10 Ways to Get UAE Residency in 2026: Who Qualifies, Work Rights, Family Sponsorship and the 180-Day Rule

Two official pages give different lengths for the same UAE visa. The federal portal u.ae lists the Golden Visa for real estate investors at 5 years [1]. GDRFA Dubai, the authority that issues it in Dubai, says the permit for real estate and public investment is valid for 10 years [2]. Anyone buying a AED 2 million property for the visa is relying on one of those two sentences.

UAE residency in 2026 is full of gaps like that one. The routes are easy to list and hard to compare, because the facts that decide whether one suits you sit on separate pages of three authorities: who may work on the permit and for whom, who you can sponsor, how long you can stay abroad, and what happens when it ends. Demand keeps rising. Dubai's population reached 4,807,185 in September 2026, up 226,885 since January [3], and GDRFA Dubai granted 66,078 Golden Visas in the first half of 2026 [4].

This guide maps the ten ways to get UAE residency: what each route demands, what it lets you do, how long it lasts, which routes are oversold, and where the official pages contradict each other, quoted with their dates. It does not rank routes by price. Since 2013, BusinessDubai.ae has set up UAE companies and the visas that come with them, and the only prices below are our own package prices, each with its visa basis stated. This is a guide, not legal or tax advice.

Revised on 5 October 2026. This guide has been rewritten in full against current official sources and replaces the earlier version.

What are the 10 ways to get UAE residency in 2026?

The ten ways to get UAE residency in 2026 are an employment visa, a company owner's investor visa, a free zone freelance permit, the Green Visa, property ownership, a Golden Visa through investment or a startup, a Golden Visa through talent or study, family sponsorship, the retirement visa and the remote work visa. Validity runs from one to ten years.

The table sets all ten side by side on the five things that differ: who qualifies, how long the permit runs, what work it allows, who you can sponsor on it, and whether the 180-day absence rule applies. Every cell comes from a page of u.ae, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), or from our own packages where no official page exists [5][6][1][2][38].

Three cells in that table carry two answers because two official pages give two answers. They are shown as they are published, and a later section sets the contradictions out with dates. Student residence and the Blue Visa also exist and have their own section further down.

If you already know which row is yours and want the documents and sequence checked before you pay a government fee, check your eligibility→

Which UAE residency route fits your situation?

Start from what you already hold. A UAE job offer means an employment visa. Clients in the UAE mean a company of your own. Income from abroad of USD 3,500 a month means the remote work visa. A resident spouse or parent means family sponsorship. Capital of AED 2 million opens the Golden Visa.

Most people qualify for one or two routes and waste time on the others. The table reads from your situation to the route, and gives the condition that most often rules it out.

The row people most often get wrong is the founder's. Residency through a company is the only route here with no salary, income, degree, age or capital test set by the immigration authorities, which is why it is the default for anyone who fits no other row. It is also the only one that comes with a licence to renew, a company to keep alive and tax filings to make, and the company section below prices that.

How does an employment visa work, and what does it tie you to?

An employment residence visa is valid for two years and is renewable, and the employer must apply for it, according to u.ae's work visa page updated on 7 August 2026. GDRFA Dubai gives the same two-year term for private sector permits. The visa is tied to that employer, so it ends when the job ends.

The employer is the sponsor, so the application runs through the employer's file, not yours. In Dubai, GDRFA lists the residence permit for private sector workers at AED 200, plus AED 10 each for the Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams, AED 500 if the status is changed inside the country and AED 20 for delivery, with an expected completion time of 48 hours [7]. Those lines are the employer's to pay. The medical test and Emirates ID follow, as they do on every route.

The cost to you is dependence. Your family's permits hang from yours, and yours hangs from the job. GDRFA Dubai gives private sector permit holders 60 days to stay in the country after the permit expires or is cancelled [7], which is the window to find a new sponsor, change status or leave.

An employee who earns AED 15,000 a month, holds a bachelor's degree and works at skill level 1, 2 or 3 on the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) classification can move to the Green Visa's skilled route and hold the residency personally for five years [8]. The job still needs a UAE employment contract, but losing it no longer cancels the visa on the same day.

Common Mistake: Planning around a three-year employment visa. A press-release claim from March 2025 that the standard work visa was extended to three years is still repeated by setup and recruitment sites, and the previous edition of this guide said "2 to 3 years". The u.ae work visa page, updated on 7 August 2026, says "valid for two years", and GDRFA Dubai's private sector page says two (2) years [5][7]. Date your lease, school fees and family permits on a two-year cycle.

Can you get UAE residency by owning a company?

Yes. A shareholder in a UAE mainland or free zone company can be sponsored by that company on an investor or partner visa, with no salary, degree or age test. BusinessDubai.ae's Dubai packages with one visa cost AED 21,850 at Meydan Free Zone and AED 24,400 on the mainland. An offshore company cannot sponsor a visa.

No official page names this permit separately. The federal pages describe the Green Visa for investors, which needs a share of at least AED 1 million [8], and the Golden Visa, which needs AED 2 million [2]. The ordinary investor visa that comes with a small company is issued under the general residence rules, with the company as sponsor. On our packages it runs two years and renews with the licence [38]. Because nothing official fixes its fee, the honest way to price it is the package it comes in.

Where you form the company changes the price, the visa count and who you can sell to. Our free zone company setup page itemises the Dubai zones on the one-visa price, and our mainland company setup page covers the route for a business that will invoice customers across the UAE. The table gives BusinessDubai.ae's package prices as of October 2026 [38].

The residency is identical across the four rows: one Emirates ID, valid in all seven emirates. If one visa is all you need and no customer requires a Dubai-registered company, the Ajman package is AED 10,250 cheaper than the cheapest Dubai one, and our business setup in Ajman page shows what it includes. Free zones also cap how many visas a licence can carry, which our guide to free zone visa quotas explains, and the document list is in our investor visa requirements guide.

Real Talk: Two Dubai zones now ask for capital before they issue an investor visa. At IFZA and Meydan Free Zone the shareholder must show at least AED 75,000 in a bank account, in the UAE or in the home country [38]. Neither zone publishes this widely, and it is our reported package condition, not a government rule. If you cannot show AED 75,000, price a zone outside Dubai and ask it in writing whether it applies a similar test before you pay.

Quick Math: The licence is the smaller half of the bill. At Meydan Free Zone the first visa adds AED 9,350 to a AED 12,500 licence. On the Dubai mainland it adds AED 6,200 to AED 18,200. At ANC Free Zone in Ajman it adds AED 6,712 to AED 4,888 [38]. A "licence from AED 4,888" advertisement therefore describes less than half of the AED 11,600 you pay to live here on it. Compare zones on the one-visa column.

What the company demands after the visa is issued

A visa company is still a company. It renews its licence every year, registers for corporate tax, where late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty [9], and files a return for each tax period even when no tax is due. GFLO Consultancy, a law firm, wrote in February 2026 that investor and partner visa renewals now draw requests for six months of corporate bank statements and a lease in the company's name, and it reports a minimum balance of AED 50,000 [10]. That is one firm's account and no authority has published the figure. Plan for a company that shows activity.

Why an offshore company does not work

An offshore company, such as a RAK ICC or JAFZA Offshore entity, cannot trade inside the UAE and cannot sponsor a residence visa. If you only need an entity to hold assets or invoice clients abroad, and you already have residency by another route, our offshore company formation page sets out what that structure does. If the point is to live here, you need a free zone or mainland licence.

Is a free zone freelance permit a real route to residency?

A free zone freelance permit is a real route when the permit and the visa are issued in your own name by a zone that runs a freelance programme. GoFreelance in Dubai lists its permit from AED 7,500, before the visa. Dubai Airport Free Zone's Talent Pass is reported at AED 9,500 a year with a three-year visa.

A freelance permit licenses one person for one listed profession, without a company. GoFreelance, run by TECOM Group, lists its permit from AED 7,500 [11], and that figure is the permit only; ask for the price with the establishment card and residence visa before comparing it with anything else. The National reports Dubai Airport Free Zone's Talent Pass at AED 9,500 a year with a freelance licence and a three-year residence visa, for people in arts, media, technology, marketing, culture, education and consultancy [12].

The product sold under the same name is the problem. The Dubai Navigator, a blog written by Lucas Vincent, reported in November 2025 that some providers set up an ordinary company and issue what they sell as a "freelance visa" that is legally an employment visa under the provider's company, leaving the buyer unable to open a business bank account as a self-employed person [13]. The same report said several free zones paused freelance visas in summer 2025. GDRFA's Director General publicly denied a blanket suspension. Both accounts are reports, so ask the zone itself whether it is issuing before you pay.

Common Mistake: Paying for a "freelance visa" without asking whose name appears as the sponsor. On a real freelance permit the zone issues a permit in your name and sponsors the visa under its programme. On the version The Dubai Navigator described in November 2025, the sponsor is the provider's company and you are its employee on paper [13]. Ask for the name of the issuing authority and a sample permit before paying, and read the sponsor line on the entry permit before you travel on it.

A free zone freelance permit also does not qualify you for the Green Visa's self-employed route. GDRFA Dubai asks for a self-employment permit from MOHRE for that [14]. If your work will grow into a team or UAE corporate clients, compare the permit with a licence in our guide to freelance versus company setup in Dubai.

Who qualifies for the Green Visa?

The Green Visa is a five-year, self-sponsored residence visa with three routes. Skilled employees need a UAE contract, a bachelor's degree and AED 15,000 a month. Self-employed applicants need a MOHRE permit and AED 360,000 a year for two years. Investors need a share of at least AED 1,000,000 in a UAE company.

The conditions below are as ICP's Green Residence Guide, updated on 12 September 2026, and GDRFA Dubai's service pages publish them [8][14][6].

All three routes give five years, need no sponsor and allow you to sponsor a spouse, children and first-degree relatives [15]. GDRFA Dubai lists a 180-day grace period after a Green permit expires or is cancelled, three times the 60 days it gives a private sector worker [14][7].

The Green Visa is the route most often recommended to people who cannot use it. AED 360,000 a year for two consecutive years excludes most freelancers in their first years, and a company formed on a AED 21,850 package does not meet the AED 1,000,000 investor test. Our UAE Green Visa guide covers the application for those who clear the bar.

Does buying property get you UAE residency?

Yes, on two different permits. A completed, fully owned home supports a two-year owner permit, and Dubai removed the AED 750,000 minimum value for sole owners in 2026. Property worth AED 2 million supports a Golden Visa, which u.ae lists at 5 years and GDRFA Dubai at 10 years.

The two-year owner permit

GDRFA Dubai's page for a property owner's residence permit asks for a fully constructed, habitable property that is fully owned by the applicant, an ownership certificate from the real estate registration authority, and a monthly income of at least AED 10,000 or proof of financial solvency for the period of residence [16]. ICP's federal page carries the same conditions [6]. The income line is missing from most guides, which describe this permit as needing only a title deed.

On value, Gulf Today reported on 10 June 2026 that Dubai Land Department (DLD) had removed the AED 750,000 minimum for the two-year visa for sole owners, with AED 400,000 per owner where the property is jointly held [17]. Five of the competing guides read for this article still quote AED 750,000 as current. Our UAE property visa guide covers the application through DLD.

The Golden Visa for property

Both official sources agree on the amount, AED 2 million, and disagree on almost everything else.

u.ae's Golden Visa page, updated on 28 July 2026, lists "5 years (real estate investments)" [1]. GDRFA Dubai's service page says the permit for investors, "whether in the real estate or public investments sector", is valid for 10 years, and its conditions refer to "the 10-year residency period" [2]. Property agencies and most guides describe a 10-year visa for a AED 2 million property, which matches GDRFA Dubai and what is widely reported in practice.

On mortgages, ICP's service page for real estate investors lists the condition "the property must be fully owned by the investor" [18]. GDRFA Dubai's page says "mortgaged property is acceptable, and includes all types of properties", with the value certified by a DLD property status statement and a lien placed on the property for the life of the visa [2]. A change allowing mortgaged and off-plan property on its full value was widely reported in February 2026. No official circular for it was found in the research for this guide, so treat it as reported. Our note on the Golden Visa property rule change follows that report.

Real Talk: Do not buy a property for the visa on the strength of a brochure line that says "10-year Golden Visa". Before you sign, ask DLD or GDRFA Dubai, in writing, three things for your exact unit: the validity that will be issued, whether a mortgaged or off-plan title is accepted at its full value, and what the DLD property status statement will show as the value. The valuation on that statement is what GDRFA Dubai's page says counts [2]. A reply costs nothing and a wrong assumption costs AED 2 million of tied-up capital.

Quick Math: GDRFA Dubai's page says that where the ownership is a share in a joint property, "the value of the share must not be less than AED 2 million" [2]. Two partners buying a AED 3.6 million villa in equal shares hold AED 1.8 million each, and neither qualifies. The same two people need a AED 4 million property, or one of them must hold a share worth AED 2 million. Each could still apply for the two-year owner permit, where the reported joint-owner minimum is AED 400,000 each [17].

How do investors and founders qualify for a Golden Visa?

An investor qualifies for a 10-year Golden Visa with a company share worth at least AED 2 million, a AED 2 million deposit in a UAE bank frozen for at least two years, or AED 250,000 a year in tax paid. Founders qualify through a nominated startup, at 5 years per u.ae and 10 per ICP and GDRFA Dubai.

GDRFA Dubai's investor page lists four ways in [2]. The table shows each with the proof the page asks for.

The permit fee on that page is AED 1,100, plus AED 10 each in Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams, AED 500 inside the country and AED 20 delivery, with an expected completion time of five days [2]. The fee is small beside the AED 2 million that stays locked for the term.

The company-share way matters for anyone already on a company owner visa. A share is measured as your part of the company's assets in an audited report, so paid-up capital on a licence does not prove it. A founder whose company has grown to that size can move from a two-year investor visa to a ten-year one without changing the business.

Founders without AED 2 million have the entrepreneur category, and here the pages split. u.ae lists entrepreneurs at 5 years [1]. ICP's entrepreneur service page says 10, for the owner of a small or medium business with annual revenue of at least AED 1,000,000, a founder whose idea is approved by an accredited incubator, the Ministry of Economy or a local authority, or a founder who sold ventures for at least AED 7,000,000 [19]. GDRFA Dubai also says 10 years, requires a nomination letter from Dubai Future Foundation, and lists AED 1 million of annual income for a registered project, AED 2 million for an incubator-backed one, or a sale of at least AED 7 million [20]. In Dubai the application starts with the nomination. Salary routes and the full document list are in our Golden Visa rules and eligibility guide, and what the authority re-checks at the end of the term is in our Golden Visa renewal guide.

Which professionals and students qualify for a Golden Visa?

u.ae gives a 10-year Golden Visa to people of exceptional talent: doctors, scientists, inventors, creatives, executives, athletes, PhD holders and engineering specialists, each with its own proof. Top students also qualify. u.ae gives high school achievers 5 years and top university graduates 10, while GDRFA Dubai gives 10 years to both.

The federal list on u.ae has had the same five groups through its 28 July 2026 update: investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents and specialists, outstanding students, and humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes [1]. The page says the requirements vary by sub-category, with recommendation letters, experience and accredited degrees among them, and it publishes no single test.

The "new Golden Visa categories" announced since late 2024 are nomination programmes run by emirate bodies that feed those five groups. Gulf News lists them: Dubai Health nurses with more than 15 years of service, announced on 12 May 2025; private school, university and early-years educators nominated through the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) from October 2024; content creators through Creators HQ from January 2025; and gaming professionals accredited by Dubai Culture [21]. If you fall in one of those groups, the body to approach is the nominating one. Two other labels in circulation, the AI specialist visa and the Silver Visa, do not appear among the categories on the federal pages read for this guide; our articles on the AI specialist visa and the UAE Silver Visa describe what has been reported under each name.

For students, the two pages differ on both length and grades [1][22].

The previous edition of this guide gave a single "3.8 GPA" bar. GDRFA Dubai publishes two, and the lower one applies to the higher-rated universities. The two-year window after graduation is the condition people miss, because it runs out while a graduate is still deciding where to work.

Who can you sponsor, and what happens to their visas if yours ends?

A UAE resident earning at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, can sponsor a spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 and children with special needs, according to u.ae's page updated on 28 September 2026. Their permits are linked to the sponsor's and must be cancelled if the sponsor's is cancelled.

The income rule is the same on u.ae, ICP and GDRFA Dubai [15][6][23]. ICP adds that housing must be adequate for the family, that kinship must be proved, and that the family's residence "matches the sponsor's permit and cannot exceed it" [6]. So a two-year employee sponsors for two years and a Golden Visa holder for ten. The age rule comes from Article 54 of Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022: sons until 25, unmarried daughters with no age limit [24]. Our guide to family sponsorship to age 25 covers a son who is at university.

Company owners sponsor on documents, not a salary certificate. GDRFA Dubai's family entry visa page lists among its conditions that "the partner's share must be at least 48 thousand Dirhams, as stated in the partnership agreement" [23]. Check how your share is written in the company documents before the family application, not after.

Parents are where the published figures run out. u.ae's current page gives no salary for sponsoring parents. The figure agents and guides quote is AED 20,000 a month, and it does not appear on the u.ae, ICP or GDRFA Dubai pages read for this guide. GDRFA Dubai's service for humanitarian cases lists, for sponsoring parents, a salary certificate or contract showing at least AED 10,000, an attested tenancy contract and three months of bank statements [25]. Get the figure for your case from GDRFA or ICP before you promise your parents a date. The documents and steps for a spouse and children are in our family visa requirements guide.

A dependant's permit does not carry a right to work. GDRFA Dubai's own service name for it is an "entry visa for residence without work" [23], so a sponsored spouse who takes a job needs a work permit through the employer.

When the sponsor's visa is cancelled, the dependants' visas have to be cancelled too. u.ae says dependants get a six-month grace period from the date of expiry or cancellation to obtain a new residence permit, and that a sponsor who fails to renew or cancel a dependant's visa can be fined [15]. Six months is long enough to move the family under the other parent or onto a new sponsor, provided someone starts the process.

What does the UAE retirement visa require?

The UAE retirement visa runs five years. ICP asks for 15 years of service or age 55, plus property worth AED 1 million, a deposit of AED 1 million, or annual income of AED 240,000. GDRFA Dubai's page asks for both the service and the age, and for property together with a deposit, or the income.

The two official pages use the same figures and join them differently [6][26]. The table shows the wording.

On the ICP wording a 56-year-old with a AED 1 million apartment qualifies on the property alone. On the GDRFA Dubai wording the same person needs 15 years of documented service and a AED 1 million deposit beside the property. The previous edition of this guide followed the Dubai wording without saying so and added an income figure of AED 180,000 a year, which is on neither page. AED 240,000 a year is AED 20,000 a month, the same monthly figure the Cabinet announced when it adopted the retiree system in September 2018 [27].

Pro Tip: If you can show income of AED 240,000 a year, apply on the income test. It is the one line that reads the same on the ICP page and the GDRFA Dubai page, so it does not depend on whether "or" or "and" is applied to your property and deposit [6][26]. Bring six months of bank statements and a letter from the body that pays the income, which is what GDRFA Dubai lists for a pensioner with an annual income.

Neither page says whether a retirement visa holder may take a job or sponsor relatives. Guides commonly say paid employment is not allowed. Ask GDRFA or ICP if either matters to you. GDRFA Dubai's fee lines are AED 200 for the permit, AED 10 each in Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams, AED 500 inside the country and AED 20 delivery, with a note giving AED 2,280 in residence fees and AED 575 for the identity card on the five-year term [26]. Our UAE retirement visa guide follows the application step by step.

Can you live in the UAE on a remote work visa?

Yes, for one year at a time. The remote work visa, officially the residence visa for working outside the UAE, is self-sponsored and requires a salary of at least USD 3,500 a month from an employer or business outside the UAE, proof of that work and health insurance. It does not cover work for UAE clients.

u.ae's page, updated on 7 August 2026, sets the conditions: work outside the UAE, USD 3,500 a month or the equivalent, health insurance and a medical fitness result, with applications through ICP or GDRFA Dubai [28]. GDRFA Dubai adds that the holder can sponsor family for the same period and lists the visa fee at AED 200 plus VAT [29]. Earlier editions of this guide quoted AED 1,535 to 2,725 for this visa. That figure could not be traced to any official page. Built from the fee lines GDRFA and ICP publish, the government fees come to about AED 670 if you apply from abroad, and about AED 1,220 to 2,770 for the first year with the medical test and insurance. The line-by-line build is in our cheapest residency visa guide.

Common Mistake: Taking a UAE client on a remote work visa. The permit is issued against work for an employer or business outside the country [28], and ManpowerGroup UAE's July 2026 guidance says that signing a UAE contract or being paid by a UAE entity needs a different visa and work permit [30]. One retainer from a Dubai agency is enough to put you outside the permit. If local clients are likely within the year, start on a company licence, where route 2 prices the first visa.

The same guidance makes a tax point that surprises people: the UAE does not tax the salary, but your home country may still treat you as its tax resident [30]. Our Dubai digital nomad visa guide covers living here on this permit, and if you are tempted to skip the visa, read what the rules say about working remotely on a tourist visa first.

What about student residence and the Blue Visa?

Two more routes exist beside the ten. A student residence permit is sponsored by a resident parent or the university, and ICP sets its length by the study programme, with 180 days to remain afterwards. The Blue Visa is a 10-year permit for exceptional contribution to environmental protection, open since 13 April 2026.

u.ae's page on studying in the UAE, updated on 28 September 2026, says a student is sponsored either by a parent who is resident or by the accredited university or college, and must submit a certificate from the institution stating how long the study lasts [31]. No official page gives a fixed term in years. ICP says "the residence duration is determined by the study program, and the student is allowed to remain in the UAE for 180 days after the completion of the study period" [6]. Those 180 days are when a graduate either finds an employer, applies for a graduate Golden Visa or forms a company, and our student to entrepreneur visa guide covers the last of those.

The Blue Visa is for people who have made an exceptional contribution to protecting the environment and to sustainability, inside or outside the UAE: members of international organisations and non-governmental bodies, winners of global awards, and distinguished activists and researchers. It runs 10 years and is applied for through ICP or by nomination from a competent UAE authority [32]. Fragomen reported that applications opened through ICP on 13 April 2026 and that no fee schedule had been published [33]. It is a recognition route with no income or investment test to plan around, and our Blue Visa eligibility guide lists who has been reported as qualifying.

Where do the official pages on UAE residency contradict each other?

In at least five places. u.ae, ICP and GDRFA Dubai disagree on how long a property Golden Visa lasts, how long a founder's lasts, how long a high school achiever's lasts, whether a mortgaged property counts, and whether the retirement visa's property and deposit tests are alternatives or both required.

The table quotes each page with the date it carries. ICP's Golden Visa service pages and GDRFA Dubai's service pages show no content date of their own; both were read on 5 October 2026.

One likely explanation is that u.ae's overview is a federal summary and GDRFA Dubai's pages describe how Dubai applies the rules, but neither page says so. Where you will apply decides which wording you meet. A Dubai property and a Dubai address mean GDRFA Dubai and DLD. The other six emirates apply through ICP.

A competitor guide that states one of these figures with confidence has picked a page without telling you. For a decision that ties up capital or moves a family, get the answer for your case from the issuing authority.

How long can you stay outside the UAE before a residence visa lapses?

More than 180 continuous days outside the UAE automatically nullifies a standard residence visa, according to u.ae's general provisions page updated on 28 September 2026. Golden Visa holders are exempt: GDRFA Dubai's Golden pages say the permit is void only if it expires while the holder is outside the country.

The rule on u.ae reads: "if an expatriate resident lives outside the UAE for more than 180 days continuously, his/her residence visa will be nullified automatically" [34]. The clock counts continuous days, so one entry resets it.

The same page lists who is exempt. The list includes the foreign wife of an Emirati, people sent abroad for medical treatment with a report, diplomatic staff and their families, public sector employees on courses, students studying abroad, "investors holding valid visas", and anyone excluded by an ICP decision [34]. Competitor guides each give a different version of this list. The one above is the official one.

For Golden Visas there are two official statements. u.ae's Golden Visa page lists among the benefits the ability to stay outside the UAE for more than the usual six months [1]. GDRFA Dubai's Golden pages for investors and for entrepreneurs each say: "Golden Residence Permit holders are exempt from the 180-day" rule, "as the residency is considered void only if it expires outside the country" [2][20].

Three points are less settled. The phrase "investors holding valid visas" is not defined on the page, so whether a two-year investor visa on a small free zone company falls under it is a question for the authority that issued yours. The Green Visa is not on the exemption list, although the same page says Golden and Green holders do not need the re-entry permit. And the Blue Visa page says nothing about absence [32].

If a standard visa does lapse abroad, u.ae describes a re-entry permit: you apply from outside the country after the 180 days with a valid reason, pay a fine of AED 100 for every 30 days spent outside beyond the limit, and enter within 30 days of approval [34].

Which UAE residency routes are oversold?

Four are sold harder than they deserve: the freelance "visa" that is an employment visa under the provider's company, the remote work visa bought by people with UAE clients, property bought jointly where each share is under AED 2 million, and offshore companies sold as if they carried a visa. They carry none.

The first three fail in the same way. The reader qualifies for the product as described and then finds that the permit does not allow what they bought it for. The freelancer cannot open a business account because the sponsor is someone else's company [13]. The remote worker cannot invoice the Dubai client [30]. The co-owners each hold a share under the AED 2 million that GDRFA Dubai's page requires of a share in joint property [2]. The fourth is simpler: an offshore company cannot sponsor a visa at all [38].

Two routes are oversold in a milder way. The Green Visa is offered as the freelancer's answer when its self-employed route needs AED 360,000 a year for two years and a MOHRE permit [14]. And the company route is advertised on its licence-only price, when the visa adds AED 6,712 to AED 9,350 to that figure on our packages [38] and the company then has to be renewed and kept active every year.

Real Talk: A Golden Visa adds little for someone whose residency is already secure. It earns its place in three cases: you spend more than 180 days a year abroad and want the exemption GDRFA Dubai's pages describe [2]; you want your family's ten-year permits to stop depending on a job; or you hold the AED 2 million asset anyway. If none applies, a two-year visa renewed on time gives you the same Emirates ID.

What does a UAE residence visa give you, and what does it not?

A UAE residence visa gives you an Emirates ID and the legal right to live in the country for the permit's term. It does not give citizenship or permanent residency, and it does not make you a UAE tax resident. Tax residency needs 183 days of presence, or 90 days with a home or work here.

No residence visa converts into citizenship after a number of years, and the UAE has no permanent residency status. The Golden Visa is a ten-year permit that can be renewed while the conditions are still met. Citizenship is granted by nomination: the 2021 change reported by Al Arabiya allows the Cabinet and the rulers' courts to nominate selected investors, doctors, scientists, engineers, inventors and artists [35]. Nothing in that process is triggered by holding any of the ten routes.

Tax residency is a separate test. Under Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022, in force since 1 March 2023, an individual is a UAE tax resident after 183 days of physical presence in a 12-month period. The shorter route is 90 days of presence, for a UAE or GCC national or the holder of a valid residence permit, who also has a permanent place of residence in the UAE or carries on employment or business here [36].

A Golden Visa holder who visits for three weeks a year keeps the visa and is not a UAE tax resident. A remote worker with a rented flat and 100 days here is one. Whether your home country accepts either position is its decision, and the certificate process is in our UAE tax residency certificate guide.

What steps and costs are the same on every route?

Every route ends the same way: a medical fitness test for anyone aged 18 or over, Emirates ID biometrics, and the residence permit, all completed within 60 days of entering the UAE. ICP charges AED 100 per year of residence plus a AED 100 service fee for the Emirates ID.

The 60 days come from ICP's residence permit page: the stay must not exceed 60 days from the date of entry for the purpose of completing the residence procedures, and overstay fines apply after that [6]. Someone already in the country on another status can switch without leaving through a change of status, which ICP lists at AED 500 [6].

The table gives the lines that recur, from the official fee pages [6][37][7][2].

Those lines are small on every route. What differs is the qualifying condition and the agent's margin, and our cheapest residency visa guide, linked in the remote work section, adds each route up. The medical test and biometrics are covered in our visa medical and Emirates ID guide.

Pro Tip: Count the 60 days from the date you enter, not from the date the entry permit was issued, and book the medical test in the first week. The test result and the Emirates ID biometrics both have to be in the file before the residence permit is issued, and ICP applies the overstay fine of AED 50 a day once the 60 days pass [6]. People who lose the window usually lost it waiting for an attested document they could have prepared before travelling.

For company owners the same sequence repeats for every employee and dependant, at every renewal. Our post-setup services team runs the establishment card, entry permits, medical appointments, Emirates ID and renewals as one file, so a visa does not lapse because a licence renewal was a week late.

What happens when a UAE residence visa is cancelled or expires?

After a UAE residence visa is cancelled or expires, you have a grace period to leave, change status or find a new sponsor. u.ae says it reaches up to six months depending on category. GDRFA Dubai lists 60 days for private sector workers and retirees and 180 days for Green Visa holders.

No official page publishes one table of grace periods, and the four-tier version on consultancy sites (30, 60, 90 and 180 days) has no official source that could be found. The table below holds only what the official pages state [34][7][26][14][15][6].

Guides that say "30 days for everyone" are quoting an older rule, and the previous edition of this guide did. If your category is not in the table, the period is whatever the cancellation paper states, so read it on the day you receive it.

Once the grace period ends, ICP applies a fine of AED 50 for each day of overstay [6]. An overstay record also follows you into the next application. If you are leaving for good, cancel the visa. The steps are in our visa cancellation guide, and how fines are calculated and settled is in our overstay fines guide.

Real Client Stories

These are composite examples built from the situations people choosing a UAE residency route most often face. Names and details are illustrative, and the only figures used are published rules, advertised market prices and BusinessDubai.ae's package prices.

The joint title that fell short

Two business partners bought a Dubai villa together in equal shares, expecting a Golden Visa each. Its value on the DLD statement was above AED 2 million, and the agent's brochure said that was the threshold. GDRFA Dubai's page says that where ownership is a share in a joint property, the share itself must be worth at least AED 2 million. Each held half, so neither qualified. Both could still apply for the two-year owner permit, where the reported minimum for joint owners is AED 400,000 each, with the AED 10,000 monthly income that permit asks for.

Lesson: the threshold is measured on your share, so check the title structure before the purchase.

The freelance visa with another company's name on it

A designer paid a provider for a "freelance visa" so she could invoice agencies in Dubai. The entry permit named the provider's company as sponsor, the arrangement The Dubai Navigator reported in November 2025. On paper she was that company's employee, with no licence of her own to open a business account on. She cancelled and formed her own free zone company at ANC Free Zone in Ajman for AED 11,600 with one visa, BusinessDubai.ae's package price, against AED 21,850 at Meydan Free Zone in Dubai. Her clients did not need a Dubai-registered supplier.

Lesson: read the sponsor line before you travel on the permit.

The retiree who read one page

A 57-year-old planned to retire in Dubai on a paid-off apartment worth more than AED 1 million and a pension below AED 240,000 a year. He had read ICP's federal page, where property "or" a deposit is enough. GDRFA Dubai's page, which governs a Dubai application, asks for the property "and" a deposit of AED 1,000,000, plus 15 years of service, or else the income. He could not meet the income test and had not planned to move a deposit. He put the question to GDRFA Dubai before shipping anything.

Lesson: read the page of the authority that will issue your permit, not the summary.

Choose your UAE residency route the right way

Three decisions carry most of the weight. First, match the route to what you already hold, whether that is a job offer, income from abroad, a resident relative or capital, before you look at a price. Second, check what the permit lets you do, because the remote work visa, the dependant's permit and a provider's "freelance visa" each stop short of work people assume they cover. Third, where two official pages disagree, as they do on property, founders, students and retirement, get the answer for your case from the authority that will issue the permit.

If your route is a company, that is the part we do. BusinessDubai.ae has completed 700+ company registrations across the UAE, with itemised pricing and no hidden fees. We will price a free zone company setup against a mainland company setup on the one-visa figure, tell you if a zone will ask for capital proof before the investor visa, and keep the visas, Emirates IDs and renewals current through our post-setup services team. If your route is not a company, we will say so.

Talk to a setup expert→

Frequently Asked Questions

How many ways are there to get UAE residency in 2026?

Ten main routes: employment, company ownership, a free zone freelance permit, the Green Visa, property, a Golden Visa through investment or a startup, a Golden Visa through talent or study, family sponsorship, retirement and remote work. Student residence and the Blue Visa exist beside them.

Can I get UAE residency without a job?

Yes. A company owner's investor visa, the remote work visa, a property owner permit, the retirement visa, family sponsorship and the Golden Visa all work without a UAE employer. The remote work visa needs USD 3,500 a month from abroad, and the two-year property permit needs AED 10,000 of monthly income or proof of solvency.

Do I need a sponsor for a UAE residence visa?

Not on every route. The Green Visa, Golden Visa, remote work visa, retirement visa and property permits are self-sponsored. An employment visa is sponsored by the employer, a dependant's visa by a resident relative, a student permit by a parent or the university, and a company owner's visa by the owner's own company.

How long is a UAE employment visa valid?

Two years. u.ae's work visa page, updated on 7 August 2026, says the visa is valid for two years and renewable, and GDRFA Dubai's private sector permit page gives the same term. Claims of a three-year standard work visa trace to a March 2025 press release and are not on either page.

Does a UAE residence visa lead to citizenship or a passport?

No. No residence visa, including the ten-year Golden Visa, converts into citizenship after any number of years. Citizenship is granted by nomination to selected investors, doctors, scientists, engineers, inventors and artists under a change announced in January 2021.

Can I get permanent residency in the UAE?

The UAE has no permanent residency status. The longest permits are the ten-year Golden Visa and Blue Visa, which are renewable while the holder still meets the conditions. A guide that calls the Golden Visa "permanent residency" is describing a fixed-term permit.

Is the Golden Visa for property 5 years or 10 years?

Both figures are official. u.ae's Golden Visa page, updated on 28 July 2026, lists real estate investments at 5 years. GDRFA Dubai's service page says the permit for real estate and public investment is valid for 10 years. Ask DLD or GDRFA Dubai in writing which validity your purchase will receive.

Can I get a Golden Visa with a mortgaged property?

It depends on which page is applied. ICP's service page says the property must be fully owned by the investor. GDRFA Dubai's page says mortgaged property is acceptable, with the value certified by a DLD property status statement of at least AED 2 million. Confirm with DLD before buying.

Do two people who buy a property together both get a Golden Visa?

Only if each share is worth at least AED 2 million. GDRFA Dubai's page says that where ownership is a share in a joint property, the value of the share must not be less than AED 2 million. Two equal owners therefore need a property worth AED 4 million.

Is the AED 750,000 minimum for the Dubai property visa still in force?

No, according to Gulf Today's report of 10 June 2026. Dubai Land Department removed the minimum value for the two-year property visa for sole owners, and joint owners need AED 400,000 each. The applicant still needs a completed, fully owned property and a monthly income of AED 10,000 or proof of solvency.

Are Golden Visa holders exempt from the 180-day rule?

Yes, on GDRFA Dubai's wording. Its Golden residence pages say holders are exempt from the 180-day rule because the permit is void only if it expires while the holder is outside the country, and u.ae lists staying abroad for more than six months as a Golden Visa benefit.

How long can I stay outside the UAE on a normal residence visa?

Up to 180 continuous days. u.ae's general provisions page, updated on 28 September 2026, says the visa is nullified automatically after more than 180 days outside the country. One entry restarts the count, and a re-entry permit exists for a visa that has already lapsed, at AED 100 per 30 days beyond the limit.

Can an offshore company give me a UAE residence visa?

No. An offshore company cannot trade inside the UAE and cannot sponsor a residence visa. A visa through a company needs a free zone or mainland licence, which costs AED 21,850 with one visa at Meydan Free Zone in Dubai or AED 11,600 at ANC Free Zone in Ajman on BusinessDubai.ae's packages.

How much does residency through a company cost?

On BusinessDubai.ae's October 2026 prices, a Dubai free zone licence with one residence visa is AED 21,850 at Meydan Free Zone and AED 22,200 at IFZA, a partner price. The Dubai mainland package with one visa is AED 24,400. Outside Dubai, ANC Free Zone in Ajman is AED 11,600 with one visa.

Do I have to show capital to get an investor visa?

At two Dubai zones, yes. IFZA and Meydan Free Zone ask the shareholder to show at least AED 75,000 in a bank account, in the UAE or the home country, before an investor visa. That is BusinessDubai.ae's reported package condition for those zones and is not a published government rule.

Is a freelance visa the same as an employment visa?

It should not be. A freelance permit is issued in your own name by a free zone that runs a freelance programme. The Dubai Navigator reported in November 2025 that some providers sell an employment visa under their own company as a "freelance visa". Check the sponsor's name on the permit.

What is the difference between the Green Visa and a free zone freelance permit?

The Green Visa is a five-year federal residence visa that needs a MOHRE self-employment permit, a degree or diploma and AED 360,000 a year for two years. A free zone freelance permit is a licence from one zone with its own visa and no federal income test. The free zone permit does not qualify you for the Green Visa.

What salary do I need to sponsor my wife and children in the UAE?

AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. The figure is the same on u.ae, ICP and GDRFA Dubai as of October 2026. ICP also requires housing adequate for the family and proof of kinship, which means an attested marriage certificate and birth certificates.

Can I sponsor my parents on a UAE residence visa?

Yes, but no official page read for this guide publishes a single salary for it. Guides quote AED 20,000 a month. GDRFA Dubai's humanitarian cases service lists a contract or salary certificate of at least AED 10,000, an attested tenancy contract and three months of bank statements. Confirm the figure with GDRFA or ICP.

Until what age can I sponsor my son or daughter?

A son until he turns 25, and an unmarried daughter at any age, under Article 54 of Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022. u.ae and ICP both list sons under 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs among the family members a resident may sponsor.

What happens to my family's visas if I lose my job?

Their permits are linked to yours and have to be cancelled when yours is. u.ae's family page, updated on 28 September 2026, gives dependants a six-month grace period from expiry or cancellation to obtain a new residence permit, for example under the other parent or a new employer's sponsorship.

Can I work on a family visa in the UAE?

Not on the dependant's permit alone. GDRFA Dubai's name for it is an entry visa for "residence without work". A sponsored spouse or adult child who takes a job needs a work permit arranged by the employer, and the residence can stay under the family sponsor.

What is the income requirement for the UAE retirement visa?

AED 240,000 a year, which is AED 20,000 a month, on both the ICP page and the GDRFA Dubai page, with six months of bank statements. The AED 180,000 a year figure in older guides is on neither page. The alternative is a property or deposit test of AED 1 million.

Does the retirement visa need property and savings, or only one?

The two official pages differ. ICP's federal page says property worth at least AED 1 million or a deposit of the same value. GDRFA Dubai's page says property of AED 1,000,000 and a deposit of AED 1,000,000. Both accept annual income of AED 240,000 in their place.

What is the minimum income for the UAE remote work visa?

USD 3,500 a month, or the equivalent in another currency, from an employer or business outside the UAE, according to u.ae's page updated on 7 August 2026. AED figures in other guides are conversions of that amount, and the USD 5,000 figure still on some pages is not on the official page.

Can I take UAE clients on a remote work visa?

No. The visa is issued for work for an employer or business outside the UAE. ManpowerGroup UAE's July 2026 guidance says signing a UAE contract or being paid by a UAE entity needs a different visa and work permit. A free zone or mainland company licence is the usual answer.

Does a UAE residence visa make me a UAE tax resident?

Not by itself. Under Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022 you are a tax resident after 183 days in the UAE in a 12-month period, or after 90 days if you hold a residence permit and also have a permanent home here or work or run a business here.

What is the Blue Visa?

The Blue Visa is a 10-year UAE residence permit for people who have made an exceptional contribution to environmental protection and sustainability. Applications opened through ICP on 13 April 2026, according to Fragomen, either directly or by nomination from a UAE authority. No fee schedule had been published at that date.

How long does a student residence visa last?

For the length of the course. ICP says the residence duration is determined by the study programme and that the student may remain for 180 days after it ends. A resident parent or the accredited university sponsors the student, and u.ae gives no fixed term in years.

What is the grace period after a UAE visa is cancelled?

It depends on the category. u.ae says up to six months. GDRFA Dubai lists 60 days for private sector workers and retirees and 180 days for Green Visa holders, and u.ae gives dependants six months. After the period ends the fine is AED 50 a day.

How soon after arriving must I finish my residence visa?

Within 60 days of entering the UAE. ICP's residence permit page says the stay to complete the residence procedures must not exceed 60 days from the date of entry, after which overstay fines apply. The medical test and Emirates ID biometrics both fall inside that window.

Can I switch from one residence visa to another without leaving the UAE?

Yes, in most cases. ICP lists a change of status inside the country at AED 500, applied for after the previous permit is cancelled and the new visa is issued. Any fines on the old permit have to be settled first.

Why do guides give different rules for the same UAE visa?

Partly because the official pages do. u.ae, ICP and GDRFA Dubai give different validity periods for three Golden Visa categories and join the retirement visa's conditions differently. Guides also keep repeating figures that have been withdrawn, such as the AED 750,000 property minimum.

References

[1] u.ae, the UAE Government portal. Golden visa (updated 28 July 2026): the five categories, 10 years for public investments with AED 2 million or AED 250,000 in annual tax, 5 years for real estate investments, 5 years for entrepreneurs, 10 years for exceptional talents, 5 or 10 years for outstanding students, and the benefit of staying outside the UAE for more than six months. u.ae Golden visa

[2] GDRFA Dubai. Issuing a golden residence permit (investors), read 5 October 2026: 10-year validity for real estate and public investment; company share, deposit, tax and real estate conditions; mortgaged property accepted; a joint share of at least AED 2 million; DLD property status statement and lien; the AED 1,100 permit fee and additions; five-day completion; exemption from the 180-day rule. GDRFA golden residence, investors

[3] Gulf News, 29 September 2026, reporting Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment figures: Dubai population of 4,807,185, up 226,885 since the start of 2026. Gulf News Dubai population

[4] Gulf News, 15 July 2026, reporting GDRFA Dubai figures: 66,078 Golden Visas granted in Dubai in the first half of 2026. Gulf News Golden Visas H1 2026

[5] u.ae, the UAE Government portal. Residence visa for working in the UAE (updated 7 August 2026): the employer applies; valid for two years and renewable. u.ae work visa

[6] Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Issuing Residency Permit (page stamped 11 December 2024, read 5 October 2026): conditions for retirees, property owners, family members, Green investors and students; the 60-day completion rule; the AED 50 daily overstay fine; application, issuance, smart service and change of status fees. ICP residency permit

[7] GDRFA Dubai. Issuing residence permits for the private sector, read 5 October 2026: two-year renewable term, the AED 200 permit fee and additions, 48-hour completion and the 60-day grace period. GDRFA private sector permit

[8] Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Green Residence Guide (updated 12 September 2026): the skilled employee, self-employed and investor routes and their conditions, five-year validity and no sponsor. ICP Green Residence Guide

[9] Federal Tax Authority. Corporate tax registration and the AED 10,000 penalty for late registration. tax.gov.ae

[10] GFLO Consultancy, 25 February 2026. UAE investor and partner visa renewal in 2026: the firm's account of bank statement, lease and minimum balance checks at renewal. GFLO investor visa renewal

[11] GoFreelance (TECOM Group). Dubai freelance permit and base pricing. gofreelance.ae

[12] The National, first published 10 July 2023 and updated 12 August 2026. Dubai Airport Free Zone Talent Pass: AED 9,500 a year, freelance licence, three-year residence visa and eligible sectors. The National Talent Pass

[13] The Dubai Navigator (Lucas Vincent), 23 November 2025. A named report, not an official source, of "freelance visas" issued as employment visas under a provider's company and of paused freelance visa issuance in summer 2025. The Dubai Navigator

[14] GDRFA Dubai. Issuing a green residence permit (self-employment): the MOHRE self-employment permit, degree or diploma, AED 360,000 annual income for two years or proof of solvency, and the 180-day grace period. GDRFA Green self-employment

[15] u.ae, the UAE Government portal. Residence visa for families of employees (updated 28 September 2026): the AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation rule, who may be sponsored, first-degree relatives for Green Visa holders, linked cancellation and the six-month grace period for dependants. u.ae family visa

[16] GDRFA Dubai. Issuance of a residence permit for the owner of a property, read 5 October 2026: fully constructed, fully owned and habitable property, the AED 10,000 monthly income or solvency condition, and the fee lines. GDRFA property owner permit

[17] Gulf Today, 10 June 2026. Dubai removes minimum property value requirement for obtaining two-year investor visa: no minimum for sole owners, AED 400,000 per owner for joint ownership. Gulf Today property visa

[18] Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Golden Residency entry permit for real estate investors, read 5 October 2026: the "fully owned by the investor" condition and the AED 2,000,000 registration letter. ICP Golden Residency, real estate

[19] Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Golden Residency entry permit for entrepreneurs, read 5 October 2026: 10-year term and the three qualifying routes. ICP Golden Residency, entrepreneurs

[20] GDRFA Dubai. Issuing a golden residence permit (entrepreneurs), read 5 October 2026: 10-year term, Dubai Future Foundation nomination, the income and sale thresholds, and the 180-day exemption. GDRFA golden residence, entrepreneurs

[21] Gulf News. UAE Golden Visa expansion: the emirate-level nomination programmes for nurses, educators, content creators and gaming professionals. Gulf News Golden Visa expansion

[22] GDRFA Dubai. Issuing a golden residence permit (top students, graduates), read 5 October 2026: 10-year term, the 95% high school grade, the GPA 3.5 and 3.8 bands and the two-year window. GDRFA golden residence, students

[23] GDRFA Dubai. Issuing an entry visa for residence without work (family), read 5 October 2026: the salary rule, sons to age 25 and the AED 48,000 partner share condition. GDRFA family entry visa

[24] Khaleej Times, 16 February 2025, quoting Article 54 of Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022: sons until 25 and unmarried daughters. Khaleej Times sponsorship ages

[25] GDRFA Dubai. Issuance of a residence permit for humanitarian cases, read 5 October 2026: documents for sponsoring parents, including a minimum salary of AED 10,000. GDRFA humanitarian cases

[26] GDRFA Dubai. Issuing a residence permit for the retired foreigner, read 5 October 2026: 15 years of service and age 55, property and deposit or AED 240,000 income, mortgaged deeds, five-year term, fee lines and the 60-day grace period. GDRFA retiree permit

[27] Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), media centre, 16 September 2018. The Cabinet adopts a long-term residency visa system for retirees, including income of AED 20,000 a month. ICP 2018 retiree announcement

[28] u.ae, the UAE Government portal. Residence visa for working outside the UAE (updated 7 August 2026): USD 3,500 a month, proof of work abroad, health insurance, one year, self-sponsored. u.ae remote work visa

[29] GDRFA Dubai. Visa Issuance (Virtual Work): the AED 200 plus VAT fee and family sponsorship for the same period. GDRFA Virtual Work visa

[30] ManpowerGroup UAE, July 2026. Working from Dubai for an overseas employer: the restriction to work outside the UAE and the home-country tax point. ManpowerGroup UAE

[31] u.ae, the UAE Government portal. Residence visa for studying in the UAE (updated 28 September 2026): sponsorship by a resident parent or the university and the study duration certificate. u.ae student visa

[32] u.ae, the UAE Government portal. The Blue Visa (updated 7 August 2026): 10-year term, who qualifies and how to apply. u.ae Blue Visa

[33] Fragomen, 13 April 2026. United Arab Emirates: Blue Residency visa applications accepted through ICP; no published fee schedule. Fragomen Blue Residency

[34] u.ae, the UAE Government portal. General provisions for the residence visa (updated 28 September 2026): the 180-day rule and its exemptions, the re-entry permit, grace periods of up to six months, the medical test and Emirates ID. u.ae general provisions

[35] Al Arabiya, 30 January 2021. UAE to grant citizenship to investors and professionals by nomination. Al Arabiya citizenship

[36] UAE Ministry of Finance. Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022 on tax residency, effective 1 March 2023: the 183-day and 90-day tests. Ministry of Finance tax residency

[37] Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). New Identity Card Issuance: AED 100 per year of residence and a AED 100 smart service fee. ICP Emirates ID issuance

[38] BusinessDubai.ae. Package prices as of October 2026: Meydan Free Zone at AED 12,500 licence only and AED 21,850 with one visa; IFZA at AED 12,900 and AED 22,200 (a partner price); the Dubai mainland package at AED 18,200 without a visa, AED 24,400 with one and about AED 15,000 on renewal; ANC Free Zone, Ajman, at AED 4,888 and AED 11,600; renewal at about 80% of year one; the two-year investor visa on our packages; the AED 75,000 capital proof at IFZA and Meydan; and the offshore position on visas. businessdubai.ae