UAE Golden Visa: Criteria, Cost and Steps

Who qualifies

Category	Official criteria
Public investors	AED 2 million deposited in an investment fund or national bank; a company with AED 2 million capital or a share worth that much; or a company paying AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes. The money must be owned, not borrowed.
Property investors	One or more properties worth at least AED 2 million. Mortgaged property qualifies with an approved local bank; off-plan property from an approved developer.
Entrepreneurs	A business with annual revenue of at least AED 1 million and approval from an accredited incubator or authority, or ventures already sold for AED 7 million or more.
Specialists	A MOHRE skill level 1 or 2 job, a bachelor's degree and a salary of at least AED 30,000 a month.

Source¹

Cost of the property route in Dubai

Item	AED
Medical test	700
Emirates ID	1,153
Residence permit	2,856.75
Dubai Land Department fee	4,020
Administration	1,155
Total	9,884.75

Source³

The applicant must be inside the UAE. Health insurance is required for the holder and the family.

Family and benefits

Sponsor your spouse, children of any age and parents, and domestic workers.
The 180-day absence rule that cancels ordinary permits does not apply.
A six-month multiple-entry visa lets you enter to complete the application.
If the holder dies, family members may stay until their permits expire.^1,4

Timeline and timeframe

Each step in order, with the processing time the authority publishes. Green steps are handled by a government authority.

Check your categoryOnline

Property, entrepreneur, investor or skilled professional, each with its own conditions.²
Nomination or property certificate7 to 10 business days

The Dubai property route; other categories go through the relevant authority.³
Entry permit or change of statusVaries

Issued once the nomination is approved.¹
Medical test and Emirates ID40 minutes, result in 1 to 2 days

The medical fitness test, then biometrics.⁵
Golden residence issued5 or 10 years

Renewed automatically while you still qualify.¹

Some steps run in parallel, and the partner's quote gives your full schedule. To plan your own dates, use the setup timeline planner.

Questions

Can I get a Golden Visa through my own company?

Yes, through the public investor route: a company with capital of AED 2 million, a share of that value, or a company paying at least AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes.¹

Is the property Golden Visa 5 or 10 years?

ICP and the Dubai Land Department issue the property route for 10 years; the UAE Government Portal still mentions 5 years. Check the current term when you apply.^1,2,3