UAE golden visa routes at a glance
Main thresholds from the ICP’s Golden Residency Guide and the Dubai and Abu Dhabi pages, checked on 22 October 2026.
| Route | Main requirement | Duration in the ICP guide | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property investor | One or more properties worth at least AED 2 million in total; a bank loan or off-plan purchase from an approved developer is allowed | 10 years | [2] [6] |
| Public investment | AED 2 million deposited, invested as company capital or held as a company share, or AED 250,000 a year in tax paid; own money, not a loan | 10 years | [2] [5] |
| Skilled professional | Valid UAE work permit, MOHRE skill level 1 or 2, bachelor’s degree, salary of at least AED 30,000 a month | 10 years | [2] [7] |
| Entrepreneur | UAE-registered SME with annual revenue of at least AED 1 million, an idea approved by an accredited incubator or authority, or past ventures sold for AED 7 million or more | 10 years | [2] |
| Outstanding student or graduate | 95% or more in Grade 12, or a GPA of 3.5 (3.8 for Category B UAE universities), within two years of graduating | 10 years | [2] |
| Scientists, specialists, talents, humanitarian pioneers | A recommendation from the relevant ministry or authority, five years with an international or non-profit organisation, or AED 2 million given to humanitarian work | 10 years | [2] |
The u.ae portal (updated 28 July 2026) still lists 5 years for real estate, entrepreneurs and high-school students [1], while the ICP’s guide (updated 10 September 2026) and the Dubai Land Department give 10 years [2] [6]. The duration printed on your own approval is the one that counts.
What the golden visa gives you
The golden visa is a residence permit, not citizenship. Its value is independence: you do not need an employer or a relative to sponsor you, so you can change jobs or stop working without losing your residence [1] [2]. The ICP lists these benefits [2]:
- Residence without a sponsor, renewable while you keep meeting the conditions of your category
- Residence for your spouse and children whatever their age, and for your parents
- The right to sponsor domestic workers under the normal rules
- No six-month limit on time outside the UAE; GDRFA says the residence is only cancelled if it expires while you are abroad [1] [5]
- A six-month multiple-entry visa, renewable once, if you qualify while living outside the UAE
- Family members can stay until their own permits expire if the golden visa holder dies
The property route: AED 2 million, and what “owning” means
The ICP accepts one or more properties in the UAE worth at least AED 2 million in total, registered in your name; the property can be bought with a loan from an approved local bank, and off-plan units bought from an approved developer also count [2]. In Dubai the application goes through the Dubai Land Department: the purchase value must have been at least AED 2 million, a mortgaged property needs a no-objection letter from the bank showing what has been paid, and you must be in the UAE when you apply [6]. GDRFA adds that a share in a jointly owned property must itself be worth AED 2 million, that a lien is placed on the property, and that you may not sell it during the residence [5].
The salary route for skilled professionals
Employees can qualify without investing. The ICP asks for a valid UAE work permit under an approved contract, a job classified at MOHRE occupational level 1 (managers and executives) or level 2 (professionals in science, engineering, health, education, business, IT, law and similar fields), at least a bachelor’s degree, and a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000 [2] [7]. The Abu Dhabi Residents Office lists the evidence it wants: the approved contract, proof of the job level, an attested degree, a practising licence where the job needs one, six months of UAE bank statements showing the salary and a salary certificate less than a month old [7]. The 2022 Cabinet announcement explains that the job levels follow the international ISCO classification [8]. Our salary in Dubai guide covers pay levels in more detail.
What it costs: the Dubai fee breakdown
There is no single national price. Fees depend on the emirate, the category and the channel, and the official page shows them before you pay. The Dubai Land Department publishes the clearest example for a property investor, a total of AED 9,884.75 [6]:
- Medical examination: AED 700
- Emirates ID for 10 years: AED 1,153
- Residence permit for 10 years: AED 2,856.75
- Dubai Land Department fee: AED 4,020
- Administrative fees: AED 1,155
- Each family member’s or parent’s 10-year permit: AED 5,774.50, plus AED 318.75 once to open a family sponsorship file [6]
- GDRFA’s own investor permit fee for comparison: AED 1,100, plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees, AED 500 if you are inside the UAE and AED 20 delivery [5]
How to apply, step by step
Start with the free eligibility check on the ICP smart services platform or the ICA UAE Smart app, which lists the documents and fees for each category [4]. Residents of Dubai apply through GDRFA, online with UAE Pass or at an Amer centre [5]; Dubai property investors go through the Land Department’s service centres [6]. In Abu Dhabi, nominations go through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office or TAMM, and any applicant can also apply directly through the ICP [7]. Nominated categories need the recommendation first, for example from the Emirates Scientists Council for researchers or the relevant ministry for health and education specialists [2]. Investors, entrepreneurs and their families need valid health insurance [2]. Keep copies of everything you upload, and pay only on the official platform.
Paid “golden visa agents” and the lifetime visa rumour
In July 2025 the ICP denied reports that a “lifetime” golden visa could be bought for AED 100,000 through a nomination process run by a consultancy abroad. It said all golden visa applications are handled only through official government channels in the UAE, that no consultancy inside or outside the country is an approved party, and that it would take legal action against people spreading the rumour to collect money; it asked the public to check with its website or call centre on 600522222 [10]. Amer centres and the Land Department’s registered service centres can submit an application for you [5] [6], but no one can sell you an approval. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a result, asks you to pay into a personal account, or offers a golden visa without the property, salary or nomination your category requires.
If you do not qualify yet: the green visa
The ICP’s green residence is a five-year renewable permit, also without a sponsor. Skilled employees need a valid contract, MOHRE level 1, 2 or 3, a bachelor’s degree and a salary of at least AED 15,000 a month; freelancers need a MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit, a degree or specialised diploma, and at least AED 360,000 a year of freelance income over the previous two years [9]. It can be a step while your salary or investment grows towards the golden visa thresholds.
Keeping the golden visa
The golden visa lasts only as long as you meet your category’s conditions. GDRFA says holders must be able to support themselves and their family without government help, that investors may not sell the property or withdraw the deposit during the 10 years, and that a bank deposit must be frozen for at least two years [5]. A skilled professional who changes jobs should check that the new role still meets the level and salary rules before renewing. If you no longer qualify, you can apply under another category or move to an ordinary residence before your permit ends.