UAE Announced Key Updates to the Golden Visa Program

Brittany Collins

The UAE has updated its Golden Visa program, expanding eligibility and creating new opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs, professionals, students, and digital content creators. These changes aim to attract global talent, foster innovation, and encourage long-term residency in the UAE.

The UAE Golden Visa provides long-term residence permits ranging from 5 to 10 years, allowing holders and their families to live, work, and study in the country without needing a local sponsor.

To boost the program’s popularity, the UAE regularly expands the list of eligible applicants. For example, luxury yacht owners were previously granted eligibility to apply for a Golden Visa.

New requirements for property investors

One of the major updates to the UAE Golden Visa program relates to real estate investments. Investors purchasing off-plan properties under construction can qualify by making a down payment of at least 50% or providing a bank guarantee for the remaining amount.

Additionally, all real estate investments must now be fully paid without loans, maintaining a minimum investment threshold of AED 2 million.

New categories qualifying for the UAE Golden Visa

Entrepreneurs can qualify for the Golden Visa if their project’s value is at least AED 500,000 and their innovative business ideas receive endorsement from approved incubators or government bodies.

Professionals — including PhD holders, doctors, engineers, and specialists in key sectors such as AI and biotechnology — can now obtain UAE residency through a simplified procedure if they hold a valid work contract within the UAE.

Outstanding students also benefit from the updated Golden Visa criteria. To qualify, students must be enrolled in high school or university and have a GPA of 3.8 or higher, or, if already graduated, hold a recommendation from the Ministry of Education. Applicants may sponsor immediate family members, including parents and siblings.

Digital content creators have gained the right to apply for the UAE Golden Visa under Dubai’s new Creators HQ initiative. This category covers social media influencers, filmmakers, podcasters, visual artists, photographers, writers, advertising agencies, and animation studios.

Applicants under the digital content creator category can seek assistance at Creators HQ, which provides help with visa applications, business support, mentorship, and funding through the Content Creators Support Fund.

To obtain the UAE Golden Visa, all applicants must demonstrate eligibility, prove financial solvency, and undergo a medical check at a UAE clinic.