Program Overview

UAE
Golden Visa

Obtain residency in the UAE through a range of Golden Visa pathways.

Discover Your UAE Residency by Investment Pathway With La Vida

La Vida provides fully supported golden visa programmes to secure long term residency in the United Arab Emirates. Our specialist advisors will guide you through each stage of the process from identifying the qualifying investment route to preparing documentation and obtaining your UAE residency status. With investment options starting from USD 50,000, applicants can secure long term residency in a stable and globally connected hub. Contact us today to begin your journey toward greater security, opportunity and global mobility.

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Wealth Protection, Simplified

La Vida’s expert advisors understand the need for a seond residency. Contact us today to begin your journey towards security, opportunity and global mobility.

UAE Golden Visa Overview

The United Arab Emirates Golden Visa programme (often referred to as the Dubai Golden Visa or Sharjah Golden Visa), is available to selected investors and specialised professionals. The Golden Visa programme will allow certain foreign nationals to obtain a five or ten year residency permit, providing specific requirements are met. This programme is open to high-net-worth investors, entrepreneurs, scientists and medical professionals, people of exceptional talents (sports, arts & culture, digital technology, inventors and innovators) and humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes.

Investment from $50,000

Include Spouse and Dependent Children

Fast Proccessing Time 1 – 2 months

Long Term Residency Visa

Real Estate or Fund Investment

UAE Golden Visa Investment Routes

If you do not qualify as a person of exceptional talent, then the simplest way to gain a Golden Visa in the UAE is through one of the following investment routes:

Ten Year Residency Route – Real Estate

Applicants can purchase a property or off-plan real estate in the UAE for a minimum of 2,000,000 AED, (approximately 545,000 USD), plus fees. Successful applicants will gain a renewable ten year long term residence permit. It is also possible to take a partial mortgage for the property purchase.

Ten Year Residency Route – Bank Deposit

It is also possible to obtain a 10 year residency permit by depositing 2,000,000 AED in an accredited UAE investment fund. Investors following this route must also pay the Federal Tax Authorities an annual payment of 250,000 AED (approximately 70,000 USD).

Ten Year Residency Route – Nomination Programme

It is now possible to obtain a ten year residency permit through the Residency by Nomination Programme, which requires a flat fee of $55,000 USD for the main applicant and $7,000 USD per dependent. No property purchase, business setup, or sponsor is required. Approvals are typically issued within thirty days, and successful applicants gain long-term residency with full rights to live, work, and study in the UAE.

Two Year Residency Route – Company Formation

If you are not ready to invest in UAE real estate, you could consider obtaining a UAE residency visa through company formation, which grants investors a two-year renewable residency visa. This programme requires a flat package fee of $50,000 and offers bespoke banking options tailored to your individual circumstances and requirements. Investors who choose this route will also enjoy a range of additional benefits, including free golf, free valet parking, free access to top UAE health clubs, a concierge service, and more, making it an attractive alternative for those seeking residency in the UAE without property investment. Should you decide to later invest in UAE property, you can convert your residency visa to a longer term Golden Visa through one of the above options.

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UAE Citizenship by Investment

The United Arab Emirates traditionally only grant residency permits to foreign nationals. There is no direct UAE citizenship by investment programme. Following the introduction of the Golden Visa programme in 2021, the UAE law was amended to allow selected special talents to apply for citizenship. Citizenship will not be available to everyone, individuals will need to be nominated and assessed by the UAE’s cabinet, executive councils, or the courts, and will need to have completed a period of residency first.

Benefits of UAE’s Golden Visa Programme

Successful applicants will have the right to live, work and study in UAE. The main applicant can include their family, including their spouse and children. The UAE is one of the world’s most popular destinations for expats. Over 80% of residents in the UAE are expats. The United Arab Emirates is an attractive international business hub ideal for those looking for tax-free living, high class career opportunities, a safe environment, and a high quality of life. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the most popular locations that Golden Visa investors choose to reside in.

Other UAE Residency Visas

The UAE offer many different types of short and long term residency visas. The terms of the UAE Golden Visa programme have been amended several times since it was first released and therefore you may find various conflicting information online. La Vida specialises in investor visas for high-net-worth applicants and will be able to advise you on the latest options available. For more information, please contact our experts.

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UAE Nomination Golden Visa Timeline

An overview and illustrative guide to the steps and approximate timelines involved in the citizenship by investment application process. Please note these timelines can vary dependent on individual applications and any complexities involved…

Step 1

Work with La Vida’s experts to select the Golden Visa that fits your goals. Once you choose the UAE, we begin your onboarding. You simply share a copy of your passport for pre-screening, then secure your application with a deposit and complete our Client Facilitator Agreement.

Step 2

La Vida and our UAE team will begin gathering the required documents to process your application. This typically takes 7 – 14 days. At this stage you will need to pay a second installment towards your application, this will vary depending on the route you have chosen.

Step 3

Once your application is submitted, pre-approval is usually granted within 10 days. Upon confirmation, you’ll be invited to settle the remaining balance and move forward to the next stage.

Step 4

Once pre-approval has been granted, applicants
must make a short visit to the UAE to complete a medical check and submit their biometrics.
Your UAE Golden Visa will be issued within approximately 10 days after the biometrics.

Life in UAE

The UAE offers a polished, efficiency-driven way of living that appeals to investors who want a secure base with world-class services and seamless day-to-day convenience. Residency provides the flexibility to spend time across Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the wider Emirates, each offering modern infrastructure, privacy, and an international environment that is straightforward to navigate. For globally mobile families, the UAE functions as both a practical living base and a strategic hub for long-term planning.

UAE Golden Visa - Cheapest Dubai Residency route

Quality of life

Living standards in the UAE are shaped by modern design, professional service culture, and consistently well-maintained communities. Private healthcare, international schools, and high-end residential districts are designed around convenience, offering a level of reliability that appeals to families. The country’s emphasis on safety and high service standards makes it straightforward to manage both seasonal and year-round living.

International Base & Global Reach

The UAE hosts one of the world’s most international populations, with foreign-born residents accounting for over 80 percent of the total population.* This creates an environment where international professionals, global families, and cross-border businesses operate with ease. Multilingual services, globally aligned private education, and networks spanning finance, technology, and commerce make the UAE a natural second base for HNWI families.

Economic Environment

The UAE’s economic landscape is built on diversification, strong governance, and a business environment geared toward global investors. The absence of personal income tax and the country’s clear regulatory frameworks make it appealing for those structuring international holdings or establishing regional operations. Dubai and Abu Dhabi operate as major commercial hubs, giving long-term investors room to grow and plan with confidence.

UAE Golden Visa FAQS

How much does a Dubai Golden Visa cost?

Dubai’s Golden Visa programme offers various investment options. The most straight forward options are:

2,000,000 AED Real estate investment;
2,000,000 AED Accredited investment fund + 250,000 AED annual tax payment.
$55,000 Nomination Route.
$50,000 Company formation.

What are the main benefits of Dubai Residency through the Golden Visa?

There are several substantial benefits to UAE’s golden visa programme. They include:

Full family renewable residency permit
A world leading international business hub
Tax-free living and low VAT
World-class healthcare and education facilities
Popular expat destination
High-class modern facilities
Exceptional quality of living
Extremely safe with a low crime rate

What documents are required for Dubai’s Golden Visa application?

Applicants must provide several documents, including proof of identity such as a valid passport and birth certificate, proof of address, proof of medical insurance coverage, a clean police report from the applicant’s country of origin and financial documents.

Can I get Dubai or UAE Citizenship?

The UAE do not offer a citizenship by investment programme like several other countries do. The golden visa programme is a long term residency visa which may be renewed. The UAE do not typically issue citizenship to foreign nationals, but they did recently amend their citizenship laws which may allow those of exceptional talent to obtain citizenship. There are no guarantees though. If you are interested in obtaining Citizenship by Investment, then you may want to consider another country with a simpler process such as Grenada, Antigua or Turkey.

Is the UAE Golden Visa different to the Dubai Golden Visa?

The programme is officially called the UAE Golden Visa programme, but some may refer to it as a Dubai Golden Visa, as Dubai is typically the most popular city for investors to live. Dubai is one of the seven United Arab Emirates, so the UAE Golden Visa programme allows the investor to hold Dubai Residency as it is part of the UAE. It is the same for Abu Dhabi, which is also an emirate of the UAE.

Can my whole family gain a UAE Residency Visa?

Yes. The main applicant can include their spouse and children, regardless of their ages, in their UAE golden visa application.

Can I live in Dubai with a UAE Golden Visa?

Yes! You can live in any of the seven United Arab Emirates States using your UAE golden visa residency permit. This includes Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah or Ras Al Khaimah.

What Are the Dubai Golden Visa Requirements for Real Estate Investment.

To qualify for the UAE Golden Visa through real estate investment, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Minimum Investment: Purchase property worth at least AED 2 million (approx. USD 550,000).

Property Type: Residential or commercial and can be off-plan.

Does the UAE Golden Visa Offer Visa-Free Travel to Other Countries?

The UAE Golden Visa grants long-term residency within the UAE but does not automatically extend visa-free travel rights to other countries. The UAE Golden Visa does not lead to UAE Citizenship, unfortunately. If it did, the UAE passport itself is highly ranked globally and grants access to 194 countries and territories.

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Alternative Programs

The UAE’s Golden Visa programme is best suited to investors looking to specifically reside in the UAE. If your end goal is to obtain a second citizenship and passport then the UAE is not for you. There are several other direct Citizenship by Investment programmes available which you may find more suitable.

Citizenship and Residency Programmes

A selection of residency and citizenship investment programmes.

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Testimonials

Outstanding Service. Thorough and detailed. Everyone I dealt with was good. Chelita was great at customer service and showed she cared.

Mr AUSA,
August 2025

On behalf of the family, I really want to appreciate Jude Clemoes who began the whole process and Lukas Harries who helped see it through to the end. We truly truly appreciate you. We got a lot of value from La Vida for amount we paid. Thank you so much for the patience and all the efforts

Mr ANigeria,
November 2024