Golden Visa
UAE Golden Visa & Residency
A long-term base in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, through property, business establishment or a qualifying Golden Visa nomination.
- From
- AED 750,000
- Timeline
- 2–4 weeks
- Residence
- Variable
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- Minimum
- From AED 750,0004 qualifying routes
- Timeline
- 2–4 weeks
- Outcome
- Temporary residency · Long-term residency
- Presence
- Variable
- Family
- Spouse + children + parents
The opportunity
Why United Arab Emirates
The UAE offers several residence pathways. Golden Visa routes, administered under Cabinet Decision Resolution (56) of 2018, provide renewable 5- or 10-year status, while property and company routes have their own validity and renewal requirements.
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.
- Applicants who want to sponsor a spouse, children of any age and parents on one family basis.
- 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 — visa holders must maintain the qualifying investment, business or nomination conditions, and provide regular medical fitness certificates.
Qualifying routes
Available routes
Minimums differ materially by route — there is no single universal figure. Amounts are indicative and confirmed with the authority before any engagement.
- Real estate
AED 750,000
Property residence · 2 years
The source lists approximately USD 204,000; retain the qualifying property. The Dubai Land Department revised its 2-year investor-visa eligibility criteria during 2026 — confirm the current minimum property value directly before relying on this figure.
Lowest entry - 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.
- 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
Eligibility and documents
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, under Cabinet Decision Resolution (56) of 2018.
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: Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Golden Visa for real-estate investors page.
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
Application process
The application runs in four steps. The source estimates 2–4 weeks end to end.
Select your residence route
Choose between the real-estate, Golden Visa nomination, or business-establishment route based on your investment and family circumstances.
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.
- Source estimate, end to end
- 2–4 weeks
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 750,000
- Timeline
- 2–4 weeks
- Family
- Spouse + children + parents
You are here
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.
5 or 10 years depending on category, renewable if the same conditions are met; the listed real-estate Golden Visa route is 10 years.
No. The Golden Visa and other routes on this page grant long-term UAE residence, not UAE citizenship or a UAE passport.
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
- No approval guarantee — decisions rest with the authorities