Golden Visa

The Golden Visa is awarded against defined routes, so the starting point is finding the one that matches you. The common ones are: a real-estate or public investment of AED 2,000,000; an entrepreneur route where the project is valued at a minimum of AED 500,000; and a salary-based talent route for those earning at least AED 50,000 per month in a qualifying role. Other categories exist for specialised talent such as scientists, doctors and creatives. Thresholds and conditions are set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), so we always confirm the live criteria for your case, you can review them on icp.gov.ae and u.ae.

If your route runs through a company, the entity must be set up correctly first. We can run a mainland company formation or free zone company formation alongside the visa, and arrange the trade licence that the entrepreneur route relies on. Note that an offshore company is a holding and international-use vehicle that cannot trade inside the UAE, so it is not a trading base for an entrepreneur application. If you are not yet sure you qualify for the Golden Visa, a standard investor or residence visa is often the right interim step.

Once your route is confirmed, the backbone follows the same UAE residence pattern: (1) gather and attest the supporting evidence your route needs, such as a title deed, valuation, audited business documents or a salary certificate and labour contract; (2) submit the nomination or application to ICP; (3) on approval, complete the medical fitness test; (4) capture Emirates ID biometrics; and (5) receive your Golden Visa stamp or e-visa. We handle the typing-centre work, applications and follow-ups so you are not chasing counters yourself.

Indicative official fees give you a sense of scale, but they change often, so always request an exact quote. As published examples: ICP residence-permit government fees are about AED 100 per year, plus medical, Emirates ID and typing; a Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) trade-name reservation is about AED 620; and a Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) foreign-branch initial approval is about AED 3,500. See icp.gov.ae, det.gov.ae and moet.gov.ae for current schedules. You can also try our cost estimator or read how much it costs to set up a business in Dubai.

Long-term residency sits alongside your tax obligations, so it helps to plan both together. UAE Corporate Tax (Federal Decree-Law 47/2022, effective for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023) is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that; CT registration is required, a late-registration penalty of AED 10,000 applies, and returns are filed and paid within nine months of the period end. A qualifying free zone person (QFZP) pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on non-qualifying income, without the AED 375,000 band. Small Business Relief is available where revenue is under AED 3,000,000 per period, up to 31 December 2026. VAT is 5%, with mandatory registration at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and voluntary registration from AED 187,500. Verify the figures on tax.gov.ae, and let us set this up through accounting, VAT and corporate tax.

We also pair your Golden Visa with the practical pieces around it: a corporate bank account (we prepare a strong file, though no one can guarantee a bank's decision), ongoing PRO and government services, and trademark and IP protection for your brand. To weigh structures before you commit, compare free zone vs mainland or explore the UAE free zones.