GOLDEN VISA
The ten-year residency, and which routes reach it.
Three practical routes, one threshold everyone quotes, and a set of conditions most summaries leave out.
THE THRESHOLD
The numbers that decide eligibility.
AED 2m
Property threshold
Combined registered value
10 yrs
Renewable term
No employer sponsor
3
Practical routes
Property, company, talent
0
Path to citizenship
Residency only
Property
One or more properties with a combined value of at least AED 2 million, held in your name and registered with the land department. Off-plan can qualify where the developer and payment stage allow it, which is a question to settle before you sign, not after.
Company and investment
Business owners and investors who meet the capital, licence and audit conditions. The route is real, but the paperwork burden is heavier than the property route and the review is stricter.
Talent
Specialists, senior professionals, scientists, creatives and top graduates, each with its own nominating authority and evidence pack. Salary alone rarely carries an application.
PLAINLY
What it is and is not.
What it gives you
A ten-year renewable residency, the ability to sponsor family, no requirement for an employer sponsor, and long absences without losing status.
What it does not give you
It is not citizenship and it does not lead to a passport. It does not by itself make you a UAE tax resident, and it does not remove tax obligations in your home country.
Who it does not suit
Buyers stretching to the AED 2 million threshold with a building they would not otherwise own. The visa is a consequence of a sound purchase, not a reason to make a poor one.
RELATED
The two routes we handle daily.
Property
Buy the building first and let the residency follow. Unit level data on what is worth owning.
OpenBusiness Setup
Company and investor routes, with the licence and substance conditions priced honestly.
OpenGolden Visa in Abu Dhabi
The equity rule that decides mortgaged applications in the capital.
OpenQUESTIONS
What people ask first.
Does the AED 2 million have to be one property?
It can be a combination, provided the properties are registered in your name and the combined value meets the threshold at the point of application. Mortgaged properties are assessed on conditions set by the authority at the time.
How long does it take?
Weeks rather than months once the title deed and medical steps are complete. Delays almost always come from documents, not from the authority.
Can my family be included?
Spouse and children can be sponsored under the same residency, and in defined cases parents and domestic staff. Each dependant carries its own cost and medical step.
Does the visa cancel if I sell?
The residency is tied to the qualifying holding. If you sell down below the threshold, the basis for the visa changes. Plan the exit before you buy.