Residency by Investment

UAE Golden Visa

Long-term, renewable UAE residence for investors — from AED 2,000,000 in property or public investment — with family sponsorship and no six-month absence rule.

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Time to residency

1–3 months

Minimum investment

$545,000+

Figures as of August 2026, per the official program source; the time shown is our recent case experience, not an official figure — confirmed on application.

Program Overview

About the United Arab Emirates program

In brief

The United Arab Emirates program is a residency-by-investment program that grants the right to live in United Arab Emirates. The minimum qualifying investment is $545,000+, and complete files have typically taken 1–3 months in our recent cases, not an official figure. It requires no residence or relocation. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.

The UAE Golden Visa grants long-term, renewable residence to investors and talented professionals. It is self-sponsored: it requires no employer, no local partner, and no sponsor of any kind. Both the public-investment and the real-estate routes grant a 10-year renewable residence visa.

For property investors, the qualifying route is real estate worth at least AED 2,000,000 — completed or, in defined cases, off-plan from approved developers. The visa remains valid as long as the qualifying investment is held, and holders are exempt from the six-month absence rule that limits ordinary UAE residence visas.

Holders can sponsor a spouse, children of any age — those over 18 must be unmarried — and parents, and every family member needs comprehensive health insurance for the life of the residence. For international entrepreneurs and families, the UAE is a compelling long-term base — or a strategic second residence.

One distinction matters and we state it plainly: the Golden Visa is residency, not citizenship. Emirati citizenship cannot be applied for or purchased. Many of our Golden Visa clients pair long-term UAE residence with a second citizenship from a Caribbean or European program — a combination we advise on end to end.

Presence requirement

No minimum stay: Golden Visa holders can spend more than six months outside the UAE

Document validity

10 years, renewable while the investment is held

Dual nationality

Residence status — your current citizenship is unaffected

Program Finder

Plan United Arab Emirates for your family

Estimate the total cost with every government fee, check who in your family can be included, get the document checklist for everyone applying, and see how United Arab Emirates ranks against the other 17 programs.

Open the Program Finder Compare with others

What the UAE Golden Visa unlocks

A long-term residence — 10 years on the real-estate route — and residence only: the UAE does not offer citizenship by investment. What the permit changes from day one:

Ten years, no sponsorA 10-year renewable residence that stands on your investment — no employer or local sponsor required.
Family without age capsSponsor your spouse, your children — with no age cap under the golden-residence rules — and your parents, plus domestic staff.
No minimum stayUnlike ordinary UAE visas, the golden residence does not lapse if you stay outside the country beyond six months.
Work, invest, ownRun a business, hold company stakes, and work without a local sponsor — the investor categories are built for it.
No personal income taxThe UAE levies no personal income tax on individuals; tax treatment depends on your circumstances; take advice from a qualified tax professional.

Capabilities follow from the status itself — citizenship or residence as the program grants it; specifics are confirmed during your assessment.

Investment Pathways

Real Estate Investment

From $545,000

Purchase of UAE property worth at least AED 2,000,000 (one or more units; off-plan from approved developers and bank-financed property qualify), qualifying for the Golden Visa. The real-estate Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residence visa.

Held for the duration of the visa

Explore your route

From (indicative)

$545,000

Capital treatment

Held for the duration of the visa

Who comes with you

Spouse of the main applicant
Children of any age; those over 18 must be unmarried
Parents

Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure

Application Timeline

Typical processing time

Current United Arab Emirates files, based on recent case experience — the numbered stages below show where those months go. Here is the figure to plan around.

1–3 months

Typical processing time, complete files

Plan around the top of the range — 3 months end to end leaves room for queries without changing your plans.

Your dates

Complete files are typically processed in 1–3 months.

Based on recent case experience, not an official figure. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

1
Varies by application
Investment
Completion of the qualifying property purchase.
2
Varies by application
Application
Golden Visa application submitted with title deed evidence.
3
Varies by application
Medical & Emirates ID
Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics.
4
Varies by application
Visa issuance
Issuance of the Golden Visa and Emirates ID.

Requirements

Qualifying property investment maintained for the visa duration
Valid passport and standard civil documentation
Medical fitness test in the UAE
Emirates ID registration

Family Eligibility

Spouse of the main applicant
Children of any age; those over 18 must be unmarried
Parents

Required documents

The standard checklist for a single applicant. Get the checklist for your whole family in the Program Finder.

Passport Every applicant
Photograph Every applicant
Health insurance Every applicant
Medical fitness & Emirates ID Adult applicants
Proof of qualifying investment Main applicant
Attested marriage certificate If married
Attested birth certificates For children

Exact formats — apostille or legalization, sworn translation, issue dates — vary by your country of origin and are confirmed document-by-document during your engagement.

What to Weigh

Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the United Arab Emirates program, consider:

The Golden Visa is residence, not citizenship — UAE citizenship is not available by investment.
Property markets in Dubai are cyclical; buy on fundamentals, not visa eligibility alone.
Tax residence in the UAE requires genuine presence and substance — a visa alone does not change your tax position elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I need to invest for a UAE Golden Visa?

The property route requires real estate worth at least AED 2,000,000 (roughly USD 545,000). Other categories exist for entrepreneurs, executives, and exceptional talent, each with its own criteria — we advise on the route that fits your profile.

Is the UAE Golden Visa citizenship?

No. The Golden Visa grants renewable residency — 10 years on the real-estate route. Emirati citizenship cannot be applied for or purchased — it is granted only by descent, marriage, or government nomination. Residents who want a second citizenship obtain it from countries that lawfully offer one, such as the Caribbean programs, and we advise on both together.

How long can I stay outside the UAE without losing the visa?

Golden Visa holders are exempt from the six-month absence rule that cancels ordinary UAE residence visas. You can remain outside the UAE for extended periods without affecting the visa's validity.

Does the Golden Visa make me a UAE tax resident?

Not by itself. Tax residence depends on where you actually live and each country's rules. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances; take advice from a qualified tax professional.

Can I sponsor my family?

Yes — your spouse, your children of any age (those over 18 must be unmarried), and your parents can be sponsored under your Golden Visa, along with domestic staff.

What if I sell the property?

The visa is tied to the qualifying investment. Selling without replacing it puts renewal at risk; upgrading to another qualifying property is straightforward.

Regulatory framework

Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022

Entry and Residence of Foreigners — Executive Regulations

In force 5 September 2022

Golden-residence provisions under Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021

The Cabinet Resolution creates the long-term renewable golden residence for investors and other qualifying categories — a long-term residence permit with no sponsor requirement and generous family rules. It is residence only: the UAE does not offer citizenship by investment, and Emirati nationality remains exceptional and nomination-based.

View the law

Official UAE legislation portal

Sources & verification

Program terms are set by the issuing government and may change without notice — figures last re-verified against the official source in August 2026. Investment figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant; fees, due diligence, and family additions are quoted individually. Government timelines are not guaranteed.