UAE GoldenVisa
UAE, 2/10 years
- What it is
- A long-term UAE residence visa (usually for 10 years)
- Where it applies
- UAE
- Cost
- An investment from AED 2,000,000 (about $545,000) in real estate
- Taxes
- The country has no personal income tax
- Can you prepare
- Yes: choose a property and evidence the source of funds
In plain words
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa of the United Arab Emirates, most often issued for 10 years. It gives the right to live in the country with your family, do business and use the local infrastructure. One popular route is an investment in real estate from AED 2 million (about $545,000).
For many the main motive is tax: there is no personal income tax in the UAE, and the country remains a major business and logistics hub. At the same time, the UAE Golden Visa is residence, not citizenship: the Emirates do not grant passports for investment and do not recognise second citizenship for their nationals.
The visa is convenient thanks to flexible presence requirements: you are not obliged to live in the UAE permanently, but the status is tied to maintaining its basis — owning the property, for example. Besides real estate there are other Golden Visa categories: for investors, entrepreneurs and professionals.
Why people choose the UAE Golden Visa
What the UAE Golden Visa gives
- Principal applicant
- Spouse and children
- Sometimes parents
- Real estate from AED 2M
- Or other categories
- Funds are evidenced
- Living in the UAE for 10 years
- Doing business
- Flexible presence
- 0% income tax
- Residence, not citizenship
- Tied to its basis
How to obtain the UAE Golden Visa
- 01Choosing the category and property
- 02Checks and documents
- 03Investment (real estate)
- 04Filing the application
- 05Residence visa
What you need to know
- The UAE Golden Visa is residence, not citizenship
- One route is real estate from AED 2,000,000 (~$545,000)
- The visa is usually for 10 years, renewable
- The country has no personal income tax
- Permanent residence in the UAE is not required, but the status is tied to its basis
What it costs and how long it lasts
- Threshold (real estate)
- From AED 2,000,000 (about $545,000)
- Visa term
- Usually 10 years, renewable
- Residence
- Flexible; permanent residence is not required
- Status
- Residence; UAE passports are not granted
- Other routes
- Investors, entrepreneurs, professionals
Common mistakes
- Expecting a UAE passport — it is not granted for investment
- Confusing a residence visa with citizenship
- Not accounting for the status being tied to property ownership
- Assuming the visa automatically changes your tax residence
- Buying a property without checking the developer and the documents
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We choose the route to a UAE Golden Visa for your goal — taxes, a business base or a second home — help you choose and check the property, take you through the application and explain frankly that the visa gives residence, not a passport.
Frequently asked questions
01 /Does the UAE Golden Visa give citizenship?
No. It is a long-term residence visa (usually for 10 years). UAE passports are not granted for investment, and the country does not recognise second citizenship for its nationals.
02 /How much do you need to invest?
One popular route is real estate from AED 2,000,000 (about $545,000). There are other categories too: for investors, entrepreneurs and professionals.
03 /Is it true that the UAE has no income tax?
There is no personal income tax in the UAE — it is one of the main motives. But the tax consequences at home depend on your actual tax residence, not on the visa.
04 /Do you need to live in the UAE permanently?
The presence requirements are flexible: living in the country permanently is usually not required. But the status is tied to maintaining its basis, such as owning the property.
05 /Does the visa change my tax residence?
Not by itself. To become a UAE tax resident you need to actually move your centre of life, not just obtain a visa.
06 /Can the family be included?
Yes: the spouse, children and in some cases parents. The composition and conditions are confirmed for the chosen Golden Visa category.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Need a UAE residence visa?
We will choose a route for your goal — taxes or a business base — help with the property and take you through the application end to end.