Categories, documents, timelines and the cost of our support are on the service page.
Terms and priceThe UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa that is not tied to an employer. In Dubai, the GDRFA issues it for 10 years with renewal, and the threshold for investors is AED 2,000,000. Below we look at who it suits, how it differs from the 2-year property visa and what it does not give you.
This article is based on the GDRFA Dubai and DLD service cards and the u.ae portal, checked on 29 October 2026. The terms in other emirates differ. Detailed terms by category and the cost of Parallax support are on the UAE Golden Visa with Emirates ID page.
What the Golden Visa is
The u.ae portal describes the Golden Visa as a long-term renewable residence visa for 5 or 10 years depending on the category. For Dubai, the GDRFA and DLD state 10 years for investors, entrepreneurs, specialists and talents. There is a discrepancy for property investors and entrepreneurs: u.ae states 5 years for them, while the Dubai service cards state 10. Check the term for your emirate with the authority before the transaction.
- No employer. A standard residence visa is tied to a sponsor; the Golden Visa has no sponsor
- You can live abroad. Holders can stay outside the UAE longer than the usual six months (u.ae). Details are in the section on the 180-day rule
- Family. According to the ICP, the holder can sponsor residence for a spouse and children regardless of age
- Emirates ID. Like any residence visa, the Golden Visa is issued together with an Emirates ID
If you are choosing between different types of residence visa, start with the UAE residence overview.
Who the Golden Visa suits
The categories and thresholds below follow the GDRFA Dubai service cards and the u.ae portal. This is an overview, not a full list of requirements.
The terms for each category, the list of documents and the cost of support are on the 10-year Golden Visa with Emirates ID page.
Golden Visa through property: what to know
- Threshold. From AED 2,000,000. The GDRFA accepts one property or several
- Value. The DLD service card states that the purchase price at the time of purchase must be at least AED 2,000,000 and the property must belong entirely to the applicant. The GDRFA requires a DLD property status certificate
- Title document. An electronic title deed is required
- Mortgage. The DLD requires a no-objection letter from the bank; the GDRFA registers an encumbrance for the term of the permit
- Off-plan property. It is not mentioned in the GDRFA and DLD service cards. According to MOFA, the 2022 implementing regulations allow off-plan purchases from approved developers worth at least AED 2,000,000. Until the title deed is issued, you cannot apply under the standard route, so check the specific property before the transaction
- Fee and timeline. According to the DLD service card, the 10-year investor permit costs AED 9,884.75; family members are paid for separately. The GDRFA states 5 days, the DLD 7 to 10 working days
In April 2026, GDRFA Dubai and the DLD signed a memorandum to combine three services on the GDRFA Dubai platform: Golden Residency, Retiree Residency and Property Residency (as reported by HiDubai). Check how this works in practice on the GDRFA Dubai portal when you apply.
Property in Dubai is a big topic in its own right; areas and prices are covered in the housing guide and the article on UAE property.
Golden Visa or the 2-year property visa
Dubai also has a simpler option: the 2-year property investor visa. A comparison based on the DLD service cards:
If the budget for the property is below AED 2,000,000, the 2-year visa remains. If the threshold is met and the term and freedom of movement matter, look at the Golden Visa. If you are not buying property but want to start a business, compare both routes on the UAE residence: Golden Visa or Free Zone page.
The 180-day rule and the grace period
As a general rule, a residence visa is cancelled if the resident lives outside the UAE for more than 180 consecutive days (u.ae, page updated 28.09.2026). Golden Visa holders are exempt: the GDRFA states that the permit is considered invalid only if it expires while the holder is outside the country.
After a residence visa is cancelled or expires, a grace period applies. According to u.ae, it is up to 6 months depending on the category; older guidance about 30 days is out of date. Overstaying costs AED 50 a day.
More on the limits of a standard visa: the 180-day rule in the UAE.
Taxes in the UAE
- In the UAE. There is no personal income tax (u.ae). Corporate Tax for companies: 0% on income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above (u.ae)
A Golden Visa does not by itself change your tax status in your home country; tax planning is best discussed with a tax adviser before you apply, not after. General overview: taxes in the UAE.
What the Golden Visa does not give you
- Citizenship. UAE citizenship is available to foreigners only in certain categories, by nomination from the rulers' and crown princes' courts, the emirates' executive councils or the Cabinet (u.ae). The Golden Visa itself does not lead to a passport
- Permanent status. The visa is renewed as long as the conditions of the category are met. For university graduates, renewal is not provided
Can you apply yourself
Applications go through the GDRFA Dubai portal, and the DLD supplies part of the data. You can check the fees against the service cards on the GDRFA and DLD websites, so it is worth verifying the amounts an intermediary quotes yourself.
If you need help choosing a category and applying, the terms of Parallax support are on the UAE Golden Visa with Emirates ID page.
Categories, documents, timelines and the cost of our support are on the service page.
Terms and priceFrequently asked questions
It is a long-term residence visa that is not tied to an employer. u.ae describes it as a visa for 5 or 10 years depending on the category; in Dubai, the GDRFA states 10 years with renewal for investors, entrepreneurs, specialists and talents.
One or more properties worth AED 2,000,000 or more. The DLD service card states that the purchase price at the time of purchase must be at least this amount, the property must belong to the applicant, and an electronic title deed is required. For a mortgaged property, a no-objection letter from the bank is needed.
Off-plan property is not mentioned in the GDRFA and DLD service cards, and the DLD requires an electronic title deed to apply. According to MOFA, the 2022 regulations allow off-plan properties from approved developers worth at least AED 2,000,000. Check the specific property and developer before the transaction.
No. The GDRFA states that holders are exempt from the 180-day rule, and the permit is considered invalid only if it expires while the holder is outside the country.
According to the ICP, a Golden Visa holder can sponsor residence for a spouse and children regardless of age. For a standard residence visa, u.ae names sons up to 25 and unmarried daughters with no age limit.
The Golden Visa requires property worth AED 2,000,000 or more and is issued in Dubai for 10 years without the 180-day rule. According to the DLD service card, the 2-year investor visa has no minimum value for a sole owner, and a co-owner's share must be at least AED 400,000. Check whether the 180-day rule applies to it before applying.
No. According to u.ae, citizenship is granted to foreigners only in certain categories, by nomination from the rulers' and crown princes' courts, the emirates' executive councils or the Cabinet. The Golden Visa does not lead to citizenship.
In the service card for investors, the GDRFA states 5 days; the DLD states 7 to 10 working days for the Golden Visa. Then you need the medical test, biometrics and the Emirates ID. The actual time depends on how complete the document package is.