What is the UAE’s Golden Visa?

The Golden visa in the UAE is a residency permit that allows foreign talents to live, work, or study in the country for an extended period of time. Its exclusive benefits include a six-month entry visa with multiple entries to start the residence issuance process, a renewable residence visa that's valid for either 5 or 10 years, the freedom from requiring a sponsor, the option to stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six months without losing the visa's validity, the capacity to sponsor family members such as spouses and children of any age, the ability to sponsor an unlimited number of domestic helpers, and the authorization for family members to remain in the UAE until the end of their permit duration if the Golden visa's primary holder passes away.

Golden Visa requirements

The requirements for the Golden visa vary depending on the type of residence sought, whether investor, talent, entrepreneur, and so on.

Investors in public investments must provide a letter from an accredited investment fund in the UAE, stating that they have a deposit of at least AED two million, or a valid commercial or industrial license with a memorandum of association indicating that their capital is not less than AED two million. Additionally, they must submit a letter from the Federal Tax Authority, stating that they pay the government no less than AED 250,000 annually. They must also fully own their invested capital and provide proof of medical insurance for themselves and their family. Successful investors are granted a Golden visa for a period of 10 years without a sponsor.

Real estate investors who own one or more properties valued at no less than AED two million can be granted a Golden visa for a period of 5 years, which is renewable on the same conditions and without a sponsor. They must provide a letter from the land department of their respective emirate and purchase property through a loan from specific local banks approved by the competent local entity.

Entrepreneurs who own an economic project of a technical or future nature based on risk & innovation can obtain a Golden visa for a period of 5 years, subject to an approval letter from an auditor stating that the project's value is not less than 500,000 dirhams, approval from the authorities in the emirate that the project is of a technical or future nature, and accreditation from a business incubator in the UAE to establish the proposed activity in the country.

Outstanding specialized talents, such as doctors, scientists, creatives, executives, and specialists in various scientific fields, including engineering and science, are also eligible for the Golden visa. They must meet certain criteria, including holding a doctoral degree and having an approval letter from the relevant authorities.