The Golden Visa: Long-term residence without sponsorship ties

Purchase and hold residential real estate valued at minimum AED 750,000 (no owner-occupied discount applies). Processing: ~AED 500 application fee + visa fee; timeline 4–8 weeks after mortgage/title registration with RERA (Dubai).

Invest minimum AED 500,000 in a UAE business (company ownership stake or cash injection); businesses in priority sectors (tech, renewable energy, healthcare, AI) may have lower thresholds. Visa fee ~AED 2,000; timeline 6–12 weeks; proof of funds and business registration required.

Founding a UAE company with at least 51% local ownership or foreign-owned startup in a designated free zone or tech hub. Visa fee ~AED 2,000; timeline 8–12 weeks; business plan and GDRFA/ICP approval required.

PhD holders, skilled engineers, architects, senior healthcare professionals (doctors, specialists) and others in critical shortage fields. 5-year visa ~AED 500–1,000; 10-year ~AED 2,000–3,000. Timeline 6–10 weeks; MOHRE or profession-specific verification required.

UAE university graduates with bachelor's degree or higher. Visa fee ~AED 500; timeline 2–4 weeks; institution must be on the approved list; application via your university or the ICP portal directly.

UAE employees earning AED 300,000+/year (gross) or AED 20,000+/month can apply. Employer must nominate; visa fee ~AED 1,200; timeline 6–10 weeks; payslips and employment contract required.

You have 180 days to find new employment before the visa expires. This is double or triple the grace period on standard employment visas (30–60 days). Your visa doesn't cancel automatically on job loss — you must actively manage the deadline.

Yes — one of the key perks. You don't need the new employer to sponsor a fresh visa. You simply notify immigration (GDRFA/ICP) of your new employment; the Golden Visa remains valid.

Yes. You can own a business, work as a freelancer, or maintain employment simultaneously, depending on your visa conditions. Check the specific restrictions on your visa label (usually printed: "may/may not engage in self-employment").

Visa fee alone: AED 500–5,050 depending on category. Add processing fees (AED 200–500), Emirates ID costs (~AED 100–300), and any professional verification fees. Real-estate investors should budget RERA registration and bank fees (~2–3% of property value). Total: AED 2,000–AED 30,000+ depending on category.

3–6 months typical, depending on category and completeness of documents. Real-estate visas are often fastest (4–8 weeks after RERA registration); business investor visas can take 6–12 weeks (GDRFA review time).

Yes — you can sponsor spouse, children (up to age 25 if a student), and parents (age-dependent). They do not need separate Golden Visas; they get standard family-dependent visas tied to your Golden Visa.

You can renew if you still meet the eligibility criteria (e.g., your real-estate investment still holds, or your business is still active). Renewal is simpler than initial application; timeline typically 2–4 weeks; fee is pro-rated. Some applications streamline to a one-time 10-year renewal option.

Yes. The Golden Visa is your immigration residence status (issued by GDRFA/ICP); the UAE ID is a national biometric ID card (issued by ICP separately, needed for banking, healthcare, driving). Both are required; they're different processes.