{"id":120,"date":"2026-09-30T08:07:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T08:07:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivosgroup.com\/ae\/insights\/uae-golden-visa-investors-entrepreneurs\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T08:07:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T08:07:32","slug":"uae-golden-visa-investors-entrepreneurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vivosgroup.com\/ae\/insights\/uae-golden-visa-investors-entrepreneurs\/","title":{"rendered":"UAE Golden Visa for Investors and Entrepreneurs: Routes and Requirements in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Insights \u00b7 UAE Immigration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UAE Golden Visa for Investors and Entrepreneurs: Routes and Requirements in 2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The UAE Golden Visa is a 10-year, self-sponsored residence permit, renewable while you still qualify. Investors need AED 2 million in a UAE bank or fund deposit, company capital or partnership share, or AED 2 million of property, which may be bank-financed or bought off-plan from an approved developer. Entrepreneurs qualify through an SME earning at least AED 1 million a year, approval from an accredited incubator, or past exits worth AED 7 million, according to ICP\u2019s criteria at 30 September 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide is for founders, shareholders and property investors weighing long-term UAE residence. It sets out the investor and entrepreneur routes ICP applies today, the family and travel benefits, what changed in 2025\u20132026, and how to apply through ICP or GDRFA Dubai.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Route<\/th>Requirement (ICP, as at 30 September 2026)<\/th><\/tr>
Deposit<\/td>At least AED 2 million with a UAE investment fund or national bank; GDRFA Dubai bars withdrawal during the permit<\/td><\/tr>
Company capital or partnership<\/td>A UAE company with capital of at least AED 2 million, or a partnership share worth at least AED 2 million; funds must be your own, not borrowed<\/td><\/tr>
Tax contribution<\/td>A company paying at least AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes<\/td><\/tr>
Real estate<\/td>Property worth at least AED 2 million; loans from approved local banks and off-plan purchases from approved developers accepted<\/td><\/tr>
Entrepreneur: revenue<\/td>A UAE-registered SME in an approved field with annual revenue of at least AED 1 million<\/td><\/tr>
Entrepreneur: incubator<\/td>Business idea approved by an accredited incubator, the Ministry of Economy or a relevant local authority<\/td><\/tr>
Entrepreneur: previous exits<\/td>Founder of ventures previously sold for a total of at least AED 7 million<\/td><\/tr>
Validity and cover<\/td>10 years, renewable; valid health insurance required<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Investor and entrepreneur routes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) splits investors into public investment and real estate. For public investment, you need a deposit of at least AED 2 million with a UAE investment fund or national bank, a UAE company with capital of at least AED 2 million, or a partnership share worth the same. Owning or partnering in a company that pays at least AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes also qualifies. ICP states that the invested capital must be fully owned by the investor and must not come from a loan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For property, ICP requires one or more properties worth at least AED 2 million in total. Bank financing is allowed if it comes from an approved local bank, and off-plan units count if bought from a developer authorised by the local authority. In Dubai, the Dubai Land Department asks for a no-objection letter from the mortgage bank showing the amount paid and the balance, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) registers a lien so that ownership continues for the life of the permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entrepreneurs have three routes on ICP\u2019s current guide, updated on 10 September 2026. You own or are a partner in a UAE-registered small or medium-sized enterprise in an approved field with annual revenue of at least AED 1 million; or your business idea is approved by an accredited business incubator, the Ministry of Economy or a relevant local authority; or you founded ventures that were previously sold for a total of at least AED 7 million. Health insurance is required on every route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many guides still quote a minimum project value of AED 500,000. That test appears in earlier versions of the scheme, and the UAE government portal still mentions documents proving project value, but it is not in ICP\u2019s current criteria. In Dubai, GDRFA\u2019s entrepreneur service also asks for a nomination letter from a Dubai authority. Treat AED 500,000 as unconfirmed and check the live criteria with ICP or GDRFA Dubai before you plan around it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Family, domestic workers, travel and 2025\u20132026 changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ICP states that Golden Residency holders can obtain residence permits for their spouse and children, regardless of the children\u2019s age, and for their parents. They can also sponsor domestic workers in line with the applicable regulations. No UAE sponsor or employer is needed for the holder\u2019s own permit, and if the holder dies, sponsored family members may remain in the UAE until their own permits expire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UAE government portal confirms that Golden Visa holders can stay outside the country for longer than the usual six-month period without losing residence, which suits investors who split their year between several countries. Applicants who are still abroad can be granted a six-month multiple-entry entry visa, renewable for a further six months, to complete the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2025\u20132026 changes concern categories and fraud rather than investor thresholds. ICP\u2019s list now includes nomination-based categories, such as first-line-of-defence professionals and humanitarian pioneers, which are not investment routes. In July 2025, ICP publicly denied reports of a nomination-based \u201clifetime\u201d Golden Visa for a fixed AED 100,000 fee, and said applications go only through official government channels. Be wary of any agent offering a shortcut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How to apply: ICP, GDRFA Dubai, medical and Emirates ID<\/h2>\n\n\n\n