UAE · Guide
UAE Golden Visa requirements in 2026: every route explained
The 10-year UAE Golden Visa: requirements for investors, property owners from AED 2 million, entrepreneurs, professionals and graduates. Thresholds and fees.
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- Globexpat Team
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#Golden Visa#Visas#Residency
The UAE Golden Visa (Golden Residency) is issued for 10 years without a sponsor. Under the ICP guide there are five main routes: investments from AED 2 million, property from AED 2 million, your own business with revenue from AED 1 million, employment as a professional earning AED 30,000 a month or more, and outstanding grades at school or university. Scientists, creative talent and humanitarian pioneers have separate tracks.
In practice most of our clients obtain the Golden Visa either through property or through a professional salary. The investor route through company capital needs a real AED 2 million that cannot be borrowed. The graduate route suits young graduates of top universities.
Below we go through each route with figures from the ICP guide, work out the fees and show where difficulties tend to arise in practice.
Golden Visa routes: summary table
| Category | Main requirement | Supporting evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Public investment investor | AED 2,000,000 in a fund, a deposit with a UAE bank, company capital or a partner's share | Statements, articles of association, financials; capital not from a loan |
| Investor through taxes | The company pays AED 250,000 or more in federal taxes a year (or the partner's share corresponds to that amount) | FTA confirmation |
| Property investor | UAE property worth AED 2,000,000 or more | Title deed, land department letter |
| Entrepreneur | UAE business with annual revenue from AED 1,000,000, or projects sold for AED 7,000,000 or more | Approval from an incubator, the Ministry of Economy or a local authority |
| Skilled professional | Salary from AED 30,000 a month, MOHRE level 1 or 2, bachelor's degree | Employment contract, work permit |
| School graduate | Grade 12 certificate with 95% or more | Ministry of Education attestation |
| Graduate of a foreign university | Top 100 university worldwide, GPA of 3.5 or more, graduated within the last 2 years | Attested degree |
| Graduate of a UAE university | GPA of 3.5 or more (category A universities) or 3.8 (category B), graduated within the last 2 years | Attested degree |
For every category ICP requires health insurance for the full residency period.
Read more: UAE residence visa types.
Requirements by route
Here are the details for each category. One rule applies to all of them: the basis must remain in place for the whole term of the visa, and it is checked again at renewal.
Investors: AED 2 million, no loans
ICP offers investors five options. Any one of them qualifies:
- a deposit of AED 2 million or more in an investment fund or a UAE national bank;
- a UAE company with capital of AED 2 million or more;
- a partner's share in a company worth AED 2 million or more;
- a company that pays at least AED 250,000 in federal taxes a year;
- a partner's share corresponding to at least AED 250,000 in taxes paid a year.
The key restriction: the invested capital must belong entirely to the investor and must not be borrowed. In practice this means you will have to show the bank and the immigration authority where the money came from. If you plan the company route, start with company registration and build the required capital into the articles from the outset.
Property: AED 2 million, mortgages and off-plan
UAE property with a total value of AED 2 million or more, registered in the investor's name, qualifies for the Golden Visa. ICP accepts a mortgage from an approved local bank and off-plan purchases from an approved developer. We explain how the amount is calculated and what happens with mortgages and joint ownership in a separate article, the Golden Visa through property.
Entrepreneurs
An entrepreneur needs a small or medium-sized business registered in the UAE in an approved sector, with annual revenue of AED 1 million or more. The alternative: you have previously founded and sold projects with a combined value of AED 7 million or more. In both cases the idea must be approved by an accredited business incubator, the Ministry of Economy or the relevant local authority.
This route suits owners of operating companies with proven revenue. Without revenue documents and approval from an incubator or authority, the application will not be accepted.
Professionals: salary from AED 30,000
For professionals ICP sets three conditions: a valid UAE work permit under an approved employment contract, at least a bachelor's degree, and a salary of AED 30,000 a month or more. The occupation must fall under the first or second level of the MOHRE classification (managers and specialists).
A common mistake: only the salary stated in the employment contract and work permit counts towards the threshold. If the contract shows a lower base salary with the rest paid as bonuses, the application may be refused. If your salary is from AED 15,000, look at the Green Visa.
Graduates, scientists and talent
School leavers. A grade 12 certificate from a licensed school with a score of 95% or more and Ministry of Education attestation.
University graduates. A foreign university ranked in the global top 100 and a GPA of 3.5 or more. For UAE universities, a GPA of 3.5 or more in category A or 3.8 or more in category B. Graduation no more than 2 years before applying.
Scientists qualify on the recommendation of the Emirates Scientists Council, creative talent and athletes on the recommendation of the relevant authorities, and humanitarian pioneers with at least 5 years in an international or non-profit organisation or a contribution of AED 2 million or more.
What the Golden Visa gives you
| Benefit | According to ICP and u.ae |
|---|---|
| Term | 10 years, renewable |
| Sponsor | Not required |
| Family | Spouse and children with no age limit, plus parents |
| Domestic staff | Can be sponsored under current rules |
| Time abroad | You can stay away longer than the usual 6 months |
| If the sponsor dies | Family members stay until their permits expire |
| Applying from abroad | 6-month multiple-entry visa, extendable by another 6 months |
Read more: UAE family visa and the 180-day rule.
How much the Golden Visa costs
Federal fees are relatively modest. According to the ICP service cards, an entry permit for a property investor costs AED 100 for the application, AED 100 for issuance and AED 100 smart fee. GDRFA Dubai lists the golden residence permit fee at AED 1,100 plus Knowledge and Innovation Dirham charges, and AED 500 when applying from inside the country. A 10-year Emirates ID costs AED 100 for each year plus AED 100 smart fee.
Budget separately for the medical test and 10 years of insurance: as of July 2026, check current tariffs. A full overview of the options is on the Golden Visa page.
What changed in 2026
- The thresholds in the ICP guide did not change as of July 2026: AED 2 million for investors and property, AED 30,000 for professionals, AED 1 million in revenue for entrepreneurs.
- The ICP guide gives 10 years for all investors, including property, while the u.ae summary table still shows 5 years for property and entrepreneurs. The term in your decision depends on the emirate, so confirm it when you apply.
- Since late 2025 the ICP catalogue has separate services, with their own fees, for entry permits for property investors and public investment investors.
FAQ
Can I get a Golden Visa without buying property?
Yes: through company capital or a deposit of AED 2 million or more, a professional salary from AED 30,000, a business with revenue from AED 1 million, or academic achievement.
Can borrowed money count towards the AED 2 million?
Not for public investments: ICP requires the capital not to be borrowed. For property a mortgage is allowed if it comes from an approved local bank.
Do I need to live in the UAE to keep the Golden Visa?
No. According to u.ae, Golden Visa holders can stay abroad for longer than the usual 6 months without losing the visa.
Can I include my parents?
Yes. The ICP guide explicitly lists parents among those a Golden Visa holder can sponsor. Children can be sponsored with no age limit.
What happens if I sell the property or leave my job?
The basis disappears, and the visa may be cancelled at the next check. Before selling the property or changing jobs, check whether you can move to another basis.
Sources
- ICP, Golden Residency Guide: icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-golden-residency
- ICP, Entry Permit Issuance for Real Estate Investor Residency; Issuance of a Residence Visa for an Investor in Public Investments: icp.gov.ae
- u.ae, Golden visa: u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/residence-visas/golden-visa
- GDRFA Dubai, Issuing a golden residence permit (investors): gdrfad.gov.ae
- ICP, Identity Card Renewal (Emirates ID fees): icp.gov.ae