UAE residence visa: key benefits and requirements
A UAE residence visa offers many advantages. Depending on the grounds, it is issued for 2 to 10 years with unlimited renewals. The resident visa provides:
- the right to live in the country for the entire visa period;
- an Emirates ID and the ability to open a full resident bank account in the UAE;
- exemption from most state taxes and fees — the UAE has no personal income tax;
- the ability to build UAE tax residency and obtain a Tax Residency Certificate;
- easy travel to neighbouring countries;
- the right to buy and rent any property in the country;
- residence permits for all direct family members of the resident.
In addition, foreigners who obtain a residence visa and open a company here can arrange resident visas for their employees.
The key requirement for keeping the visa active is entering the UAE at least once every 180 days. Failure to do so may lead to the visa being blocked and needing reinstatement.
Residence visa through company registration
The classic route is to register a company in one of the free zones or open a local (mainland) firm. It is a fast and convenient path: the resident visa is granted to the company founder regardless of the business activity. An added benefit is the ability to sponsor visas for employees and family.
Dynasty Business Adviser specialists will help you open a company and obtain a residence visa in just a few weeks.
The most budget-friendly route: residence visa via a freelance licence
If you do not need a full company, the most affordable path to residency is a freelance licence. In essence it is the equivalent of sole-trader status: you officially work for yourself, with no office and no employees.
Advantages of the freelance licence:
- the lowest entry cost of all residence visa routes;
- no mandatory tax registration until turnover reaches AED 1,000,000;
- the ability to work legally and provide services to clients worldwide;
- a 2-year residence visa with renewal rights;
- the licence is registered remotely within 2–3 working days.
It is the solution for freelancers, consultants, IT specialists and creative professionals — and for anyone who wants UAE residency at minimal cost. See full details and pricing on the «Freelance Licence in Ajman Free Zone» and in the pricing table below.
UAE residence visa through property purchase
Since 2026, the Dubai government has lowered the threshold for a property-based residence visa to AED 400,000. However, note that this visa is processed through a so-called investment licence, and maintaining the licence alone costs on average AED 10,000 per year — not counting the visa fees themselves. This visa is issued for 2 years.
The main and most cost-effective route is purchasing property worth AED 2,000,000 or more. In that case, for quite reasonable money — around $3,000–4,000 including services — a residence visa is issued for 10 years at once.
Every investor who has invested AED 2 million or more in property is entitled to this visa — including purchases on instalment plans and off-plan properties.
The one caveat: this residence visa is tied to the property. If you decide to sell it, the visa will have to be cancelled.
10-year residence visa through a bank deposit
A separate option for those who want long-term status without buying property or running a business: placing a deposit of AED 2,000,000 in a UAE bank entitles you to a 10-year residence visa.
This is the most low-maintenance format of long-term residency: the funds remain yours, held in one of the world’s most reliable banking systems, while you receive a ten-year visa with no need to renew every two years. Dynasty Business Adviser supports the entire process: from opening the account and placing the deposit to receiving the visa and Emirates ID.
UAE residence visa for employees and students
A foreign national employed by a UAE company is entitled to a resident visa. The UAE imposes no nationality requirements on company personnel. Standard work visas are currently issued for 2 years; the cost may be covered by the employee or the employer.
Extended formats apply to qualified specialists. Specialists in Dubai holding a degree and earning a salary of AED 18,000 or more can obtain a 5-year visa. Employees with an attested degree who have worked at least 2 years in the same specialty and earned a salary of at least AED 30,000 over the last 6 months are entitled to a 10-year visa.
Important: the degree must be attested — diploma accreditation goes through the UAE Ministry of Education. We assist with this procedure.
A foreign student enrolled at one of the country’s universities may also apply for a residence visa, valid for the entire period of study.
UAE Retirement Visa
A separate route to long-term residency is the dedicated retirement visa (the “Retire in the UAE” / “Retire in Dubai” programme). It is designed for people aged 55 and over who want to live in the Emirates comfortably and at ease, without running a business or being employed. The visa is issued for 5 years and is renewable as long as the criteria are still met.
To qualify for the retirement visa, you only need to meet one of three financial criteria:
- own property in the UAE worth at least AED 1,000,000;
- hold financial savings (a deposit) of at least AED 1,000,000;
- or prove a steady income of at least AED 15,000 per month (AED 180,000 per year) — for example, a pension or investment income.
Valid UAE health insurance is also required. The retirement visa offers the same core benefits as other residence visas: an Emirates ID, the right to rent and buy property, open bank accounts, sponsor a visa for your spouse, and build UAE tax residency with no personal income tax.
Important: the exact thresholds and the list of eligible assets are updated from time to time by the immigration authorities (GDRFA in Dubai and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, ICP), so the conditions should be confirmed at the time of application. Dynasty Business Adviser will check your eligibility, help you gather the documents and arrange your retirement visa on a turnkey basis.
The key advantage of the residence visa: the path to UAE tax residency
For many of our clients, the residence visa is above all a tool for changing tax residency. Speed matters here: you can start building your UAE tax resident status immediately after the visa is issued.
The first step is a residential address in the UAE. You can rent or buy property yourself, but the simplest option is to contact us — we will help arrange an address as soon as your visa is issued.
A residence visa, Emirates ID and confirmed address satisfy UAE banks’ tax residency requirements: to the bank, you are a resident living in the UAE. You can also present this address to foreign banks and financial institutions as confirmation that you live in and operate from the Emirates. In that case, under the automatic exchange of tax information (CRS), data on your accounts is directed to the UAE — not to your previous country of residence.
For full official UAE tax resident status, you will need to meet the presence criteria and obtain a Tax Residency Certificate. We support the entire journey: visa → address → bank profiles → certificate.
Submitting documents for a UAE residence visa
Since the residence visa can be obtained through different routes, and sponsor visas also exist for family members and company employees, each case requires its own set of documents. Our consultants will advise you on the standard list for your situation.
When preparing documents, note that the UAE has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, so consular legalisation is mandatory for:
- birth certificates;
- diplomas of secondary specialised and higher education;
- marriage, divorce and name-change certificates, and certain other documents.
Document legalisation is a labour-intensive process requiring specific expertise. Our specialists will advise you on any question, help collect and legalise the documents and obtain your UAE residence visa.
Sample UAE Resident Visa
UAE residence visa cost
Option 1. Residence visa with an already registered company
If you already have a free zone company (or we register one separately), the cost of the visa itself depends on the zone. The price includes: the government fee for the Entry Permit, VIP medical test, Emirates ID and Dynasty Business Adviser professional services for support and documentation.
| Free zone where your company is registered | Price, USD |
|---|---|
| UAQ Free Trade Zone (Umm Al Quwain) | $2,000 |
| Ajman Free Trade Zone | $2,000 |
| DMCC Free Trade Zone (VIP stamp) | $2,500 |
| Fujairah Creative City Free Trade Zone | $2,500 |
| Dubai South Free Trade Zone | $2,500 |
| RAKEZ Free Trade Zone | $3,300 (VIP) / $2,500 (Normal) |
| Silicon Oasis Free Zone (gold package) | $3,000 |
| Dubai Internet City Free Trade Zone | $3,000 |
| SHAMS Free Trade Zone | $3,000 |
Important these amounts cover visa processing for the owner or employee of an existing company. Company registration is paid separately.
Option 2. Freelance licence + residence visa, turnkey (a different setup)
If you do not have a company and do not need one — this is the all-inclusive solution: we register a freelance licence in Ajman Free Zone and process the residence visa as a single package.
| Service | Price, USD |
|---|---|
| Turnkey freelance licence + 2-year residence visa: registration and preparation of all documents, professional licence, government fees, medical test, Emirates ID | $3,500 |
| Dynasty Business Adviser professional services for registration and document preparation | $1,000 |
| Mandatory medical insurance | from $350 |
| Opening a personal UAE bank account (optional) | $1,000 |
The difference between the options: in Option 1 you pay only for the visa, but you must already have a company (its registration and annual maintenance are separate costs). In Option 2, for $3,500 you receive both the licence (the basis for the visa) and the residence visa itself — the lowest total entry cost into UAE residency.
Option 3. 10-year residence visa through a bank deposit
Placing a deposit of AED 2,000,000 in a UAE bank — a 10-year residence visa. Support fees are calculated individually — request a consultation.
Option 4. Retirement residence visa
Conditions in brief: age 55+; you only need to meet one condition — UAE property from AED 1,000,000, or savings (a deposit) from AED 1,000,000, or a steady income from AED 15,000 per month (AED 180,000 per year). The visa is issued for 5 years and is renewable; valid UAE health insurance is required.
Cost — from $2,000 for turnkey processing (government fees, medical test, Emirates ID, Dynasty support). The final amount depends on additional options — health insurance, the medical test and other services.
Get a free consultation:
WhatsApp +971 52 634 1022
Get advice
