Ashraf Thamarassery Honored with UAE Golden Visa
Renowned Indian social worker Ashraf Thamarassery, based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been awarded a prestigious UAE golden visa, presented by Sheikh Sultan Bin Saqer Al Nuaimi, Vice Chairman of Ajman Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday, May 30.
Expressing his gratitude on Instagram, Ashraf acknowledged the UAE government for bestowing him with the golden visa, highlighting its significance for his future endeavors.
Originally from Thamarassery in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, Ashraf relocated to Ajman, UAE in 1998 where he initially started a garage. Following a transformative event, he dedicated himself full-time to social work.
Ashraf is renowned for his humanitarian efforts, particularly in repatriating the remains of expatriates who passed away in the UAE to their home countries. His notable achievements include overseeing the repatriation of actress Sridevi’s body from Dubai in 2018.
His contributions have been recognized globally, including receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2015 and an honorary doctorate from Kings University, Tennessee, USA.
Reshel Shah Kapoor, a filmmaker, has documented Ashraf’s life in the film ‘The Undertaker’, which explores his impactful work.
In 2018, the Kerala government nominated Ashraf for the prestigious Padma Shri Award in recognition of his humanitarian service.
The UAE golden visa, established in 2019, grants foreigners the right to reside, work, and study in the UAE without the need for a national sponsor. It allows for 100% ownership of businesses on the UAE mainland and is issued for durations of 5 or 10 years with automatic renewal.
The visa is available to investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, researchers across various fields of technology and knowledge, and outstanding students.
