UAE Golden Visa 2026 — 10-Year Residency for Investors and Professionals
Who qualifies
Investors: property owners with a property valued at AED 2 million (approximately USD 545,000) or more. Business investors with a paid-up capital of AED 2 million. Entrepreneurs with an approved or existing project of AED 500,000 minimum.
Skilled professionals: doctors, engineers, scientists, artists, athletes and executives in specific fields. Typically requires a minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000 and employment with a UAE company.
Outstanding students: graduates from top 100 global universities with a GPA of 3.75 or above.
What it gives you
10-year renewable residence without needing employer sponsorship. The right to sponsor family members (spouse, children, parents). The ability to stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months without losing the visa (unlike standard UAE residency). Access to all UAE banking, business and property ownership rights.
Tax position
The UAE has no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax. To become a UAE tax resident you need to spend 183+ days per year in the UAE, or 90+ days if you have a permanent home and business there. Getting the visa alone does not make you a tax resident — genuine physical presence is required.
Processing
Property route: typically 2–4 weeks once documents are in order. Professional route: 1–3 months. Applications are processed through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).
Key gotcha
The UAE Golden Visa does NOT lead to citizenship. If your goal is a second passport, this is the wrong product. If your goal is long-term residency in a zero-tax jurisdiction, this is one of the best in the world.
Find UAE Golden Visa specialists and full programme details on WhereCaniMove.