Golden Visa and residence visas in Dubai

How does the Golden Visa differ from the 2-year residence visa?

The Golden Visa runs for 10 years, is not tied to an employer and survives a long absence. A standard residence visa lasts 2 years and lapses after six months abroad. Both renew while the grounds remain.

A Golden Visa holder’s family gets the same 10 years, with no age limit for sons. The middle option is the 5-year retirement visa: from age 55, on property worth AED 1 million or more, with no right to work.

Which property qualifies for a visa?

Only freehold qualifies; leasehold of up to 99 years does not. The Golden Visa needs property worth AED 2,000,000 (about USD 545,000); the classic threshold for the 2-year visa is AED 750,000 (about USD 204,000).

Under the 2026 criteria the minimum value no longer applies to the sole owner of a completed home, while in joint ownership each share must be worth at least AED 400,000.

Value means valuation, not contract price: GDRFA accepts the Taqeemi certificate, valid for about 90 days and costing AED 2.5–4 thousand. Since January 2024 a mortgaged property in Dubai counts at full value with the bank’s NOC.

Can I get a visa through a company or a job?

Yes. Registering a free-zone company gives its founder a residence visa, within a few days to a couple of weeks. The entry cost is lower than with property, but the company must trade, file reports and renew its licence.

An employment visa is issued and cancelled by the employer, so the status depends on the contract. The Golden Visa removes that dependence: it is also open to entrepreneurs, highly skilled specialists, scientists and outstanding students.

What the service includes

The visa consultant handles the full cycle: choosing the ground, filing, the Emirates ID, family visas, renewal and cancellation. A property is checked against the threshold before you reserve it.

How the process works

The sequence is fixed: entry permit, medical examination, biometrics, the visa, then the Emirates ID. You file in person: there is no remote option, even after a purchase under power of attorney.

1. 1

   Defining the task

   We establish the aim — relocation, a back-up status or documents for the family — and the ground that fits.

2. 2

   Checking the ground

   For property: title deed, freehold status and a Taqeemi certificate. For a mortgage: the bank’s letter. For a company: a valid licence.

3. 3

   Filing and medical

   The unified GDRFA and DLD platform runs from valuation to application in one digital channel. The medical test and health insurance are mandatory.

4. 4

   Emirates ID and family

   The card is issued with the visa; without it no bank opens a resident account. The spouse and children follow, each with their own card.

How do I arrange visas for my family?

The sponsor’s status comes first, dependants second: nobody can sponsor a spouse or child without an Emirates ID. You need an address — a title deed or an Ejari-registered tenancy — and marriage and birth certificates legalised in the country of issue.

The family’s status rests on one person and one asset. If the property is sold, the visa and the dependants’ visas are cancelled, so a replacement ground must exist before the sale.

What does it cost to keep and renew a visa?

The application fee is the smallest line: the real cost is annual. The main items are health insurance for each family member and the property’s service charge; a company visa adds licence renewal, an office and bookkeeping.

A guide to official fees is the DLD price list for the 5-year retirement visa: medical AED 700, Emirates ID AED 653, in total AED 6,984.75 for the applicant and AED 4,968.50 per family member. Processing takes 7–10 working days.

How do I cancel a visa properly when leaving?

Cancel the visa formally and as the last step rather than letting it expire. First close the licence or employment contract, dependants’ visas, tenancy, utilities, loans and cards; the bank account goes last.

Trouble comes from an unpaid loan and an abandoned company: a debt can surface at the border years later, and an unrenewed licence accrues fines. The property can stay yours — ownership does not depend on residency.

Frequently asked questions

See also

• Company formation in Dubai
• Real estate in Dubai
• Residency & citizenship
• All services