Residency by investment
United Arab EmiratesUAE Golden Visa · Residency in the United Arab Emirates
- From
- AED 2,000,000
- Timeline
- 7–10 business days
Why the UAE
Ten years of residency, renewable
A renewable 10-year residence card for you and your dependents. ↗
There is no physical residency requirement.
Your spouse, unmarried children of any age, your parents and up to three domestic staff.
Ras Al Khaimah allows 100% foreign ownership of companies in its free zones.
No income tax for UAE residents. A 5% tax applies to goods and services. ↗
How you qualify
Routes to residency in the UAE
RAK Golden Visa via Nomination
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A donation under the Ras Al Khaimah nomination option, with relevant professional experience.
Dubai Golden Visa via Nomination
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A nomination in Dubai, with proof of a monthly salary or business income.
Company in the IFZA free zone
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Set up a company in the IFZA free zone and receive a residence visa.
The process includes a medical test and biometrics in the UAE. Your Emirates ID follows after the visa.
Legal framework
The law behind the UAE Golden Visa
The figures on this page come from the law of the United Arab Emirates and the official pages of its authorities. We check them regularly.
- Last regulatory update
- 28 July 2026. The official Golden Visa page was last updated on 28 July 2026; the AED 2,000,000 real estate threshold is unchanged. Source ↗
- Information checked
Last change: 2026
No recent change in the official sources: the real estate route requires a property investment of at least AED 2,000,000.
See all legislation (2)
How the program has changed
-
2019
The UAE introduces the long-term Golden Residence.
-
2022
Cabinet Resolution 65 of 2022 sets the current categories, with AED 2,000,000 for property investors. Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 ↗
-
Jul 2026
Latest update of the official Golden Visa page; threshold unchanged.
Legislation in force
| Legislation | What it covers | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on Entry and Residence of Foreigners ↗ | Entry and residence of foreigners in the UAE | UAE Legislation portal |
| Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 (Executive Regulations; Golden Residence) ↗ | Golden Residence categories and conditions | UAE Legislation portal |
Sources of the figures (2)
| # | Source | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ICP · Golden Residency Guide ↗ | From · Card · A 10-year card |
| 2 | u.ae · Taxation ↗ | Low tax |
FAQs · United Arab Emirates
What families ask about United Arab Emirates
Short answers, each with its legal basis. Your advisor goes through the rest with you.
All questions, by countryWho can apply?
Investors who own property in the UAE worth at least AED 2,000,000 can apply for the ten-year Golden Residence, whether the property is completed or bought off-plan from an approved developer. A mortgage from an approved local bank is accepted if the bank confirms that AED 2,000,000 has been paid. Your spouse, children and parents can be included.
Legal basis: ICP, Golden Residency Guide ↗
What is the minimum investment and which routes exist?
The investor route documented in official sources is real estate: one or several properties with a total value of at least AED 2,000,000, owned outright, bought off-plan from an approved local developer or financed by an approved local bank. The Golden Residence also has categories for entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and talents, each with its own conditions.
Legal basis: ICP, Golden Residency Guide; u.ae, Golden visa ↗
Can I finance the investment?
Yes. The ICP guide accepts property financed by an approved local bank, and in Dubai the Land Department asks for a bank letter showing that AED 2,000,000 has been paid. Off-plan property from an approved developer also qualifies when the total value reaches the threshold.
Legal basis: ICP, Golden Residency Guide; Dubai Land Department, Golden Visa for investors ↗
How can I become a citizen?
The Golden Residence is a residence permit, not a route to nationality. Under the Nationality Law, naturalization of a non-Arab requires thirty years of continuous legal residence, proficiency in Arabic and renunciation of the previous nationality, and remains at the discretion of the authorities. Since 2021 the executive regulation allows investors who own property, doctors, scientists, inventors and creatives to be nominated for nationality by a ruler's court or the Cabinet, keeping their original nationality; you cannot apply for it directly.
Who can I include?
Your spouse, your children regardless of age and your parents can be sponsored under your Golden Residence, and you may also sponsor domestic workers. Each family member receives a residence for the same period, with mandatory health insurance for the whole family.
Legal basis: ICP, Golden Residency Guide ↗
Do I need to live in the UAE?
No minimum stay is stated in the official sources. The u.ae portal explains that Golden visa holders are exempt from the usual rule that cancels a residence after six months outside the country, so you can keep the residence while living elsewhere.
Legal basis: u.ae, Golden visa ↗
How do I renew the residence?
The Golden Residence for property investors is issued for ten years and is renewable, as long as you still meet the conditions under which it was granted. Renewal is requested through the ICP or the emirate's authority before expiry, with a new medical test and Emirates ID.
Legal basis: ICP, Golden Residency Guide ↗
Is health insurance required?
Yes. The ICP requires health insurance for the investor and the family members for the whole validity of the residence, and the medical fitness test is part of the application. Insurance is arranged with a UAE-licensed insurer before the residence is issued.
Legal basis: ICP, Golden Residency Guide ↗
Does the residence make me a tax resident in the UAE?
Not by itself. The UAE levies no personal income tax and applies VAT at 5%, but tax residence in the UAE depends on the time you spend there and your ties, under the UAE's own tax residency rules, and your home country may apply its own tests. Ask a tax advisor before you plan your stays.
Legal basis: u.ae, Taxation ↗
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