UAE Golden Visa

The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term renewable residence visa valid for 10 years, granted to investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents, and outstanding students. The UAE levies no personal income tax.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-041 Official sources

Overview

The UAE Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residence permit introduced in 2019 and expanded in 2022. It allows holders to live, work, and study in the UAE without a local sponsor. Unlike standard UAE residence visas (which require an employer or property sponsor), the Golden Visa is self-sponsored and provides long-term stability.

The UAE, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has become a popular destination for Israeli professionals and entrepreneurs, especially since the Abraham Accords normalization in 2020. Direct flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai/Abu Dhabi operate daily, and a growing Israeli business community has established itself in the Emirates.

Key benefits

  • No personal income tax — The UAE has no federal personal income tax. This is the single largest financial benefit for high earners.
  • 10-year renewable visa — Stable long-term residency without annual renewals
  • No local sponsor required — Self-sponsored residency
  • Family inclusion — Spouse, children of any age (if unmarried), and domestic workers are included
  • Business-friendly — Dubai's DIFC and Abu Dhabi's ADGM offer common law commercial zones with 100% foreign ownership
  • 5% VAT — Only indirect tax applicable to most goods and services

Who qualifies

Category 1: Investors

  • Real estate investors: Property valued at AED 2 million (approximately $545,000), must be fully paid (not a mortgage), or property under construction with a developer certified by the relevant authorities
  • Business investors: Minimum AED 2 million investment in an existing or new UAE business

Category 2: Entrepreneurs

  • Founders of existing startups with at least AED 500,000 in annual revenue, with accreditation from a UAE-approved business incubator or accelerator
  • Founders with UAE-registered companies valued at AED 1 million+

Category 3: Specialized Talents

  • Doctors with accreditation from the UAE Ministry of Health
  • Scientists and researchers with accreditation from relevant UAE authorities
  • Creative professionals (arts, culture) recommended by designated UAE bodies
  • Tech professionals (STEM), with specific criteria set by Dubai Future Foundation or Abu Dhabi's ADIO

Category 4: Outstanding Students

  • Students with a GPA of 3.75 or above from UAE-recognized universities
  • Students awarded excellence from UAE-accredited schools

Category 5: Humanitarian Pioneers (added 2022)

Category 6: Frontline Workers (added 2022)

Steps

For property investors:

  1. Purchase property in the UAE valued at AED 2M+ (fully paid, not mortgaged)
  2. Obtain a title deed from the relevant Land Department
  3. Apply for Golden Visa at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or through the relevant emirate authority (GDRFA in Dubai)
  4. Medical fitness test in the UAE
  5. Emirates ID issuance

For specialized talents:

  1. Obtain accreditation or recommendation from the relevant UAE authority (Ministry of Health, Dubai Future Foundation, etc.)
  2. Submit Golden Visa application with accreditation letter
  3. Medical fitness test
  4. Emirates ID issuance

Processing time: 2–6 weeks after submission of a complete application.

Costs

  • Property (if applicable): AED 2 million+
  • Golden Visa application fee: approximately AED 2,800–5,000 (varies by emirate and category)
  • Medical fitness test: AED 700–1,000 per person
  • Emirates ID: AED 300–400 per person
  • Health insurance (required for residency): AED 3,000–8,000/year for basic plan

Tax implications

UAE taxes:

  • No personal income tax
  • Corporate tax: 9% on business profit above AED 375,000/year (effective June 2023)
  • VAT: 5%

Israeli tax implications: Obtaining UAE residency does not automatically disconnect Israeli tax residency. If you move to the UAE and spend most of the year there, you may be able to disconnect from Israeli tax residency, but this requires active steps with the Israeli Tax Authority. The Israel-UAE double tax treaty (signed 2021) provides relief on certain income categories. Consult a cross-border tax advisor.

Path to permanent residency

The UAE does not offer conventional permanent residence or a pathway to citizenship for foreign nationals. The Golden Visa is renewable indefinitely every 10 years, providing effective long-term stability without formal permanent resident status. UAE citizenship was introduced in 2021 for extraordinary cases but is not a standard pathway.

This content is for informational purposes only.