The UAE Golden Visa gives eligible investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals long-term residency in the UAE — without the need for a national sponsor and with the flexibility to live, work, and grow a business with greater long-term security. For foreign investors evaluating the UAE as a base of operations or a second home, the Golden Visa is often the deciding factor.
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Unlike standard UAE residency visas, the Golden Visa is designed for extended validity periods, giving holders and their families greater stability to plan long-term — whether that means growing a business, relocating a family, or establishing a permanent base in the UAE. Eligible categories generally include investors, entrepreneurs, specialized professionals, and outstanding students, among others, with specific criteria varying by category.
One of the most direct paths to the 10-year Golden Visa is real estate: buying a property, or a combined portfolio of up to three properties, worth AED 2,000,000 or more in a designated freehold zone qualifies you for a self-sponsored Golden Visa — no employer and no local sponsor required. You can purchase in cash, through a mortgage, or off-plan, though Dubai and Abu Dhabi apply meaningfully different rules for how mortgaged and off-plan properties count toward that threshold.
Getting the calculation wrong is the most common reason property-based applications get delayed or rejected — particularly for financed purchases, where Abu Dhabi counts only your paid-up equity while Dubai counts the full assessed value. Read our complete guide to the Golden Visa through real estate investment for the full breakdown, including worked examples and a document checklist, or talk to our team directly for a free eligibility assessment on your specific property.
Navigating eligibility criteria, documentation, and government coordination for a long-term visa application can be complex, particularly for applicants managing the process from outside the UAE. Our team supports you through:
Many of our Golden Visa clients are foreign nationals who are simultaneously setting up a UAE company with STRATEX — the two processes are often connected, and our team is positioned to manage both in parallel so your business setup and your residency status move forward together, rather than as two disconnected processes with separate points of contact.
Residency applications are personal and high-stakes — for many clients, this is about relocating a family, not just a business decision. We treat every Golden Visa case with the same transparent, four-step process we use across all our services: understanding your specific situation, preparing your case correctly the first time, managing submissions proactively, and remaining available for ongoing support after approval.
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Get Free ConsultationCost varies by eligibility category — an investor application involves different fees and supporting requirements than an entrepreneur or specialized-professional application. STRATEX reviews your category during your free consultation and gives you a clear cost breakdown before you commit to anything.
Processing time depends on your eligibility category and how quickly your supporting documents come together. STRATEX manages liaison with the relevant authorities throughout and gives you a realistic timeline once your specific case has been assessed.
Eligible categories generally include real estate investors, business owners and entrepreneurs meeting certain criteria, specialized professionals in qualifying fields, and outstanding students, among others. Exact thresholds and documentation requirements vary by category, which is exactly what STRATEX's eligibility assessment is for.
Golden Visas are issued for extended, renewable validity periods rather than the shorter terms typical of standard residence visas, with the exact duration depending on your eligibility category. STRATEX confirms the specific validity period that applies to your case during eligibility assessment.
No — that's one of the main advantages of the Golden Visa. Unlike standard UAE residence visas, Golden Visa holders don't need a national or employer sponsor, which gives you more independence over your residency status.
Yes, dependents such as a spouse and children can generally be included under the primary holder's Golden Visa, subject to the specific requirements for dependent applications. STRATEX handles these applications alongside your own so your family's residency moves forward together with yours.