Benefits of UAE Residency

Foreign residents of the UAE will benefit, among others, from the following:

• Zero taxation on any kind of personal income
• Full repatriation of the capital and profits
• No transmission of financial and fiscal data to any other country
• Easily opening personal bank accounts in the UAE
• Applying for personal loans from UAE banks, including car loans
• Working in the UAE (separate working permit may be required)
• Access to government health services and local health insurance
• Applying for UAE driving licence
• Ability to act as a sponsor for the foreign resident’s family
• Registering children in government schools and private schools
• Getting a local mobile phone subscription (contrary to pay-as-you-go)
• The Emirates ID serves as official personal identification document within the UAE, no need to carry your passport with UAE visa with you
• Using the Emirates ID Card for many types of transactions (fuel at certain companies’ fuel stations, insurance services, health services, and many more)
• Foreign residents holding an Emirates ID are not obliged to live in the Emirate that issued the ID but can reside in any Emirate of the UAE

Who qualifies for a UAE Residence Visa:

• Two-year UAE Residence Visa, renewable as long as approval reasons persist:
  • Shareholders and Beneficial Owners of a UAE Free Zone Company
    Please note that UAE Residence Visas are called UAE Investor Visa in case the company has one shareholder or beneficial owner. If a company has more than one shareholder or beneficial owner, the same visa is called UAE Partner Visa.
  • Shareholders or Beneficial Owners of a UAE Onshore (Mainland) Company
  • Holders of Freelance Licences in the UAE
• For five-year UAE Residence Visa, the so-called GREEN VISA, renewable as long as approval reasons persist:
  • Investors investing a minimum of AED 1.000.000 (UAE Investor Visa)
  • Business Partners (UAE Investor Visa)
  • Entrepreneurs (UAE Investor Visa)
  • Skilled Workers
  • Top students and graduates
  • Self-employed individuals
• For ten-year UAE Residence Visa, the so-called GOLDEN VISA, renewable as long as approval reasons persist:
  • Investors investing a minimum of AED 2.000.000 (UAE Investor Visa)
  • Entrepreneurs and Start-up owners (UAE Investor Visa)
  • Executive Directors
  • Outstanding students and graduates
  • Scientists
  • Specialists in Engineering and Science
  • Doctors
  • Exceptional talents (Culture & Art, Inventors & Innovators, Athletes)

After obtaining their own UAE Residence Visa, all above mentioned persons are entitled to apply for Residence Visas for their spouse and children as well.

UAE Residence Visa for Shareholders and Beneficial Owners of a UAE Free Zone Company

Most foreigners prefer to set up a company in one of the United Arab Emirates’ Free Zones.

A UAE Free Zone Company, for example in Dubai, Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah, serves as a hub for their international business, embedding it in one of the worlds business friendliest environments.

The UAE Free Zones have grown to provide state-of-the-art business environments, excellent business and communication infrastructure as well as high-quality ancillary services, reducing the initial investment need for new companies and startups.

The UAE Free Zones generally offer one to six Residence Visas per UAE Free Zone Company established, not including the Residence Visas for family members of the initial visa holder. The number of UAE Residence Visas per Freezone Company depends on the specific Freezone, the size of office or commercial facilities rented, including shared office options called “Flexi-Desk”, and sometimes on the type of the business.

The right for additional Residence Visas can often been acquired against an additional fee.

Free Zone Companies leasing commercial property such as, for example, warehouses, are eligible for up to dozens of residence visas, also called UAE Employment visas.

Residence Visas are typically issued with a validity of two years and can be renewed without limitation, as long as the approval reasons persist.

UAE Residence Visa for Shareholders of a UAE Mainland Companies

Foreigners who are registering and setting up a UAE Mainland Company are entitled to receive UAE Residence Visas for the shareholders and the management of the company. The number of Residence Visas that can be issued for a company is not limited in general but rather determined by the size of the office rented, the scope of operations and its need for staff. The minimum size of an office is 200 sq. ft. normally entitling for 1 -3 residence visas, depending on the area and Emirate. Residence Visas are issued with a validity of two years and can be renewed without limitation, as long as the criteria for eligibility are met.

UAE Residence Visa for Owners of Freelance Licences in the UAE

Keeping up with global trends and developments, Freelancers are now able to apply for Freelance Licences in the UAE. But only some Freezones in Dubai and in other Freezones in the UAE do offer Freelance Licences. Each Freezone has a different scope of eligible freelance professions, typically ranging from music to writing, acting, computer programming, web design, graphic design, translating, illustrating and similar professions. Applicants may be required to proof their professional qualifications.

Freelance Licences are issued for one year. Licences can be renewed as long as the conditions for issuance are being met.

Once a Freelance Licence has been obtained, it entitles the holder to apply for the UAE Residence Visa, which will be issued for two years.

As with all other UAE Residence Visas, UAE Freelance Licence holders may settle in any of the Emirates, irrespective from which Emirate they received their visa, and are entitled to bring their family members to the UAE as well.

UAE Residence Visa for UAE Investors (min. AED 1.000.000) – Green Visa

Any foreign person who purchases real estate property in the United Arab Emirates for at least AED 1.000.000 (approx. USD 272.500 or EUR 250.000), or who invests the same amount into his or her own company, is entitled to receive a UAE Residence Visa, provided that investment has been realized and that the buyer, in case of investment in real estate, is not benefiting from any instalment plans or loans. Qualifying real estate property are residential properties and/or offices in areas where foreigners are allowed to purchase freehold property. The minimum amount to be invested may be the sum of two properties. More than one buyer may jointly purchase a more expensive property. They will still benefit from UAE Residence Visas as long as each buyer’s stake in the joint property is min. AED 1.000.000.

The construction of the property must be completed at the time of purchase and the property be ready to use. Should one wish to buy a property that has not yet been completed, the Residence Visa will be issued after completion of the property.

Green Visas are issued for five years and can be renewed as long as the real estate property is owned by the Visa holder, or the investment into the Green Visa holder’s company remains in place.

UAE Residence Visas based on real estate property investment do not include the right to work in the UAE, unlike Residence Visas issues based on company registration.

More details about UAE Green Visa can be found on our dedicated post.

UAE Residence Visa for UAE Real Estate Investors (min. AED 2.000.000) – Golden Visa

This category of Residence Visa is similar to the previous one, with the difference that the minimum investment must be min. AED 2.000.000 (approx. USD 1.362.500 or EUR 1.250.000) and the validity of the UAE Residence Visa issued will be ten years. The property must be retained for at least three years. For details about the UAE Golden Visa, kindly refer to our dedicated post.