The United Arab Emirates (UAE) provides various opportunities for tourists, investors, students, and entrepreneurs to reside and work in the UAE. Residency in the UAE may be short-term, such as for tourism, or long-term, such as for investment purposes. The UAE’s Golden Visa, formally referred to as the Golden Residence Permit under Article 77 of Cabinet Resolution No. (65) of 2022, is a long term residence visa that enables foreign talents to reside, work, or study in the UAE. This framework was further strengthened following the enactment of Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, which introduced a long-term, sponsor-free residence permit and established general conditions applicable to various categories of visas.
The relevant authorities responsible for issuing the Golden Visa include the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), which serves as the primary authority for granting such visas; the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), which processes applications particularly in Dubai; and the Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO), which handles visa applications in Abu Dhabi.
The Golden Visa is categorized into several classes, including:
- Investors,
- Entrepreneurs,
- Outstanding Specialised Talents,
- Outstanding Students, and;
- Humanitarian Pioneers.
Each category is further divided into various subcategories, with eligibility requirements differing depending on the specific class of visa applied for. The duration of residence granted under the Golden Visa typically ranges from five to ten years.
The Investor Visa is further categorized into Public Investment Investors and Real Estate Investors. An applicant may qualify as a Public Investment Investor by investing at least AED 2 million in accredited investment funds or by providing evidence that the investor’s capital is not less than AED 2 million and is personally owned by the investor (i.e., it must not be financed through a loan). Eligible applicants under this category may be granted an Investor Visa for Public Investment. The applicant must also provide proof of valid medical insurance for themselves and any accompanying family members. Upon approval, a sponsor-free residence permit of up to ten years may be granted.
Similarly, a Real Estate Investor Visa may be granted where the applicant owns one or more properties in the UAE with a total value of not less than AED 2 million. The applicant must provide official documentation from the land department of the relevant emirate confirming ownership of the property or properties. Upon approval, a sponsor free residence permit of up to five years may be granted in the UAE.
Another key category is the Entrepreneur’s Visa, which may be granted to applicants who own or lead technical, innovative, or future-oriented projects, particularly in technology or other disruptive sectors. To qualify, the applicant must obtain approval from a UAE-licensed auditor confirming that the project has a minimum value of
AED 500,000. In addition, the relevant authorities must certify that the project is of a technical or future-focused nature. The competent authorities vary by emirate and include the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) for applications in Dubai; the Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO), together with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), for applications in Abu Dhabi; and, for Sharjah, Ajman, and other emirates, the respective Department of Economic Development (DED). The applicant must also provide evidence of acceptance by an accredited business incubator in the UAE to establish the proposed activity. Upon approval, a sponsor-free residence permit of up to five years may be granted.
The Outstanding Specialised Talents category covers highly skilled individuals, including doctors, scientists, creative professionals in culture and the arts, inventors, executives, specialists in scientific fields, athletes, doctoral degree holders, and specialists in engineering and science. Applicants applying as doctors must obtain an approval letter from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention authorising them to practice in the UAE.
Scientists must provide either a letter of recommendation from the Emirates Council of Scientists or a letter from the Secretariat of the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence confirming that the applicant has been awarded the Medal of Scientific Excellence. Inventors are required to obtain a letter from the Ministry of Economy confirming that the patent adds value to the UAE economy.
Creative professionals in culture and the arts must obtain an approval letter from the relevant Department of Culture and Arts in the applicable emirate. Executives must provide a copy of a university degree accredited by the Ministry of Education (with an educational level of at least a bachelor’s degree), a letter evidencing a minimum of five years’ experience in the same position, a salary certificate reflecting a minimum monthly salary of AED 50,000, and a valid employment contract.
Athletes must submit a recommendation letter from the General Sports Authority, while specialists in engineering and science must provide a bachelor’s or master’s degree duly certified by the Ministry of Education, together with a valid employment contract. Upon approval under this category, applicants may be granted a Golden Visa with a validity of up to ten years.
The Golden Visa under the Outstanding Students category is further divided into high school students and university students. High school students include national toppers who have achieved a minimum grade of 95% in public or private secondary schools. Such students must submit a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education (Emirates Schools Establishment). Upon approval under this category, the student may be granted a residence permit of up to five years. University students may also be eligible for a Golden Visa if they graduate from a university rated A or B by the Ministry of Education and have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. In addition, the student must not have graduated more than two years before the application date. Upon approval under this category, the student may be granted a residence permit of up to ten years.
A Golden Visa on humanitarian grounds may be granted for a period of up to ten years to individuals who meet specified criteria. Eligible applicants include members or outstanding employees who have worked for international or regional organisations for at least five years, individuals who have worked for civil associations or public-interest institutions for a minimum of five years, individuals who have received an appreciation or recognition award from a local, regional, or international organisation engaged in humanitarian work, and funders of humanitarian initiatives, provided that the value of their contributions is not less than AED 2 million or its equivalent.
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