UAE RESIDENCY · 55 AND OVER
The UAE retirement visa
Five years, renewable, at half the Golden Visa property threshold, for applicants aged 55 and over.
THE TESTS
Meet one of three financial conditions.
| Route | Condition | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Property | AED 1,000,000 in registered property | Half the Golden Visa threshold. Combination of properties is generally accepted |
| Savings | Fixed deposit of AED 1,000,000 in a UAE bank | Must remain locked for the qualifying term |
| Income | Qualifying monthly income, evidenced | Thresholds are emirate-dependent; confirm before applying |
Dated 13 August 2026. Age condition is 55 and over. Confirm current thresholds with ICP or the emirate authority.
Last updated 13 August 2026 Next review Q4 2026
HONESTLY
What it does and does not carry.
Term
Five years, renewable while the qualifying condition persists. Reassessed at renewal against the rules as they stand then.
No absence exemption
It does not carry the Golden Visa's absence position. If you plan long periods abroad, that difference is the deciding one.
Health insurance
Mandatory for the applicant and every dependant, and the premium is the line that moves most at this age.
Upgrading
Reaching AED 2 million in property moves you to the ten-year route. It is a fresh application, not a conversion.
AED 1 million buys a genuinely good apartment in several Dubai communities and a very good one in Ras Al Khaimah. It also buys a poor one in a building with a service charge that will erode the point of the purchase. The visa condition is arithmetic; the asset choice is not.
Who can apply for the UAE retirement visa?
Applicants aged 55 and over who meet one of the financial tests: property of AED 1,000,000, a fixed deposit of AED 1,000,000, or a qualifying monthly income. It runs for five years and is renewable while the condition persists.
How is it different from the Golden Visa?
Five years rather than ten, at half the property threshold, with an age condition. It does not carry the Golden Visa's absence exemption or its mainland ownership rights.
Can I sponsor my spouse?
Yes, subject to the standard dependant conditions, including health insurance for each person on the file.
Can I move up to the Golden Visa?
Yes, by reaching AED 2 million in registered property under the test that applies in your emirate. Many retirees buy once and buy correctly rather than buying twice.
Which building at AED 1m?
Tell us the emirate and how you intend to use it. We will name the buildings worth owning at that number.
WhatsAppDeposit or property?
We will compare the locked deposit against the property route on real yields, after service charge.
WhatsAppSources
- ICP Smart Services retirement visa guidance
- GDRFA Dubai retire in Dubai programme
- Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021
THE CLUSTER
Where to go next.
The UAE Golden Visa
The pillar page: routes, thresholds, the emirate differences and what the visa actually gives you.
OpenThe AED 2M property route
Off-plan, mortgages, joint ownership, the GDRFA lien and what happens if you sell.
OpenThe 2-year investor visa
A separate, lower tier. It does not carry the absence exemption.
OpenWhat it actually costs
Itemised and dated, with worked examples for a single applicant and for a family of four.
OpenResidency and tax
A residence visa is not tax residency. The page most likely to save you money.
OpenEligibility check
Six questions, an indication of which tier you fit, and the test that applies to you.
Open