ICP's rule page for the ten-year Golden residence: investors in public investments or real estate (minimum AED 2,000,000 deposit, capital or property value), entrepreneurs (AED 1,000,000 annual SME revenue or approved plan), scientists and specialists, outstanding students, humanitarian pioneers, frontline professionals and exceptional talents, all self-sponsored with automatic renewal.
The ICP Golden Residency page is the federal authority's own statement of who qualifies for the ten-year Golden residence, what each category must show and what the visa gives. It is a guide, not legislation; the legal basis is the Entry and Residence Law and its executive regulations, which this page applies. The residence runs for ten years, renews automatically and needs no sponsor: the page describes it as enabling eligible individuals to obtain long-term residency in the United Arab Emirates for a period of ten years.
The benefits section lists sponsorship of a spouse, children of any age and parents, sponsorship of domestic workers under UAE rules, freedom to live, work, study and invest, a six-month multiple-entry visa for applicants outside the country (renewable for a further six months) and the right of sponsored family members to remain until their permits expire if the holder dies.
The categories and their thresholds are as follows. Investors in public investments need a deposit of at least AED 2,000,000 in an investment fund or national bank, a company or partnership stake of at least AED 2,000,000, or a company paying at least AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes; the capital must be fully owned, not loan-funded, with proof of source. Real estate investors must own one or more UAE properties with a total value of at least AED 2,000,000 registered in their name, with loan financing from an approved local bank allowed, or off-plan units of at least AED 2,000,000 from an approved developer. Entrepreneurs need a UAE-registered SME in an approved field with annual revenues of at least AED 1,000,000, an idea approved by an accredited incubator or authority, or ventures sold for at least AED 7,000,000 in total. Scientists and specialists qualify on a recommendation from the relevant ministry or authority; senior skilled professionals need a UAE work permit, a bachelor's degree, a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000 and a level-one or level-two occupation. Outstanding students need 95% at grade 12 from a UAE school, or a degree from a top-100 world university with a GPA of at least 3.5 within the last two years, or a UAE degree with a GPA of 3.5 (Category A universities) or 3.8 (Category B). Exceptional talents in culture, arts, sport, invention and digital technology qualify on awards, recognition or experience. Humanitarian pioneers need five years' service with an international, regional or non-profit organisation or a donation of at least AED 2,000,000, plus a degree. Health insurance for the applicant and family is required in each case.
The page lists no fees; those are set by Cabinet resolution. It is current as read on 29 October 2026 and ICP updates it without notice, so the figures should be re-checked against the page before a client relies on them.
Foreign nationals seeking a self-sponsored ten-year UAE residence as investors, property owners, entrepreneurs, scientists, specialists, senior professionals, outstanding students, exceptional talents or humanitarian pioneers, and the spouses, children, parents and domestic workers they may sponsor under it.
| Section: What is the UAE Golden Residency? | A long-term residence of ten years, renewed automatically and granted without the need for a sponsor, open to the categories the page lists. |
| Section: Key Benefits | Sponsorship of spouse, children of any age and parents; sponsorship of domestic workers; a six-month multiple-entry visa for applicants abroad, renewable once; family members may stay until their permits expire if the holder dies. |
| Section: Target Categories – Investors in Public Investments or Real Estate | Public investment of at least AED 2,000,000 (fund or bank deposit, company stake, or a company paying AED 250,000 a year in federal tax), fully owned and not loan-funded; or UAE property worth at least AED 2,000,000, including approved off-plan units, with local bank financing allowed. |
| Section: Target Categories – The Entrepreneurs | A UAE-registered SME in an approved field with annual revenues of at least AED 1,000,000, a venture idea approved by an accredited incubator or authority, or founded ventures sold for at least AED 7,000,000 in total. |
| Section: Target Categories – Scientists and Specialists | Scientists, researchers and leading specialists on recommendation of the relevant authority; senior skilled professionals with a valid UAE work permit, a bachelor's degree, a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000 and a level-one or level-two occupation. |
| Section: Target Categories – Outstanding Students | 95% in grade 12 from a licensed UAE school; a top-100 world university degree with GPA 3.5 within two years of graduation; or a UAE degree with GPA 3.5 (Category A) or 3.8 (Category B), all attested. |
| Section: Target Categories – Exceptional Talents and Humanitarian Pioneers | Talents in culture, arts, sport, invention and digital technology qualify on awards, recognition or at least five years' professional experience; humanitarian pioneers need five years with a qualifying organisation or a donation of at least AED 2,000,000, plus a university degree. |
| Section: Key Documents and Requirements | Category-specific evidence: proof of ownership and source of capital or property registration for investors, attested certificates for students, awards or authority recommendations for talents, licence and revenue evidence for entrepreneurs, and valid health insurance for the applicant and family. |
This page is the checklist we qualify a Golden Visa client against before any filing. For property buyers we confirm the AED 2,000,000 value with the title deed or the developer's registration letter and, where there is a mortgage, that the lender is an approved local bank. For founders we test the AED 1,000,000 revenue figure against audited accounts or the incubator approval, and for senior employees we check the AED 30,000 salary and the occupation level on the work permit. We then run the entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and residence stamping, and add the spouse, children and parents in the same file. Because ICP changes the page without notice, we re-read it at the start of every case rather than relying on an earlier copy.
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