Dubai is a perfect blend of modernity and tradition. It isn’t just a place to live, it’s the global destination for business, innovation, and lifestyle. Offering unparalleled lifestyle, world-class healthcare, top-tier education, and vibrant opportunities. It has become an ideal destination for businesses and families. 
Over the years, Dubai has become one of the most popular destinations for tourists worldwide. Its robust infrastructure and multicultural environment have created an unmatched business-friendly atmosphere. Responding to increasing popularity, the government created the game-changing Golden Visa Program for those seeking long-term residency in a dynamic city.
The Dubai Golden Visa is a long-term residency program. It offers eligible individuals, from investors and entrepreneurs to skilled professionals and students, the chance to live and work or study in Dubai. It makes the process smoother for professionals and talented individuals to develop their homes in Dubai.

What Is Dubai’s Golden Visa? And Who Can Apply?

The Dubai Golden Visa in Dubai attracts talents, investments, and innovations. Launched by the Dubai government in 2019, this program offers long-term residency visas of up to 10 years, depending on the category. 
The program serves as a crucial element in the UAE's plan to expand its economy, foster innovation, and position Dubai as a leading global destination for business and entrepreneurship. It presents a distinctive chance for individuals to reside in Dubai without the need for a local sponsor, offering both stability and flexibility for personal and professional development.
Whether you are an investor, entrepreneur, student, worker, or retired professional, the Dubai Golden Visa is your special opportunity. It helps people to plan on living in a dynamic place with confidence. Some of the categories eligible for the visa include: 

• Investors: Individuals contributing financially to the public sector or real estate.
• Entrepreneurs: Those planning or establishing innovative business ventures. 
• Meritorious students: High-achieving students with extraordinary academic records from top institutions.
• Specialized Talents: Scientists, creatives, healthcare professionals, and educators with notable expertise.
• Frontline Heroes: Professionals who played critical roles during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dubai Golden Visa offers a streamlined path to residency, It ensures that talented individuals can thrive in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Furthermore, they are required to fulfill various conditions, respectively. 

Investors, Entrepreneurs, and Talents: Dubai Golden Visa Eligibility Explained

As known earlier the Golden Visa program offers residence opportunities in the UAE for various individuals, including investors who contribute financially, entrepreneurs with successful businesses, specialized talents like doctors and engineers, outperforming students from prominent universities, and humanitarian workers engaged in charitable efforts. 
The universal guidelines that are required to obtain a golden visa differ in category. Based on your talent, type of residence, occupation, or work, the authorities grant you the visa. Let's have a look at the important areas needed to acquire a golden visa:

• Investors: All the investors in public investments and real estate can be granted a visa for 10 years and 5 years respectively without any sponsorship.
  • Public Investment: To secure this visa, you must fulfill the following requirements:
    • Provide a letter from a UAE-accredited investment fund, confirming that you have a deposit of at least AED 2 million or you can submit a valid commercial or industrial license along with a memorandum of association that clearly states your capital is a minimum of AED 2 million.
    • Additionally, present a letter from the Federal Tax Authority confirming that you are paying an annual tax of no less than AED 250,000.
  • Real Estate: Owning property, or multiple properties, could qualify you for a 5 year renewable Golden visa, sponsor free, provided you meet the following conditions:
    • Applicants must provide a land department letter verifying property ownership worth at least 2 million dirhams in the relevant emirate.
    • Buying a property using a loan from approved local banks.
• Entrepreneurs: Those who have an economic project in the UAE may be granted a visa for 5 years. To be eligible for this visa, the conditions are: 
  • The value of the project they are working on must be at least AED 500,000.
  • The nature of the project should be of technical or future based on risk and innovation, as declared by the relevant authorities. 
  • Additionally, the entrepreneur must also have an approval letter from an auditor confirming the project value, the authorities in the emirate stating the project's nature, and an accredited business incubator to establish the proposed activity in the country.
• Students: Exceptional students accepted by universities or educational institutes across Dubai are eligible to apply for a golden visa.  
  • High school students: Students who are national level toppers (95% and above) can receive a 5 year Golden visa without a sponsor with the following condition:
    • They submit a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education. 
    • Provided, the visa can be extended if their chosen major requires more than five years of study.
  • Outstanding university students: They can obtain a 10 year Golden visa without a sponsor. The conditions being: 
    • Their university is rated A or B by the Ministry of Education,
    • They must present a recommendation letter or an accredited graduation certificate with a GPA of at least 3.5 for A class or 3.8 for B class institutions
    • They must be graduated within the last two years.
• Frontline heroes: This category includes nurses, medical assistants, laboratory technicians, pharmacologists, and other professionals recognized by the Frontline Heroes Office. These individuals who demonstrated exceptional dedication during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may be eligible for the Golden Visa with a recommendation from a competent authority.
• Innovators in humanitarian service: Applicants under this category are eligible to receive a Golden visa for 10 years. To qualify, individuals must meet certain criteria such as:
  • Working for international or regional organizations for at least five years.
  • Working for civil associations or public interest institutions for at least five years.
  • Receiving an appreciation award from a humanitarian organization, or being a funder of humanitarian work with a minimum value of two million UAE dirhams or equivalent.
• Chief Executive: Individuals working in the position as Chief Executive Officer leading some of the best-performing companies in the United Arab Emirates are eligible for golden visa.The conditions are as follows: 
  • Applicants must have a bachelor's degree and an experience of 5 years or above.
  • The minimum salary must be of AED 30,000 along with a verified job contract.
  • They along with their family are covered under the health insurance scheme.
• Special Talent: Eligibility for golden visa under this category depends on specific conditions which are listed below.
  • Scientists: They are required to obtain accreditation from the Emirates Scientists Council or hold the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence to be eligible for the visa.
  • Creatives: Talented individuals in the art and culture field must have accreditation from the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development.
  • Educators: Applicants must be educators from any of the 500 international universities approved by the Ministry of Education.
  • Healthcare providers: Specialists are expected to have a minimum of 20 years of experience along with a Letter from the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE to practice the profession. 

Additionally, the spouses and children of these individuals will also be eligible for this visa.

Benefits of Dubai Golden Visa: How the Dubai Golden Visa Open Doors to Endless Opportunities

Dubai Golden Visa offers numerous benefits to people who are eligible for it. It can vary depending on the category under which it is obtained. But let's have a look at some of the key benefits:

• Long-Term or Extended Residence: Having a golden visa allows residency ranging from 5 to 10 years which can be extended further. 
• Freedom to Travel: Visa Holders can travel without any restriction for business and leisure. They are not required to reside in the country, which encourages mobility. 
• Sponsorship Privilege: The Golden Visa does not require a local sponsor, unlike traditional visas. This allows entrepreneurs and investors to operate independently.
• Family Inclusion: The visa offers privileges to the family including spouse, children, and dependents. It grants seamless opportunities to live and work in Dubai. 
• Tax Benefits: Dubai is known for its tax-friendly environment. The UAE offers several significant tax benefits for residents and businesses such as: 
  • No personal income tax for residents in the UAE.
  • A corporate tax rate of 12.5% for businesses.
  • Double tax agreements with 142 countries.
  • Designated Free Zones with benefits:
    • Exemptions from corporate taxes, VAT, and import/export taxes.
  • 100% foreign ownership and Full repatriation of profits and capital.
• Work Privilege: A golden visa enables employment and business opportunities.
  • Beneficial for entrepreneurs and skilled professionals.
  • The advanced infrastructure supports professional growth.
  • Strategic locations and systems like Dubai Future Accelerators assist in business setup.
  • Networking events help entrepreneurs connect.
• Real Estate Investments: Dubai’s real estate market is globally renowned for offering high rental yields and long-term value appreciation, making it a lucrative choice for property investors.
  • Due to its no income tax policy, the owner doesn’t pay taxes when renting a property.
  • There are also no taxes on gifts or inheritance of properties.
• Property Ownership: Individuals getting visas when investing in property are granted complete ownership of the property. Moreover, they are eligible for long-term security and potential appreciation value. 
• Education Opportunities: The visa holders are eligible to enroll their children in UAE schools and universities for better education. UAE universities are considered among the best educational institutions in the world. Along with long-term residency, the golden visa also provides discounts at international university branches. 
  
  With all these advantages, the benefits of a golden visa are more than just a transaction. It's an opportunity for an elevated lifestyle in one of the most advanced cities. 

How to Qualify for Dubai’s Golden Visa: Eligibility and Application Process

The visa can be provided to anyone based on their eligibility including the type of residence and occupation. After having detailed information about the eligibility requirements, the next step is to complete the application process. 

Individuals seeking residency have two main pathways for application: 

• The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) through its online Echannel
• The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), offers both online and offline application options.

On the other hand, the ICA provides a streamlined online application process that simplifies the submission of required documents and forms. To successfully navigate the application process for the UAE Golden Visa, please follow the detailed steps provided below.

• The first step will include visiting the official website of the portal through which the individual is looking forward to applying. 
• Selection of category: Select the type from the visa list. Anyone who is an investor in public investment or real estate, entrepreneur, professional employee, exceptional student, or retiree is eligible to apply for a Dubai Golden Visa. 
• Verified Documents: Provide valid proofs and documents needed to verify the type of work or education they are involved in, to apply for a golden visa successfully. 
• Application: Users are requested to submit their application on online portals or any government-authorized centres
• Service Charge: Once the application process is completed, the last step involves paying service charges. 
• Approval: Once you are done with a set of verified documents and application submission, the entire details are checked by authorities thereby issuing the visa.
  
  Although the process appears to be smooth and hassle-free, the duration of the complete approval of the visa depends upon the complexity of the applications.

Pricing:
The amount required to apply for a golden visa can vary depending on various factors such as different types of investments, medical examinations, and legal consultations. 

• Application fees usually range from AED 4000 to AED 5000, in addition to the minimum investment amount mandated by authorities. 
• The service fees for golden visa holders include:
  •  medical checkup fee of AED 700
  • Emirates ID fee of AED 1,043 (valid for 10 years)
  • new visa application fee of AED 2,785.75 (valid for 10 years)
  • DLD fees of AED 4,020, and 
  • administrative fees of AED 1,100. 

The total cost for all fees amounts to AED 9,648.75, covering the visa, Emirates ID, medical checkup, and DLD fees.

Dubai Golden Visa vs Other Residency Programs: How Does It Compare?

The golden visa or the standard residency Visa, each has its benefits that are tailored to different needs. However, due to its long-term advantages and perks, the Dubai Golden visa stands out. Some of the key difference that makes it a popular choice are: 

• Stay duration: The Golden Visa offers a long-term stay of 5 to 10 years and has less hassle with renewals, while the Standard Residency Visa only allows for a short-term stay of 1 to 3 years and requires renewal.   
• Benefits: The Golden Visa provides extensive advantages such as business and investment opportunities, as well as comprehensive family sponsorship. On the other hand, the Standard Residency Visa offers basic benefits focused on short-term residency and employment.
• Cost and investment: The Golden Visa requires a higher investment but provides long-term stability and extensive perks. Conversely, the Standard Residency Visa has a lower cost and is more suitable for temporary needs and short-term stays.

Dubai Golden Visa: 7 Questions Will Make You Eligible To Get Visa

Can Family Members of an Investor Get a UAE Residency Visa?

Yes. If the value of the purchased property is above AED 1 million and the property has enough room to accommodate all the family members, the buyer can apply for a UAE residency visa for immediate members of their family.

Can Foreigners Get UAE Residency Through Real Estate Investment?

Yes. If foreign investors purchase a property with a value of at least AED 1 million, they become eligible for obtaining a UAE residency visa.

How Long Does the Process of Buying a Property in Dubai Take?

When purchasing a property in Dubai, it usually takes somewhat between 2 to 10 weeks to finalize your purchase and transfer the ownership of the property. However, if you are buying a mortgaged property, the process can take longer and entail additional legal steps.

Can Foreigners Buy a Property in the UAE on Mortgage?

Yes. Expatriates and foreign investors are allowed to get a mortgage to purchase a property in the UAE under certain terms and conditions such as paying 20% to 25% of the mortgage value in addition to associated costs.
Buying a property on mortgage involves additional expenses too. A Bank Mortgage Arrangement fee (1% of the loaned amount) and a Property Valuation fee (ranging between AED 2500 to 3500 plus 5% value added tax) will be added to your costs.

Can You Buy a Property that Is Already Mortgaged?

Yes, you can. However, the purchase process will get a bit complicated. When the seller has an existing mortgage on their property, they are required to fully settle the mortgage before asking for a NOC to be issued.

Does Buying a Property in the UAE Grant You Work Permit?

No. Neither buying a property nor obtaining a residency visa will grant you a work permit in the UAE. Obtaining a work permit has a completely separate process and is governed by different laws.

Does Owning a Property in the UAE Oblige You to Pay Taxes?

No. There are no taxes on property and income in the UAE.