Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai with the Museum of the Future: UAE Golden Visa residence

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UAE Golden Visa

A 10-year renewable UAE residence permit from AED 2,000,000 in property or an equivalent public investment, with no minimum stay, no personal income tax and family sponsorship that includes children of any age and parents.

Estimate my cost
AED 2,000,000From
2-3 monthsProcessing
United Arab Emirates residence onlyMobility
NoneMin. stay
Last updated 2026-10-01 Figures verified against official sources, provenance-tracked, information, not advice Data via our MCP

Answer and evidence

What is the UAE Golden Visa programme, in short?

The UAE Golden Visa grants a 10-year renewable residence permit from AED 2,000,000 in UAE property or an equivalent public investment. It has no minimum stay, no personal income tax, and lets you sponsor your spouse, children and parents.

Evidence

  • 01 Family inclusion u.aeOfficial 2026-10-01
  • 02 Government fees u.aeOfficial 2026-10-01
  • 03 Minimum investment u.aeOfficial 2026-10-01
  • 04 Path to citizenship u.aeOfficial 2026-10-01
  • 05 Processing time u.aeOfficial 2026-10-01
  • 06 Tax position u.aeOfficial 2026-10-01

Overview

What is the UAE Golden Visa programme?

UAE Golden Visa grants a residence permit in exchange for a qualifying investment from AED 2,000,000. The programme is government-authorised and administered through licensed advisers such as Mirabello Consultancy.

The UAE Golden Visa grants a 10-year renewable residence permit from AED 2,000,000 in UAE property or an equivalent public investment. It has no minimum stay, no personal income tax, and lets you sponsor your spouse, children and parents.

  • 10-year renewable residency
  • 0% personal income tax

The UAE Golden Visa (officially Golden Residency) is a 10-year, renewable residence permit for investors, entrepreneurs and selected talent. It gives the right to live, work, study and invest in the UAE without a local sponsor, and to sponsor your family. The outcome is a residence permit, not citizenship: there is no formal path to an Emirati passport, which is granted only rarely and at the discretion of the UAE leadership.

For investors the federal threshold is AED 2,000,000. Under the current guidance of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), it can be met with one or more UAE properties worth at least AED 2,000,000 in total and registered in your name, including off-plan units bought from an approved developer and property financed by an approved UAE bank; or with a public investment of the same amount, either a deposit with an investment fund or a national bank, or company capital or a partner's share in a UAE company. For public investments the capital must be your own, not borrowed. Entrepreneurs qualify without a set investment amount, through a UAE small or medium-sized business with annual revenue of at least AED 1,000,000, a venture approved by an accredited business incubator or the competent authority, or earlier ventures sold for a total of at least AED 7,000,000. A separate two-year investor visa is available for lower property values; it is not the Golden Visa and should not be confused with it.

Key facts and constraints

  • No minimum stay: holders may stay outside the UAE for longer than the six months that normally ends a residence visa.
  • Family: the investment is assessed on the main applicant, who can sponsor a spouse, children regardless of age, and parents. If the sponsor dies, the family may stay for the remaining validity of their permits. Each family member pays their own visa, Emirates ID and medical fees.
  • Entry visa: applicants outside the UAE receive a six-month multiple-entry entry visa, renewable once, to complete the formalities in the country.
  • Processing: the authorities publish no end-to-end processing time. In our practice the investor route takes about two to three months from a complete file.
  • Tax: the UAE levies no federal personal income tax. The Golden Visa is not a tax-relocation scheme in itself, and your personal position depends on your circumstances elsewhere.

On the Mirabello Investment Migration Index the UAE Golden Visa is strong on speed and lifestyle and weaker on cost and the absence of a citizenship path; investors often weigh it against the Greece Golden Visa and other Gulf routes. Figures are checked against ICP's Golden Residency guide and the official UAE Government portal. This is information, not advice; a Mirabello specialist at our Dubai office confirms the route and emirate that fit your circumstances.

Investment routes

How do you qualify for UAE Golden Visa?

The UAE Golden Visa programme offers 4 approved investment routes, each independently verified by the Mirabello data team against official government sources. Minimum required investment starts from AED 2,000,000. A Mirabello specialist will confirm which route best matches your nationality, family composition, budget and preferred timeline.

RouteFromType
Real estate (incl. off-plan, bank financing allowed)AED 2,000,000real estate
Deposit with an investment fund or UAE bankAED 2,000,000public investment
Company capital or partner's shareAED 2,000,000public investment
Entrepreneur (SME revenue, approved venture or prior exit)No set investmentbusiness
Verified against official sources, provenance-tracked · Last updated 2026-10-01

Cost calculator

How much does UAE Golden Visa cost, in full?

Most advisers quote the headline investment figure only. Choose your route and family, and see the complete government-side cost, the investment plus every mandatory official fee, itemised line by line, so the number you budget is the number you pay.

Last updated 2026-07-09

Included (you)
0
Dependent children, unmarried and financially dependent; a specialist confirms eligibility and age limits.
0
Financially-dependent parents, where the programme permits; a specialist confirms.

Worked example: main applicant, spouse and one child

On the Real estate investor (AED 2M property) route. Every figure below is an official government-side cost, computed by the same engine that powers the calculator and the Mirabello data API.

Line itemAmount (AED)
Real estate investor (AED 2M property), minimum investmentAED 2,000,000
ICP application fee, Main applicantAED 100
Residence-permit issuance (10-yr), Main applicantAED 1,000
Smart-services e-fee, Main applicantAED 100
Emirates ID card (10-yr), Main applicantAED 1,100
ICP application fee, SpouseAED 100
Residence-permit issuance (10-yr), SpouseAED 1,000
Smart-services e-fee, SpouseAED 100
Emirates ID card (10-yr), SpouseAED 1,100
ICP application fee, Child (age 10)AED 100
Residence-permit issuance (10-yr), Child (age 10)AED 1,000
Smart-services e-fee, Child (age 10)AED 100
Emirates ID card (10-yr), Child (age 10)AED 1,100
Estimated government-side totalAED 2,006,900

Plus 6 official fee(s) we hold as being re-verified against the source and therefore exclude from the total above: Medical fitness test, Main applicant; Entry permit / establishment, Main applicant; Medical fitness test, Spouse; Entry permit / establishment, Spouse; Medical fitness test, Child (age 10); Entry permit / establishment, Child (age 10). A specialist confirms these for your family.

Government-side estimate from official sources, verified 2026-07-09. Illustrative, not a quote or advice; excludes Mirabello professional fees. A specialist confirms your exact total.
600+ mandates99% approval rateIMC memberACAMS certifiedZurich · Dubai · Hong Kong
Mirabello Intelligence

How does UAE Golden Visa rank among all programmes?

Live data via our MCP

UAE Golden Visa is scored by the Mirabello Investment Migration Index across seven dimensions: investment cost, visa-free mobility, processing speed, path to citizenship, regulatory stability, family inclusion and tax treatment. A higher composite score signals a more competitive, accessible and well-regulated programme.

Data confidence
Cost59/100
Mobility100/100
Speed100/100
72
Mirabello Index, rank 43

UAE Golden Visa

Scored on cost, mobility, speed, path, stability, family and tax.

Our read: The UAE Golden Visa grants a 10-year renewable residence permit from AED 2,000,000 in UAE property or an equivalent public investment. It has no minimum stay, no personal income tax, and lets you sponsor your spouse, children and parents. Strategic perspective, advisory only; figures provenance-tracked, unconfirmed items flagged for verification.

Will UAE Golden Visa fit you?

A four-question indicative check to see whether this programme fits your profile. A Mirabello specialist then reviews your nationality, family structure, budget and timeline in full confidence, confirming your detailed eligibility and which investment route best suits you, at no cost and with no obligation.

Indicative only, not an eligibility determination or advice.
A promising fit on the face of it.

Based on your answers, UAE Golden Visa looks worth a closer look. A Mirabello specialist will map the precise route to your nationality, family and tax position.

Book a free consultation

How it compares

How does UAE Golden Visa compare to alternatives?

The table below compares UAE Golden Visa against its closest alternatives, scored on the Mirabello Investment Migration Index across cost, visa-free mobility, processing speed, regulatory stability and path to citizenship. All investment figures and processing times are sourced from official government data and independently verified by the Mirabello data team.

Sourced live from the Mirabello MCP · per case
ProgrammeFromTimelineMin. stayMobilityOutcome
🇦🇪 UAE Golden VisaAED 2,000,0002-3 monthsNoneUnited Arab Emirates residence onlyResidence permit
🇨🇾 Cyprus Permanent Residency€300,000About 2 monthsOne visit every 2 yearsEU member stateResidence permit
🇲🇹 Malta Global Residence Programme (GRP)€220,0003-6 monthsNoneVisa-free travel within Schengen AreaResidence permit
🇲🇹 Malta Permanent Residence (MPRP)€99,000No official figureNoneVisa-free travel within Schengen AreaResidence permit

Questions

What are the most common questions about UAE Golden Visa?

The questions below cover UAE Golden Visa investment costs, processing timelines, eligibility and family inclusion, minimum-stay requirements, the path to citizenship and tax obligations. All figures are provenance-tracked against official sources; where a threshold is time-sensitive, the verified date is shown alongside the answer.

Figures verified against official sources, provenance-tracked, information, not advice · Last updated 2026-10-01

How much do I need for the UAE Golden Visa?

The investor threshold is AED 2,000,000, set federally. You can meet it with UAE property worth at least AED 2,000,000 in total, including off-plan units from an approved developer and bank-financed property, or with a public investment of the same amount: a deposit with an investment fund or a national bank, or company capital or a partner's share. Government fees come on top and vary by emirate. A separate two-year investor visa exists for lower property values, but it is not the Golden Visa.

Can entrepreneurs qualify without investing AED 2,000,000?

Yes. ICP sets no fixed investment for entrepreneurs. You qualify through a UAE small or medium-sized business with annual revenue of at least AED 1,000,000, a venture approved by an accredited business incubator, the Ministry of Economy or a relevant authority, or as a founder of ventures previously sold for a total of at least AED 7,000,000.

How long is the UAE Golden Visa valid?

Ten years, renewable, for investors in real estate and public investments, according to ICP, the issuing authority. It renews while you continue to meet the conditions.

Does the UAE Golden Visa lead to citizenship?

No. The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit with no formal path to citizenship. Emirati nationality is granted only rarely and at the discretion of the UAE leadership, and is not tied to Golden Visa status.

Is there a minimum stay?

No. You can live outside the UAE without losing the Golden Visa: holders are exempt from the usual six-month limit on absence that applies to standard residence visas. If you apply from abroad, ICP grants a six-month multiple-entry entry visa, renewable once, to complete the formalities in the UAE.

Can I sponsor my family?

Yes. The investment is assessed on the main applicant, who can sponsor a spouse, children regardless of their age, and parents. The investment does not increase with family size, but each family member pays separate visa, Emirates ID and medical fees. If the sponsor dies, the family may remain in the UAE for the validity of their residence permits.

How long does it take?

The UAE authorities publish no end-to-end processing time for the Golden Visa. In our practice, working from our Dubai office, the investor route takes about two to three months from a complete file, depending on the route and emirate. Treat this as indicative, not a guarantee.

Will I pay tax in the UAE?

The UAE levies no federal personal income tax on individuals. The Golden Visa is not positioned as a tax-relocation programme, and your personal tax position depends on your circumstances and residency elsewhere; seek independent tax advice.

Estate planning

How does United Arab Emirates succession law affect your estate?

A residence permit in United Arab Emirates does not change your nationality and adds no law you can elect under EU Regulation 650/2012 (Article 22). If you come to live in United Arab Emirates, the law of United Arab Emirates may govern your estate by default under Article 21, unless you elect the law of a nationality you already hold. The permit changes no tax position.

The law of United Arab Emirates has forced heirship: part of the estate is reserved for close family and cannot be left freely by will.

See the United Arab Emirates position in our succession matrix, or read which law governs your estate. General information, not legal advice.

Official references

The primary official sources the UAE Golden Visa figures on this page are verified against. Where a mandatory fee is not in a published schedule, it is marked as disclosed by Mirabello from case experience.

Is UAE Golden Visa right for you?

Book a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a Mirabello investment migration specialist, in your own language. We will confirm which programme fits your profile, your budget and your timeline, and outline the precise path to your second citizenship or residence permit, at no cost and with no commitment.

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