supporting its Vision 2040 reform agenda. Announced at a forum in Salalah on August 31, 2025, the program offers long-term residency permits to investors committing a minimum of 200,000 Omani rials (approximately $520,000).

 The residency covers spouses, children, and first-degree relatives without age or number restrictions, and includes benefits such as fast-track airport services, permission to hire up to three domestic workers, and the right to own one property outside integrated tourism complexes where allowed.

Applicants can qualify through seven routes, including establishing companies with capital/assets of at least 200,000 OMR, purchasing property in integrated tourism complexes, holding government bonds, investing in listed equities, fixed bank deposits for five years, owning firms employing at least 50 Omanis, or nominations under the Foreign Investment Law. The scheme aims to deepen private sector growth, accelerate job creation, and enhance knowledge transfer, while promoting Oman as a stable, investor-friendly destination.

The program aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040 goals and complements other initiatives such as the "Distinguished Companies" recognition and digital reforms to facilitate business registration transfers. This move reduces the prior investment threshold, positioning Oman to compete regionally with similar long-term residency schemes. Oman ranked fourth globally in the 2024 Quality of Life Index, highlighting its appeal to investors seeking stability and quality of life.

Overall, Oman’s Golden Residency is a strategic tool to drive economic diversification, attract sustainable investment, and foster technological and human capital development.

Emirates Flight Catering has embarked on a landmark expansion with the ground-breaking of a new Dh160 million laundry facility under its Linencraft brand at Dubai Investment Park, creating 400 direct jobs and boosting its operational capacity by over 50 percent. This strategic investment addresses the surging demand in the UAE’s hospitality, aviation, and healthcare sectors amid rapid sector growth and infrastructure developments.

The new facility will add 150 tons daily to Linencraft’s current processing ability of 280 tons across four locations. It features two advanced modular hospitality bulk laundry units with a combined capacity of 142 tons per day, plus a dedicated garment plant that can handle over 28,000 pieces daily. This high-tech setup incorporates next-generation automation to enhance efficiency, reduce manual labor, and ensure resilience with built-in redundancies to maintain uninterrupted operations even at peak times.

 Energy-efficient systems are integrated to minimize environmental impact, reflecting a sharp focus on sustainability.

Shahreyar Nawabi, CEO of Emirates Flight Catering, emphasized the boldness of this move, stating, “This investment reflects both the scale of opportunity we see in the market and our determination to lead the industry forward. With this advanced facility, we’re not just increasing capacity we’re setting new standards through smart technology and sustainability.” The expansion is timely, as more than 10,000 new hotel rooms are expected in the UAE by 2027 alongside the upcoming major international events and Dubai Airport’s ongoing expansions, all driving a steep rise in demand for large-scale laundry services including staff uniforms and institutional laundry needs.

Linencraft currently serves over 100 clients across airlines, hospitality, healthcare, and corporate sectors, employing around 1,300 people. The new facility solidifies its position as the UAE’s largest and most trusted commercial laundry provider, capable of onboarding 40 additional hospitality clients with this capacity boost.
The project is led by UAE-based general contractor ASIA Prime, which is committed to delivering quality and operational excellence throughout the construction process.

This expansion complements broader Emirates Group initiatives, which recently unveiled a global talent drive to recruit 17,300 employees across Emirates and dnata, further underscoring the Group’s growth and commitment to meeting future demand in aviation and related services.

By scaling up climate-conscious operations and leveraging smart technologies, Emirates Flight Catering’s new Linencraft facility is poised to support the country’s booming service industries with efficiency, reliability, and sustainability well into the future.

IndiGo Airlines, India’s largest low-cost carrier, has aggressively expanded its cockpit workforce by recruiting over 1,000 pilots in the past two years, bringing its total pilot strength to 5,456 by the end of FY25. This milestone surpasses the combined pilot count of Air India and Air India Express, which stands at 5,449, underscoring IndiGo’s dominant position in the Indian aviation sector.

This rapid increase in pilot numbers coincides with IndiGo’s substantial fleet growth, currently operating 434 aircraft, with over 920 more on order, including long-range Airbus A321XLRs and A350s to support its international ambitions. The accelerated hiring is a strategic move to maintain operational reliability in the face of soaring passenger demand and an industry-wide shortage of pilots. It also differentiates IndiGo from competitors like Akasa Air, which faced pilot resignations and flight cancellations in late 2024.

India’s aviation market is witnessing unprecedented growth, with domestic air travel rising to 165 million passengers in FY25 a 17% increase over pre-pandemic levels and international travel up 49% to 34 million. Responding to this surge, IndiGo has also strengthened its cabin crew roster to over 10,212 personnel.

IndiGo is leading industry efforts in gender diversity, with women constituting 16% of its pilot workforce approximately three times the global average and aiming to reach 1,000 female pilots by 2025. The commitment to inclusivity was highlighted when the airline onboarded 77 female pilots on India’s 77th Independence Day.

Financially, IndiGo posted a profit after tax of ₹7,258 crore for FY25, marking its second consecutive year of profitability, in contrast to losses reported by other carriers such as Air India and Akasa Air.
Despite a 17% decrease in the issuance of Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs) in 2024, government data indicates there is currently no shortage of trained pilots in India, though the demand forecast is significant, with an estimated need for 21,500 pilots by 2034. IndiGo’s proactive recruitment and diversity initiatives position it well to meet the challenges of India’s rapidly expanding aviation market.

On 22 July 2025, Dubai, UAE, the Emirates Group launched an extensive global talent acquisition campaign aimed at recruiting 17,300 professionals during the current financial year. This hiring goal is symbolic, matching the population size of a mid-size town or the seating capacity of 58 Airbus A350 aircraft. The recruitment drive is part of the Group’s ongoing expansion strategy, reinforcing its industry-leading position.

The available opportunities span across 350 different roles across Emirates and dnata, the two flagship businesses under the Group. Emirates, recognized as the world’s most profitable and largest international airline, along with dnata, a global leader in air and travel services, are looking to fill positions that include cabin crew, pilots, engineers, commercial and sales teams, customer service, ground handling, catering, IT, human resources, and finance. Notably, dnata alone seeks over 4,000 specialists in cargo, catering, and ground handling operations.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, emphasized that this ambitious recruitment is aligned with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 and the Group’s growth trajectory. He expressed that the goal is to attract world-class talent capable of driving innovation, excellence, and the future transformation of the aviation industry. He views this initiative as an opportunity for skilled professionals to become integral to the Group’s ongoing success and expansion.

To reach potential candidates globally, the Emirates Group will hold over 2,100 open days and various talent acquisition events across 150 cities throughout the year. These events will provide a chance for prospective pilots, IT professionals, engineers, and cabin crew members to engage directly with recruitment teams and long-serving Emirates employees sharing their experiences. In addition to international outreach, Dubai-based events will focus on involving UAE national students and graduates, supporting national workforce development.

Since 2022, the Emirates Group has recruited more than 41,000 professionals, with nearly 27,000 in operational roles, contributing to the current workforce size of approximately 121,000 employees. The Group continues to be a magnet for talent around the world due to its strong brand reputation, people-centric policies, tax-free remuneration, comprehensive benefits, and esteemed training and career development programs.

In the past financial year alone, the Group received in excess of 3.7 million job applications, illustrating its global appeal. Candidates are drawn to Dubai not only for professional opportunities but also for the city’s safety, economic stability, advanced technological infrastructure, forward-looking policies, and vibrant lifestyle.

For those residing in Dubai and working for the Emirates Group, benefits are extensive, including eligibility for profit sharing, comprehensive medical and life insurance coverage, a wide array of travel benefits encompassing annual and service-related leave tickets, concessional rates for family and friends, discounted cargo rates, and membership privileges unlocking reductions at hundreds of retail, hospitality, and lifestyle destinations.

Candidates interested in joining the Emirates Group can explore available positions and upcoming recruitment events worldwide by visiting the Group’s official careers portal. This recruitment drive showcases the Emirates Group’s unwavering commitment to growth, innovation, and maintaining its status as a global employer of choice, while welcoming talented professionals prepared to contribute to shaping the future of aviation.