UAE Golden Visa Overview

The UAE’s Golden Visa programme is available to selected investors and specialised professionals. The Golden Visa programme will allow certain foreign nationals to obtain a five or ten year residency permit, providing specific requirements are met. This programme is open to high-net-worth investors, entrepreneurs, scientists and medical professionals, people of exceptional talents (sports, arts & culture, digital technology, inventors and innovators) and humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes. For investors, the minimum investment starts from 2,000,000 AED, plus fees.

UAE Golden Visa Investment Routes

If you do not qualify as a person of exceptional talent, then the simplest way to gain a Golden Visa in the UAE is through the investment route. Applicants will need to purchase a property or off-plan real estate in the UAE for a minimum of 2,000,000 AED, (approximately 545,000 USD), plus fees. Successful applicants will gain a renewable five year long term residence permit.

It is also possible to obtain a 10 year residency permit by depositing 2,000,000 AED in an accredited UAE investment fund. Investors following this route must also pay the Federal Tax Authorities an annual payment of 250,000 AED.

UAE Golden Visa Investment Routes

If you do not qualify as a person of exceptional talent, then the simplest way to gain a Golden Visa in the UAE is through the investment route. Applicants will need to purchase a property or off-plan real estate in the UAE for a minimum of 2,000,000 AED, (approximately 545,000 USD), plus fees. Successful applicants will gain a renewable five year long term residence permit.

It is also possible to obtain a 10 year residency permit by depositing 2,000,000 AED in an accredited UAE investment fund. Investors following this route must also pay the Federal Tax Authorities an annual payment of 250,000 AED.

UAE Citizenship by Investment

The United Arab Emirates traditionally only grant residency permits to foreign nationals. There is no direct citizenship by investment programme. Following the introduction of the Golden Visa programme in 2021, the UAE law was amended to allow selected special talents to apply for citizenship. Citizenship will not be available to everyone, individuals will need to be nominated and assessed by the UAE’s cabinet, executive councils, or the courts, and will need to have completed a period of residency first.

2,000,000 AED minimum investment

Real Estate or Fund Investment

Long Term Residency Visa

Live, Work, Study

Full family residency

Process to obtain A UAE Golden Visa

Following a full consultation with Universal investment visa and a pre-application background check, our advisors will assist you in choosing the most appropriate investment option for UAE’s Golden Visa programme. Our legal partners will assist you with the entire application process from A to Z. Various documents will be required when applying, such as copies of your passports and ID’s, bank statements, a medical report, evidence of health insurance and evidence of your investment.

Benefits of UAE’s Golden Visa Programme

Successful applicants will have the right to live, work and study in UAE. The main applicant can include their family, including their spouse and children. The UAE is one of the world’s most popular destinations for expats. Over 80% of residents in the UAE are expats. The United Arab Emirates is an attractive international business hub ideal for those looking for tax-free living, high class career opportunities, a safe environment, and a high quality of life. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the most popular locations that Golden Visa investors choose to reside in.

Other UAE Residency Visas

The UAE offer many different types of short and long term residency visas. The terms of the UAE Golden Visa programme have been amended several times since it was first released and therefore you may find various conflicting information online. Universal Investment Visa specialises in investor visas for high-net-worth applicants and will be able to advise you on the latest options available. For more information, please contact our experts.

UAE Golden Visa FAQ’s

UAE’s Golden Visa programme offers various investment options. The most straight forward options are:

  • 2,000,000 AED Real estate investment;
  • 2,000,000 AED Accredited investment fund + 250,000 AED annual tax payment.

There are several substantial benefits to UAE’s golden visa programme. They include:

  • Full family renewable residency permit
  • A world leading international business hub
  • Tax-free living and low VAT
  • World-class healthcare and education facilities
  • Popular expat destination
  • High-class modern facilities
  • Exceptional quality of living
  • Extremely safe with a low crime rate

Applicants must provide several documents, including proof of identity such as a valid passport and birth certificate, proof of address, proof of medical insurance coverage, a clean police report from the applicant’s country of origin and financial documents.

The UAE do not offer a citizenship by investment programme like several other countries do. The golden visa programme is a long term residency visa which may be renewed. The UAE do not typically issue citizenship to foreign nationals, but they did recently amend their citizenship laws which may allow those of exceptional talent to obtain citizenship. There are no guarantees though. If you are interested in obtaining Citizenship by Investment, then you may want to consider another country with a simpler process such as  GrenadaAntigua or Dominica.

The programme is officially called the UAE Golden Visa programme, but some may refer to it as a Dubai Golden Visa, as Dubai is typically the most popular city for investors to live.  Dubai is one of the seven United Arab Emirates, so the UAE Golden Visa programme allows the investor to hold Dubai Residency as it is part of the UAE. It is the same for Abu Dhabi, which is also a member of the UAE.

Yes. The main applicant can include their spouse and children, regardless of their ages, in their UAE golden visa application.

Yes! You can live in any of the seven United Arab Emirates States using your UAE golden visa residency permit. This includes Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah or Ras Al Khaimah.

Alternative Programs

The UAE’s Golden Visa programme is best suited to investors looking to specifically reside in the UAE. If your end goal is to obtain a second citizenship and passport then there are several other direct Citizenship by Investment programmes available which you may find more suitable.

Programmes

A selection of residency and citizenship programmes.

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