UAE

UAE Golden Visa Overview

The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa that enables foreign nationals to live, work, or study in the UAE without requiring a national sponsor. 

Launched in 2019, the program targets investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and frontline heroes. 

Holders receive a renewable visa valid for 5 or 10 years, depending on their category, and retain the right to stay outside the UAE beyond the standard six-month threshold that applies to regular residence visas. 

Family members, including spouses and children, can be sponsored under the same visa.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants qualify through one of five main categories, as follows:

Real Estate Investment

• Applicants must own one or more properties in the UAE with a total value of at least AED 2,000,000 (US$545,000), held without a loan. 
• Property purchased off-plan from a locally approved developer also qualifies.

Public Investment 

• Applicants must deposit a minimum of AED 2,000,000 (US$545,000) in an approved investment fund, as establishment capital for a new company, or as a partnership stake in an existing company. 
• Owners or partners of an enterprise paying at least AED 250,000 (US$68,000) annually in federal taxes also qualify. 
• All capital must be wholly owned by the applicant and not financed through a loan.

Entrepreneurs 

Applicants must own or be a partner in an SME-registered project accredited by the Ministry of Economy or a competent local authority. 

To qualify, the project must meet at least one of the following:

• Annual revenues of at least AED 1,000,000 (US$272,000)
• A certified auditor confirms project value of at least AED 500,000 (US$136,000)
• A letter from an approved business incubator confirming the project is innovative, technological, or future-oriented
• Founders of previously sold pilot projects with a total exit value of at least AED 7,000,000 (US$1,907,000) also qualify

Exceptional Talent and Rare Specializations 

This category covers doctors, scientists, inventors, creative professionals in culture and the arts, executive directors, athletes, PhD holders, and specialists in priority scientific and engineering fields.

Outstanding Students 

• High school students: a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education and a grade of 95% or above
• University students: GPA of 3.8 or above from an accredited university, within two years of graduation, supported by a recommendation letter from their institution

Humanitarian Pioneers and Frontline Workers 

• Applicants must provide certificates of appreciation, humanitarian contribution documentation, or evidence of at least five years of service.
• Those contributing financially to humanitarian initiatives must demonstrate a minimum contribution of AED 2,000,000 
• (US$545,000).

Route to Citizenship

The UAE Golden Visa is a residency program and does not provide a direct or automatic pathway to UAE citizenship. 

Citizenship by naturalization in the UAE is a highly selective process granted at the government’s discretion to individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the country. There is no statutory residency period after which citizenship may be applied for as a matter of right. 

The UAE does not generally permit dual nationality.

Mobility and Taxation

Mobility

UAE Golden Visa holders benefit from multiple-entry privileges and are not subject to the standard rule requiring return to the UAE within six months to maintain residency validity. The UAE passport ranks 8th globally on the Henley Passport Index, with access to 184 destinations, though this is relevant only to UAE citizens, not to Golden Visa holders.

For holders of passports with limited mobility, UAE residency status can meaningfully expand mobility. Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as other Middle Eastern and Asian nations, grant visa-on-arrival access to UAE residents, such as Singapore and Georgia. 

However, these policies are subject to change, so applicants who consider improved mobility a primary motive for obtaining the UAE Golden Visa should verify current access rules at the time of application. 

Tax 

The UAE does not levy personal income tax on individuals, meaning that Golden Visa holders who establish tax residency in the UAE are not subject to federal-level tax on their employment income, investment returns, or capital gains. 

There is no special tax regime attached to the Golden Visa itself; the zero personal income tax rate applies broadly to UAE tax residents. Corporate tax at 9% applies to businesses with profits exceeding AED 375,000 (US$102,000), but individual residents are unaffected. 

How to Apply

The UAE Golden Visa is administered by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and is regulated by Cabinet Decision No. 65 of 2022 and the Executive Regulations to Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on Entry and Residence of Foreigners.

In Dubai, applications are processed through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Applicants in Abu Dhabi may apply through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO).

The process generally involves three stages: confirming eligibility through the ICP portal, submitting the required documents for the relevant category, and paying the applicable service fees electronically. 

Specific documentation requirements vary by category and emirate, so applicants should verify current requirements at the time of application.