UAE's Golden Visa
Researched and written by Hany Khattab

UAE's Golden Visa

The Golden visa is a long-term residence visa that enables foreign talents to live and work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits. Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, and humanitarian pioneers are among those eligible for the Golden visa.

The Golden Visa Grants Its Holder the following:

  • A long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 10 years.
  • A self-sponsored visa, as there is no need for an employment sponsor.
  • Ability to stay outside the UAE for more than the usual restriction of six months to keep their residence visa valid.
  • Sponsoring their family members, including spouses and children regardless of age.
  • Sponsoring an unlimited number of domestic helpers.
  • allowing family members to stay in the UAE until the end of their permit duration if the primary holder of the Golden visa passes away.

Who is the Golden visa for?

Real estate investors can obtain a Golden visa in the UAE if they fulfill one of the following conditions:

  • Purchase a property worth no less than 2 million AED.
  • Purchase a property with a loan from specific local banks.
  • Buy one or more off-plan properties of no less than 2 million AED from approved local real estate companies.

Entrepreneurs can obtain a Golden visa if they fulfil one of the following conditions:

  • Own or partner in a start-up registered as a small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in the UAE, and the company generates annual revenues of not less than 1 million AED.
  • Obtain approval for a start-up idea from an official business incubator or Ministry of Economy or other competent local authorities.
  • Must have founded an entrepreneurial project that was sold for a total amount of not less than 7 million AED.

Exceptional talents, Inventors, innovators, and exceptional talents in vital fields such as culture, art, sports, and digital technology can obtain a Golden visa regardless of their educational qualification, employment status, monthly salary, or professional level. The visa requires a recommendation or approval from a federal or local government entity.

Scientists and researchers with high achievements and influence in their field can get the Golden visa based on a recommendation from the Emirates Scientists Council. A candidate should have a PhD or a Master's degree in one of the disciplines of engineering, technology, life sciences, and natural sciences from the best universities in the world, as well as substantial research achievements.

Professionals or highly-skilled workers with high educational qualifications and professional experience in all disciplines, including medicine, sciences and engineering, information technology, business and administration, education, law, culture, and social sciences can get the Golden visa if they:

  • Have a valid employment contract in the UAE.
  • Are classified in the first or second occupational level as per the classification of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization.
  • Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
  • Have a monthly salary of not less than AED 30,000.

High-performing students in the UAE’s secondary schools and outstanding graduates from the UAE’s universities and the best 100 universities worldwide can get the Golden visa. Criteria include academic performance/cumulative average, year of graduation, and university classification.

Humanitarian pioneers such as the following can get the Golden visa:

  • Distinguished members of international and regional organizations.
  • Outstanding members of associations of public benefit.
  • Recipients of recognition awards in humanitarian fields.
  • Distinguished volunteers and sponsors of humanitarian efforts.


A Professional PRO service provider can save you a lot of time and the trial and error you might encounter in processing your Golden Visa. We at Terracotta have the experience to assist you in the application and processing of the visa in full compliance with the local regulations to ensure the accuracy of your application.

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