Among the Indian citizens granted the ‘Golden Visa’ by the UAE government on Tuesday (Feb. 6) was Anand Kumar, developer of Super 30.
On Tuesday, Kumar, a math teacher and Padma Shri laureate, received the prestigious Golden Visa from the UAE Embassy in India. Since the United Arab Emirates introduced this visa in 2019, international people have been able to live, work, and attend education in the country permanently.
“As a regular teacher like me, getting the Golden Visa in Dubai is an incredible experience. It’s like joining the ranks of Bollywood stars and sports legends,” Kumar wrote on X. The nomination was an honor, and he thanked the UAE government for it.
The inclusion of Kumar from India’s academic sector is even more unusual considering that the prized visa has usually gone to Bollywood and sports stars like Sania Mirza, Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Dutt, and, most recently, Kriti Sanon.
In 2002, Kumar, an Indian math instructor hailing from Patna, debuted his Super 30 course. He became famous for his work as a tutor for low-income students taking the JEE (JEE-Main and JEE-Advanced) exams, which determine admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
For his work in literature and education, Kumar received India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, last year.
This visa is given to highly skilled persons from all over the globe so that they may live, work, or study in the United Arab Emirates and enjoy all the benefits that come with it. These people include entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students, and graduates.
The Golden Visa is an additional option for those seeking a renewable long-term resident visa that may be good for up to 10 years. Giving applicants full ownership of their businesses is one way the UAE is trying to entice foreign investment and expertise.
In addition to being able to live and work in the UAE, use public healthcare and schools, and sponsor the residence permits of any age-independent member of one’s immediate family, this visa offers a number of other benefits to its holders.Â
An important break from the norm of Bollywood and sports stars like Sania Mirza, Boney Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Kamal Haasan, and their families dominating the academic field has been Kumar’s acquisition of the coveted visa.
The Golden Visa is an incredible distinction to get. Kumar will be flying to the UAE to personally take the accolade, which is a recognition of his many services to education, and he has already conveyed his thanks to the authorities for the distinction.
A Patna-based educator named Kumar launched his Super 30 initiative in 2002 to aid low-income students in their pursuit of IIT admission by preparing them for the Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) Main and Advanced. In 2010, Time magazine put Kumar on their Best of Asia list. The Padma Shri, India’s highest civilian honour, was presented to him in 2023 in recognition of his contributions to literature and education. For Indian civilians, this ranks as the fourth highest distinction.
