11 UAE Golden Visa advantages: Pros of Dubai Residence by Investment

The UAE Golden Visa is granted to foreigners for 10 years, enabling them to live, work, or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits.

“Golden Visa” is a residency visa type’s official name. There are other ways to obtain long-term permits in the UAE — freelancers and remote workers visas, retirement visas, and others. Those visas are typically valid for 5 years.

UAE Golden Visa program

A wide range of people are eligible for the UAE Golden Visa. Among them are scientists, students, athletes, inventors, entrepreneurs, startup owners, and people who worked with extraordinary efforts in crises, such as the COVID‑19 pandemic.

After fulfilling visa requirements, the investor passes a medical examination and gets a long-term Golden Visa.

11 UAE Golden Visa major benefits include the following:

• a multiple-entry entrance visa valid for six months before a residence permit is issued;

• the validity period of 10 years;

• living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world;

• access to quality healthcare in the UAE — the world medical tourism centre;

• possibility to renew Golden Visa after expiration;

• no need for having a sponsor;

• no requirements to reside in the UAE to keep the Golden Visa valid;

• sponsoring the family members, including children, regardless of their age;

• sponsoring any number of domestic helpers like cleaners, nannies and drivers;

• UAE Golden Visa holders receive an Esaad privilege card, which provides significant discounts in the UAE and 92 other countries;

• additional preferences for Abu Dhabi and Dubai residents.

Golden Visa holders residing in Abu Dhabi can get discounts on selected properties from developer Imkan Properties. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and First Abu Dhabi Bank will offer real estate Golden Visa investors reduced mortgage fixed-interest rates and non‑real estate investors attractive rates on savings accounts.

Golden Visa holders will also be entitled to reduced premiums on annual health insurance plans for families and individuals, with diverse network coverage and a bundle of benefits inside and outside the UAE.

Golden Visa holders in Dubai with a driving licence from their home country can now take a UAE driver’s test without needing extra lessons. At the same time, if a Golden Visa holder has a licence from one of 32 approved countries, including the US, the UK, and Australia, they will automatically be eligible for a UAE driver’s licence.

As Dubai Golden Visa can be granted to outstanding expatriate students and their families, they can get discounts to pursue their higher education in international university branches in Dubai.

Buying property in the UAE can be a profitable investment. In 2022, prices grew by 8,5% for apartments and 13% for villas.

The UAE has no income tax, so the owner doesn’t pay taxes when renting the property. There are also no taxes on gifts and inheritance. When selling property, the owner will pay half of the Transfer fee, for example, 2% in Dubai.

The UAE property market is one of the most regulated in the world. Buying property is one of the options to get a Golden Visa for 10 years. Residential apartments, hotel rooms, villas, townhouses, and offices are available for this visa type.

Getting a long-term Golden residency is possible if you already have a real estate property in the UAE.

Examples of properties in the UAE

UAE, Dubai

$2,002,000 — $5,600,000

Apartments and mansions in a new project from the luxury hotel chain The Ritz-Carlton

140 m² — 357 m²

1—3

1—3

UAE, Dubai

$330,000 — $2,255,000

Shared and full ownership of apartments in a premium hotel complex

1—2

1—2

UAE, Dubai

$2,283,000 — $8,044,000

Luxurious apartments in an exclusive project on the waterfront of the Dubai Canal

191 m² — 323 m²

2—4

2—4

In spite of the hot summer seasons, talented foreigners still chose the UAE for working, studying, and living for many reasons. Here are some of them.

1. Back-up plan. Expats can reside in the UAE, one of the wealthiest and most prosperous countries worldwide. They also can travel to the country anytime, even if the borders are closed because of epidemic, political or economic issues.

7 ways to obtain UAE residency

2. Safety. In 2022, the UAE ranked 2nd in the World Safety Index. Among the emirates, the first place went to Abu-Dhabi. Sharjah and Dubai ranked fourth and eighth, respectively.

3. Education. The UAE Universities are among the best educational institutions in the world. The QS World University Rankings 2024 includes 11 UAE universities, four of which are in the Top 500. Some universities are branches of American, Australian, and British educational institutions.

4. Tax system. The UAE is considered a tax haven because income, capital gains, inheritance, gifts, and properties are exempt from taxation.

Starting January 2023, the corporate tax is 9% if a company generates a profit equal to or exceeding AED 375,000.

Nevertheless, the tax on corporate profit in the UAE is lower than in many other countries. For example, in states that also offer residency by investment programs, such as Malta or Portugal, corporate tax rates are 35% and 21%, respectively.

5. Investors can open companies in the UAE to reduce the tax burden. The most favourable conditions apply to companies operating in Free Zones with a special tax and customs regime. Most of these zones are located in Dubai.

Free Zones have no corporate taxes, VAT, import or export taxes. Another benefit is that a foreign investor can become the sole company owner in the UAE Free Zone.

6. Entertainment. There are many things to do in the UAE. Landmark tourist places, such as Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, and Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, offer sightseeing for all ages.

Discover the perks, conditions, and features of the Emirati investment program

One disadvantage of the UAE Golden Visa is that this residency route does not lead to citizenship. You can renew the visa several times and try to apply for citizenship in 30 years. But there are no guarantees.

If you want to get a second passport, Immigrant Invest offers several European investment programs. In all of them, you obtain a residency first and then apply for citizenship in 5­—10 years.

A residence permit in a European country provides freedom of travel within the Schengen Area and the prospect of citizenship in an EU country.

Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services through direct investment is another option for applying for citizenship in Europe. Investors can apply for citizenship in 1 or 3 years after investing at least €690,000.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.