UAE RESIDENCY · COST
What a Golden Visa actually costs
One number circulates everywhere for this: AED 9,884.75. It is a real Dubai government fee figure, and it is roughly a third of what a family actually pays.
THE STACK
Itemised, dated, and labelled by source.
| Line | Indicative amount | Source status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai authority package (DLD and GDRFA) | AED 9,884.75 | Published figure, commonly cited | Roughly AED 9,800 to 10,000 depending on the service route |
| Ras Al Khaimah authority package | AED 7,900 to 8,500 | Broker-reportedReported | Not published by the authority. Treat as an estimate only |
| Abu Dhabi package via TAMM | Varies | Authority-dependent | Priced case by case through TAMM and the Abu Dhabi Residents Office |
| Medical fitness test | AED 320 to 750 | Published, tier-dependent | Standard, VIP and premium tiers |
| Emirates ID (10 years) | AED 1,153 | Published | Renews separately, roughly every three years |
| Health insurance | AED 800 to 5,000+ per person, per year | Market-dependent | Mandatory. Premium varies by age, cover and pre-existing conditions |
| Each dependant | Repeat the medical, Emirates ID and insurance lines | Published, per person | Plus per-dependant file and issuance charges |
Indicative figures dated 13 August 2026. Government fees change without notice. Where a figure is broker-reported rather than published by the authority, we say so in the table rather than blending it in.
WORKED EXAMPLES
The real number, not the headline.
~AED 12k
Single applicant, Dubai
Authority package, medical, Emirates ID and a basic insurance year
~AED 25k
Family of four, Dubai
Same stack for the applicant, plus three dependant stacks
2 to 3 wks
Typical timeline
From a clean file. GDRFA states around five working days for its core step
10 yrs
Term
Emirates ID renews separately, roughly every three years
Government fees are one line. Dependants multiply the process, not just the paperwork. Insurance is the line that moves most between a healthy thirty-year-old and a parent in their seventies, and it is the line that quotes usually omit.
Last updated 13 August 2026 Next review Q4 2026
WHAT IS NOT IN THE FEE
Costs that sit outside the visa file.
The purchase itself
DLD transfer fees, trustee and registration charges, agency commission, mortgage arrangement and valuation, and the annual service charge on the building you buy. The visa is the smallest number on the page.
Process charges
Typing centre and PRO fees, document attestation and legal translation, and courier or notary costs where documents originate abroad. Individually small, collectively not.
QUESTIONS
What people ask about the cost.
Is the AED 9,884.75 figure real?
Yes. It is a real Dubai government fee figure for the Golden Visa package and it is commonly quoted at roughly AED 9,800 to 10,000. It covers the authority package only, not the medical, the Emirates ID, health insurance or any dependant.
How much does a family of four pay?
The applicant stack is repeated per dependant. On the indicative figures below, a family of four lands in the region of AED 22,000 to 30,000 in government and health costs, before any agent or typing charges and before insurance premiums that vary by age and cover.
How long does it take?
Commonly two to three weeks from a clean file, with GDRFA stating around five working days for its own core step. Delays almost always come from documents, not from the authority.
Why do broker quotes differ so much?
Because most blend government fees, service charges and insurance into a single number. Where a figure below is broker-reported rather than published by the authority, we label it rather than blending it in.
Get the number for your household
Tell us the emirate and who is on the file. We will itemise it, labelled by source, with nothing blended in.
WhatsAppBuying and applying together?
We will price the purchase and the permit in one sheet so you can see the total before you commit.
WhatsAppSources
- GDRFA Dubai published service fees and processing guidance
- ICP Smart Services fee schedule
- Dubai Land Department Golden Visa service pages
- Broker and consultancy advisories, used only where labelled reported
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THE CLUSTER
Where to go next.
The AED 2M property route
Off-plan, mortgages, joint ownership, the GDRFA lien and what happens if you sell.
OpenRequirements by emirate
Documents and process for Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, separated properly.
OpenEligibility check
Six questions, an indication of which tier you fit, and the test that applies to you.
OpenThe 2-year investor visa
A separate, lower tier. It does not carry the absence exemption.
OpenThe retirement visa
Five years for applicants aged 55 and over, at half the Golden Visa property threshold.
OpenResidency and tax
A residence visa is not tax residency. The page most likely to save you money.
Open