As per the latest media reports, if expatriates in the UAE want to bring their families into the country, then they must earn a minimum monthly salary of USD 1251, up from USD 751.

On Tuesday, it was reveled by Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, director general of the Naturalization and Residency Department, (NRD) that other than this, the foreigners must also provide their family with independent accommodation.

He specified that it was after a study into the negative effects of allowing residents to bring their families without sufficient income and a suitable place to stay, that the decision to raise the earning amount has been made. A well-known paper reported that the initial minimum income requirement was first increased to 4,000 dirhams, and then to 6,000 dirhams, and now it has been increased to 10,000 dirhams.

It was put forth by Al Menhali that in order to deal with the cost of living, rents, school fees and healthcare, it was necessary that the minimum wages be raised.

He also made it clear that a resident should be in a position to support his family and afford their living costs, to enable them to live a decent life, in line with labor and residency laws. He concluded: "The new rules will come into effect after an amendment to the residency law."