Golden Visa
UAE Golden Visa & Residency
A long-term base in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, through property, a deposit or company investment, business establishment or a qualifying Golden Visa nomination.
- From
- AED 2,000,000
- Timeline
- 7–10 business days
- Residence
- Variable
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- Minimum
- From AED 2,000,0005 qualifying routes
- Timeline
- 7–10 business days
- Outcome
- Temporary residency · Long-term residency
- Presence
- Variable
- Family
- Spouse + children + parents
The opportunity
UAE Golden Visa benefits
The UAE offers several residence pathways. Golden Visa routes, governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 and Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022, provide a 10-year residence permit that can be renewed, with ICP approval, on the same conditions under which it was granted, while property and company routes have their own validity and renewal requirements.
A Golden Visa holder can work for any employer, be self-employed or own a business without a local sponsor, and can sponsor a spouse, children of any age and parents. No minimum stay is stated to keep the permit valid, and the UAE levies no personal income tax on individuals.
Choose the route around your investment, professional profile and family. A company's setup cost is not the same as a qualifying property investment. This programme grants UAE residence — it is not a route to UAE citizenship or a UAE passport.
Who it suits
May fit. May not.
United Arab Emirates suits applicants who want a residence permit. The two lists show where it fits and where another program serves better.
May fit if you want
- Investors and professionals who want a renewable long-term UAE residence permit without needing a local employer or sponsor.
- Property investors able to hold AED 2,000,000 or more in wholly-owned real estate for a 10-year Golden Visa.
May not fit if you need
- Applicants seeking citizenship or a passport — this programme grants UAE residence only, not UAE nationality.
- Applicants relying on the free-zone company setup cost as their 'qualifying investment' — the source treats it as a business expense, not a capital-contribution route, and lists it only as an approximate AED 15,000–50,000+ annual range.
- Applicants who want zero ongoing conditions: Golden Visa holders must keep the qualifying investment, business or nomination conditions and valid health insurance throughout the permit's validity.
Qualifying routes
Available routes
Minimums differ materially by route, so there is no single universal figure. Amounts are indicative and confirmed with the authority before any engagement.
- Real estate
Case by case
Property residence · 2 years
Dubai: a property owner can apply for a two-year investor residence permit regardless of the property's value; where a property is jointly owned, each co-owner's share must be worth at least AED 400,000 (Dubai Land Department). Only the Dubai rule is shown here; confirm the rule in other emirates.
- Real estate
AED 2,000,000
Golden Visa · real estate
The source lists approximately USD 545,000; renewable 10-year permit. Property must be wholly owned by the investor (or financed through a specified local bank) throughout the visa validity period. Off-plan property worth at least AED 2,000,000, bought from an approved developer, also qualifies; in Abu Dhabi, at least AED 2,000,000 must have been paid to the developer.
- Deposit
AED 2,000,000
Golden Visa · deposit, company or tax
At least AED 2,000,000 deposited with an investment fund or a national bank (GDRFA Dubai: the deposit stays in place, without withdrawal, for the 10 years), or a fully owned share of at least AED 2,000,000 in a company's capital, not financed by a loan. An investor can also qualify through a company that pays at least AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes (in Abu Dhabi, for two years). Renewable 10-year permit; a free-zone company's setup cost does not count towards the threshold.
- Talent
Case by case
Golden Visa · nomination
Eligibility depends on the qualifying nomination category (investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents, outstanding students, humanitarian pioneers or frontline heroes).
- Company formation
Case by case
Business establishment
Source-reported free zone setup costs: AED 15,000–50,000+ annually, depending on licence, office and visa quota.
Requirements
UAE Golden Visa requirements
Who can apply is set by four rules on the applicant, background and qualification; the checklist lists four documents. A spouse, minor children, adult dependent children and parents can join the same application.
Who can apply
Applicant
- Investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents, outstanding students, and humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are the Golden Visa's eligible categories, each with its own qualifying criteria.Source: ICP. Legal basis: Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 and Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022.
Background
- Applicants undergo criminal-record checks and security clearance through UAE authorities; prior visa violations must be disclosed.
Qualification
- Real-estate investors must wholly own property (or hold an eligible mortgage from a specified local bank) worth at least AED 2,000,000.Source: UAE Department of Economic Development / Ministry of Economy & Tourism, conditions for real-estate Golden Visa investors.
- Comprehensive health insurance is required for the main applicant and all sponsored family members.Source: ICP, UAE Golden Residency guide.
Documents checklist
Family inclusion
Spouse
IncludedMinor children
IncludedAge limitUnder 18
Adult dependent children
IncludedAge limitAny age
Golden Visa holders may sponsor children of any age; dependants receive the same visa validity as the primary holder.
Parents
IncludedSponsorship requirements depend on the residence route.
How it works
How to apply for the UAE Golden Visa
The application runs in four steps. An official source gives a service time of 7–10 business days for one service; it is not an end-to-end time.
Select your residence route
Choose the route that fits your investment and family circumstances: real estate, a deposit or company investment, a Golden Visa nomination, or business establishment.
Prepare documentation
Assemble the identity, financial and route-specific documents your chosen route requires.
Submit the application
File the residence application through the relevant UAE authority for your route.
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP), or the relevant emirate's Department of Economic Development / Land Department for route-specific conditions.
Visa issuance
Receive your residence permit after approval.
- Official service time
- 7–10 business days
Alternatives
Compared with alternatives
How United Arab Emirates compares with two golden visa programs: Hungary from €250,000 and Latvia from €50,000.
This program
UAE Golden Visa & Residency
- From
- AED 2,000,000
- Timeline
- 7–10 business days
- Family
- Spouse + children + parents
You are here
Hungary Golden Visa
- From
- €250,000
- Timeline
- 2 to 3 months
- Family
- Spouse + children
Latvia Golden Visa
- From
- €50,000
- Timeline
- 1 to 3 months
- Family
- Spouse + children
Questions
Program FAQ
Short answers to five questions about UAE Golden Visa & Residency.
Yes. Golden Visa holders can work without employer sponsorship — you can work for any company, be self-employed, or own your business.
The UAE has no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no wealth tax. Corporate tax of 9% applies to businesses earning over AED 375,000 annually.
For Golden Visa holders, there is currently no stated minimum-stay requirement — you are not required to visit the UAE every 180 days.
10 years. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 the Golden Visa is a 10-year residence permit that can be renewed, with ICP approval, on the same conditions under which it was granted.
No. The Golden Visa and other routes on this page grant long-term UAE residence, not UAE citizenship or a UAE passport.
Sources
Official sources
Checked against official sources on .
- Cabinet Resolution No. (65) of 2022 issuing the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. (29) of 2021 concerning the Entry and Residence of Foreigners (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP): UAE Golden Residency (opens in a new tab)
- Dubai Land Department: Request for Golden Visa (investor) (opens in a new tab)
- Dubai Land Department: Request for investor visa (two-year residence) (opens in a new tab)
- Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development: Golden Visa for real estate investors (opens in a new tab)
- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai): Issuing a golden residence permit (investors) (opens in a new tab)
- Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development: Golden Visa for non-real estate investors (opens in a new tab)
Next step
Have your eligibility reviewed before you commit.
A specialist checks your profile against the current rules, confirms the right route and quotes the full cost picture. No documents are collected at this stage.
- Program: UAE Golden Visa & Residency, included automatically