UAE Residence by Investment

The UAE is one of the most attractive business destinations worldwide. UAE Residence by Investment is aimed at providing long-term residence to foreign investors, entrepreneurs, and talented individuals including specialists, students, and researchers who make a significant investment to the country.

Benefits of a UAE golden visa

• Gateway to Africa and the Middle East, Asia, and Europe due to the country’s strategic geographic positioning
• Safe, secure environment
• High standard of services and good quality of life
• Applicant’s spouse and unmarried children, one executive director, and one advisor may be added at no additional investment
• Among the top 30 countries in the world for ease of doing business
• Favorable tax regime for investors — with no personal income, capital, net worth, or withholding tax (except for those levied in the domestic banking and oil sectors), and several double-tax treaties in place
• Good value from real estate investments
• Streamlined, efficient residence permit system
• Member state of the United Nations, the Gulf Co-operation Council, and the Arab League

UAE golden visa requirements

To qualify for residence, applicants can select one of the following three options:

1. Investment fund: 10-year visa
   
   One of the following options:
   • Minimum deposit of AED 2 million (approximately USD 550,000) into an accredited investment fund in the UAE, with a letter from the fund
   • Minimum investment capital of AED 2 million (approximately USD 550,000) into a company, with a valid commercial or industrial license
   • Minimum annual taxes of AED 250,000 (approximately USD 70,000) from a company that the investor owns, with a confirmation letter from the national federal tax authority
2. Senior employees: 10-year visa
   
   Under the investment fund option above, investors who appoint an executive director or advisor for a period of 10 years may submit a letter allowing their senior employee to also receive a 10-year residence visa. The employee’s spouse and unmarried children may be included in the application
3. Real estate: Renewable five-year visa
   
   Minimum real estate purchase of AED 2 million (approximately USD 550,000), with a letter from the Dubai Real Estate Registration Department. (An investment of over AED 2 million is required for real estate purchased through a loan)

Procedures and time frame of the UAE golden visa

Applications for UAE residence must include completed application forms and should be accompanied by the appropriate fees and supporting documents. For the investment fund and senior employees options, the residence visas obtained are valid for 10 years. For the real estate option, the visas are valid for five years and can be renewed thereafter.

Once the initial due diligence checks have been completed and the retainer paid, then the application for UAE residence can be submitted to the government.

Once the requirements have been fulfilled, pending initial approval of the application, the successful applicant receives a six-month multiple-entry visa and travels to the UAE to apply for an ID card and undergo a medical check. Thereafter, full approval is granted and the client receives the residence visa.

The processing time for the residence application is three months from the submission of the application to its approval.