A Guide to UAE Residence Visas for Investors

Written by Arpan Ghosh

If you invest in Dubai’s property market, you can qualify for a residence visa. Typically, the visa has a standard validity of 2 years. However, new government initiatives and reforms introduced in 2018 have created further categories of investor visas with different criteria that need to be met. For the first-time investor, it is vital to understand the differences between each. Our guide below gives you a simplified breakdown of the various types of investor visas you can get in the UAE.

Property Investor Visa

This is the residence visa that is most commonly granted to property buyers and investors.

Eligibility: Minimum investment of AED 1 million in freehold property

Validity: Renewable every 2 years

Renewal Conditions: Ownership of the property must be maintained for the duration of the visa

5-Year Property Investor Visa

This category was introduced early last year as a longer term option for property investors.

Eligibility: Minimum investment of AED 5 million in freehold property

Validity: Renewable every 5 years

Renewal Conditions: Ownership of the property must be maintained for the duration of the visa

Retiree Visa

This visa is only applicable to those who are 55 years or older.

Eligibility: Minimum property investment of AED 2 million, minimum savings of AED 1 million or minimum income of AED 20,000/year

Validity: Renewable every 5 years

Renewal Conditions: As long as the criteria continue to be met, the visa will be renewed

Long-Term Residence Visa

This is the longest residence visa offered in the UAE and can be considered a general investor visa.

Eligibility: Minimum investment of AED 10 million, 60% of that investment must be in non-real estate assets

Validity: Renewable every 10 years

Renewal Conditions: The investment must be held for at least 3 years

If you want to learn more about the specifics of each criteria or about making a property investment in Dubai, please get in touch with our advisory team. We would be delighted to assist you with any queries you might have.