Residency by Investment

UAE Golden Visa

A 10-year renewable Golden Visa in a tax-efficient global business hub, with among the fastest processing times anywhere.

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Time to residency

1–3 months

Minimum investment

$545,000+

Figures as of August 2026, per the official program source — 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 approvals typically take 1–3 months. 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 in one of the world's fastest-growing business hubs. The 10-year visa is self-sponsored: it requires no employer, no local partner, and no sponsor of any kind.

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.

With processing measured in weeks rather than months and no personal income tax, the UAE is a compelling base — or a strategic second residence — for international entrepreneurs and families.

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; visit at least once every 6 months recommended

Document validity

10-year visa, renewable while the investment is held

Dual nationality

Residence status — your current citizenship is unaffected

How it compares

United Arab Emirates against other residency programs

Where United Arab Emirates sits among the 8 residency by investment programs we advise on. The gold marker is the peer average.

Minimum investment (lower is better)$545,000

Peer average $428kAbove the peer average

Time to approval (lower is better)1–3 months

Peer average ≈ 14 monthsBelow the peer average

Investment is compared on a USD-normalized basis; the label shows this program's own currency. Time uses the upper end of the published range. Figures are indicative.

What the UAE Golden Visa unlocks

A ten-year residence — and residence only: the UAE does not offer citizenship by investment. What the permit changes from day one:

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

The Life It Unlocks

Ten years of the world's most connected city.

Everywhere is a direct flight

A third of the planet sits within four hours of DXB. Business in Singapore, family in London, weekend in the Maldives — the geography finally cooperates.

What you earn stays yours

No personal income tax on the life you build here — the compounding advantage families feel within the first year.

The family, self-sponsored

Spouse, children of any age, domestic staff — sponsored under your visa, with no employer in the middle and no six-month rule pulling you back.

Investment Pathways

Real Estate Investment

From $545,000

Purchase of UAE property worth at least AED 2,000,000, qualifying for the 10-year Golden Visa.

Held for the duration of the visa

Explore your route

From (indicative)

$545,000

Capital treatment

Held for the duration of the visa

Purchase of UAE property worth at least AED 2,000,000, qualifying for the 10-year Golden Visa.

Who comes with you

Spouse of the main applicant
Children of any age
Domestic staff

Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure

Application Timeline

Government processing time

The United Arab Emirates authorities publish a processing time for complete files — the numbered stages below show where those months go. Here is the figure to plan around.

1–3 months

Official 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 the officially published range — last re-verified August 2026. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

1
Weeks 1–4
Investment
Completion of the qualifying property purchase.
2
Weeks 4–8
Application
Golden Visa application submitted with title deed evidence.
3
Weeks 8–10
Medical & Emirates ID
Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics.
4
Weeks 10–12
Visa issuance
Issuance of the 10-year Golden Visa.

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
Domestic staff

Required documents

The standard checklist for a single applicant. Add your family in the Grenada cost calculator and this list adapts to everyone applying with you.

PassportEvery applicantCopy for every family member.

PhotographEvery applicantRecent personal photo.

Health insuranceEvery applicantValid in the UAE.

Medical fitness & Emirates IDAdult applicantsMedical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics, completed in the UAE at the residence-stamping stage.

Proof of qualifying investmentMain applicantTitle deed(s) totalling AED 2M (bank NOC if mortgaged), the AED 2M deposit letter, or company documents with FTA tax proof.

Attested marriage certificateIf marriedFor family sponsorship.

Attested birth certificatesFor childrenFor each sponsored child.

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.

Does United Arab Emirates fit you?

Three questions, scored by the same engine as our Program Finder — with an honest answer, even when it isn't this program.

What are you ultimately looking for?

What investment level are you comfortable with?

How soon do you want this in hand?

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 10-year renewable residency. 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. Many clients combine the visa with genuine relocation; we coordinate with tax counsel on request.

Can I sponsor my family?

Yes — spouse and children of any age 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 ten-year 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.