UAE visa options: How you can stay in the country long-term

Dubai is promoting a visa allowing retirees to benefit from the UAE’s year-round sunshine.

People from all over the world can apply for a five -ear renewable retirement visa that would allow them to settle in the emirate, providing they meet a range of criteria.

Applicants must be older than 55 and have valid UAE health insurance.

They must also either earn a monthly income of Dh20,000; have Dh1 million in cash savings; or own Dh2m worth of property in Dubai.

But there are several ways to remain in the country long-term without an employment visa.

The National explains.

Property visa

Anyone who owns a property worth more than Dh1million is eligible to apply for this two-year visa.

But the property must not have an outstanding mortgage of more than 50 per cent, said Keren Bobker, an independent financial adviser and senior partner with Holborn Assets in Dubai and a columnist with The National.

In addition, they must also have an income of at “least Dh10,000 per month from a verifiable source, but not from employment in the UAE,” she said.

“Any application must be made to the Dubai Economic Department and Dubai Land Department for consideration and visas are granted on a case-by-case basis and approval is by no means automatic,” said Ms Bobker.

Property visas do not permit people to work in the UAE.

Investor visa

Those who own property worth Dh5 million or more are eligible for a five-year residency visa. Those who hold an investment through a deposit in an established company or a business partnership worth Dh10m or more will be granted a renewable residency visa every 10 years.

Others who have made various investments of no less than Dh10m, including property – which must be worth no more than 40 per cent of the total investment – also qualify for a renewable residency visa every 10 years. Both the property or investment must be wholly owned, not mortgaged, to qualify for this.

Entrepreneurs with a previous project worth a minimum of Dh500,000, or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE, can be granted a five-year visa, with the possibility of upgrading to an investor visa, provided they meet requirements.

Golden visas

Rizwan Sajan, founder and chairman of property developer Danube, was given a golden visa in 2019. At the time, he also welcomed the decision to allow mid-level managers earning Dh30,000 ($8,000) per month to apply for long-term visas. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dr Azad Moopen, chairman and founder of Aster DM Healthcare, was also granted a 10-year residency visa. Randi Sokoloff / The National

Fragrance tycoon Mohammed Rahman (C) receives his golden card visa at Dubai's immigration service, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. The businessman, who runs Al Haramain Group, was the first Bangladeshi to receive the visa. Photo: GDRFA

Firoz Merchant, founder of Pure Gold Jewellers, said it was 'a huge honour' to be granted long-term residency in 2019. Photo: Firoz Merchant

MA Yusuff Ali, chairman and managing director of supermarket chain Lulu Group, pictured with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, was the first recipient of a golden card. The National

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, founder and chairman of VPS Healthcare, receives UAE permanent residency in summer 2019. Photo: Dr Shamsheer Vayalil

Indian-Arab businessman Balvinder Sahni, owner of RSG International, which builds hotels and residential towers, was an early recipient of long-term visa. Reem Mohammed / The National

Sharjah’s first golden card recipient was Lalu Samuel, chairman and managing director of Kingston Holdings and Chairman of Sharjah Industry Business Group. Photo: Kingston Holdings

Siddique Pallolathil, head of hypermarket chain Nesto Group, was the first recipient in Ajman to received long-term residency. Photo: Siddique Pallolathil

Investors, entrepreneurs, chief executives, scientists, outstanding students and doctors are all eligible to apply for this scheme, which grants the holder a renewable 10-year visa.

Announced in 2019, thousands of people living in the UAE have already received a golden visa.

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At the time of the announcement, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said 6,800 investors and residents, worth an estimated Dh100 billion, from 70 countries, were chosen to receive the visa.

More than 200 doctors in Dubai were granted the visa for their work to protect the emirate against Covid-19 in May.

Sheikh Mohammed gave the order in appreciation for the healthcare workers' "selfless dedication to caring for infected patients".

Retiree visas

Retiree visas are also available to anyone wishing to retire in the UAE. It grants non-Emiratis over the age of 55 the ability to stay in the country, provided that they have an investment property worth at least Dh2 million, or financial savings of Dh1m, or an active monthly income of Dh20,000 or more.

The visa is valid for five years with the possibility of automatic renewal for those who wish to stay longer and still meet the eligibility criteria.

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From Hatta to Jebel Ali Village: Five retiree-friendly locations in Dubai

Dubai Creek today is a popular tourist destination and could now be a place to retire. Reem Mohammed / The National

Hatta's Hollywood-style sign. Courtesy: Meraas

Families at Al Qudra lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ain Dubai at Bluewaters Island. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Older style villas at Jebel Ali Village, Dubai. Anna Nielsen for The National

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

World Sevens Series standing after Dubai

1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Fiji
5. Australia
6. Samoa
7. Kenya
8. Scotland
9. France
10. Spain
11. Argentina
12. Canada
13. Wales
14. Uganda
15. United States
16. Russia

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme

Priority access to new homes from participating developers
Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
Flexible payment plans from developers
Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

At a glance

- 20,000 new jobs for Emiratis over three years

- Dh300 million set aside to train 18,000 jobseekers in new skills

- Managerial jobs in government restricted to Emiratis

- Emiratis to get priority for 160 types of job in private sector

- Portion of VAT revenues will fund more graduate programmes

- 8,000 Emirati graduates to do 6-12 month replacements in public or private sector on a Dh10,000 monthly wage - 40 per cent of which will be paid by government

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000

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