Updated
GL-U-01
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- 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
02 / In plain words
What UAE Golden Visa means
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.
A case from practice
An entrepreneur buys property in Dubai for about AED 2 million (around $545,000) and receives a 10-year UAE Golden Visa for themselves and their family. They are not obliged to live in the Emirates permanently, and the country has no personal income tax — for many that is the main motive.
Why people choose the UAE Golden Visa
- Tax optimisation (0% income tax)
- A base in a business hub
- Residence for the whole family
- Flexible residence requirements
- A 10-year renewable visa
- A fallback option outside Europe
03 / What it covers
What the UAE Golden Visa gives
Who receives it
- Principal applicant
- Spouse and children
- Sometimes parents
Investment
- Real estate from AED 2M
- Or other categories
- Funds are evidenced
Rights
- Living in the UAE for 10 years
- Doing business
- Flexible presence
Features
- 0% income tax
- Residence, not citizenship
- Tied to its basis
04 / How it works
How to obtain the UAE Golden Visa
Choosing the category and property
Checks and documents
Investment (real estate)
Filing the application
Residence visa
05 / Cost and timelines
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
06 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
The UAE Golden Visa is residence, not citizenship
02
One route is real estate from AED 2,000,000 (~$545,000)
03
The visa is usually for 10 years, renewable
04
The country has no personal income tax
05
Permanent residence in the UAE is not required, but the status is tied to its basis
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
07 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Decide on the goal (taxes, a business base or a fallback option) and choose the Golden Visa category — real estate or another. For real estate, the developer and documents are checked, the source of funds is evidenced and account is taken of the fact that the status is tied to maintaining its basis. Actual tax residence is planned separately if taxes are specifically the goal.
What we do for you. 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.
Igor VentsHead of real estate, Title Deed and property checks
08 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
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.
One popular route is real estate from AED 2,000,000 (about $545,000). There are other categories too: for investors, entrepreneurs and professionals.
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.
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.
Not by itself. To become a UAE tax resident you need to actually move your centre of life, not just obtain a visa.
Yes: the spouse, children and in some cases parents. The composition and conditions are confirmed for the chosen Golden Visa category.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Tell us what outcome your family needs
We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
