How to Become a UAE Resident: A Path to a New Life in the United Arab Emirates

How to become a UAE resident? This can be done in several ways: through investment, employment, or education. Each of these paths has its own specifics and requirements that must be considered when making a decision about relocation.

What to consider? There are various types of residency: a work visa, a visa for investors, freelancers, family members or retirees. Obtaining any of them will take time, so it's important to familiarize yourself in advance with possible timeframes and prepare all necessary documents.

What is a UAE Resident

UAE residents are foreigners who have a residence visa. This document provides the opportunity to live and work in the United Arab Emirates for an extended period. Let's examine in detail how to become a UAE resident and what documents are required to obtain a visa.

The term “resident” means that a foreign citizen lives in the state on legal grounds. This status is achieved by obtaining a special permit — a residence visa, which allows a person to stay in the country, get official employment and conduct business.

Image source: ViDI Studio / shutterstock.com

Residents in the Emirates enjoy several advantages:

• the right to employment in various sectors within the country;
• access to various services, such as educational, medical and social;
• long-term residence — a residence visa has a validity period of one to several years with the possibility of extension;
• residents are permitted to open their own companies and to officially conduct business in various UAE zones;
• having a visa allows its holder to obtain residence permits in the Emirates for the entire family (this includes the resident’s spouse, mother, father and children).

Types of Visas for UAE Residents

Residents of the United Arab Emirates have the opportunity to obtain different types of visas for resident status, including:

Golden Visa

This type of residence permit is also known as a long-term investor visa and is issued for a period of 10 years. How to become a UAE resident and a holder of a golden visa? To do this, you must meet one of the following conditions:

1. Have an investment portfolio in the Emirates worth more than 10 million Dhs.
2. Own a personal business in the UAE with registered capital of at least 10 million Dhs.
3. Be a company partner and have a share worth more than 10 million Dhs.
4. Own assets in the above-mentioned sectors, with their total value exceeding 10 million Dhs. Important detail: 60% of the total investment must be part of a business not related to buying and selling real estate.

Mandatory conditions for investors:

• Investors are not permitted to borrow funds intended for further investment.
• The investments must be maintained for more than three years.
• The investment portfolio of assets must be more than 10 million Dhs.
• If desired, any business partners may participate in the investment project, but each is required to invest 10 million Dhs.

The visa is valid for 10 years, after which it is automatically renewed.

Read also!

Taxes in Dubai: For Companies and Individuals

More details

How to become a UAE resident when buying an apartment? You can obtain a five-year variety of the Golden visa, or a real estate investor visa (rentier). To obtain it, you need to purchase property in the UAE that meets the following parameters:

1. Total property value must be more than 5 million Dhs.
2. Funds used for the transaction must not be borrowed.
3. The property must be owned for more than three years.

To obtain this type of visa, you need to prepare originals and copies of the following documents:

• a valid passport and a visa, if it was previously issued;
• a photograph meeting the document requirements;
• a property ownership deed;
• a bank statement;
• a medical insurance certificate approved in Dubai;
• a utility bill.

The rentier visa is valid for 5 years, after which it is automatically renewed.

Retirement Visa

How to become a UAE resident for Russian citizens? You can obtain a retirement visa in the United Arab Emirates if you are at least 55 years old. To do this, you need to meet a certain requirement, including:

• The applicant must own property worth more than 2 million Dhs.
• Savings in the applicant's personal account must exceed 1 million Dhs.
• Must confirm a steady monthly income of at least 20,000 Dhs.
• Asset combination is permitted, but the total sum of property and savings must be at least 2 million Dhs.

Image source: wirestock / freepik.com

To become a retirement visa holder, you must provide originals and certified copies of:

• a valid passport of the applicant and their dependents, if any;
• a marriage certificate;
• current residence visa;
• a national identification card.

Sometimes, document processing staff may also require:

• a property ownership document;
• a pension certificate;
• an income statement;
• a bank statement for the last six months.

The retirement visa for UAE residents is valid for five years and can be extended.

Work Visa

A work visa in the United Arab Emirates allows foreign citizens to work legally within the country. What aspects are associated with obtaining a work visa?

To obtain it, you need sponsorship from a company registered in the UAE. The employer submits all the necessary documentation on behalf of the employee. The sponsors can be private individuals working on the mainland or in a free zone. The employer can also be a government enterprise.

Read also!

Business in the UAE for Foreigners

More details

If the sponsor is a mainland company, the following documents must be prepared:

• From the company

1. a trade licence;
2. a company immigration card;
3. a company labour card.

• From the employee

1. a valid passport;
2. a photograph meeting the document requirements;
3. an education certificate;
4. previous residence visa, if applicable;
5. a national identification card;
6. a tourist visa;
7. a medical insurance certificate approved in Dubai.

Organisations operating their business in the free zone, as well as government institutions, must submit the following documents:

• From the company

1. a written or online application;
2. a trade licence;
3. a company immigration card;
4. a premises lease agreement.

• From the employee

1. a valid passport;
2. a photograph meeting the document requirements;
3. a job offer letter (letter of appointment);
4. an education certificate;
5. previous residence visa;
6. a national identification card;
7. a tourist visa if required;
8. a medical insurance certificate approved in Dubai.

The work visa has a limited validity period of 2 years, but can be extended upon expiration.

Investor Visa

How to become a UAE resident through real estate? Becoming a resident of the United Arab Emirates through real estate investment is a great way to not only obtain a long-term visa, but also become part of a dynamic and multicultural society.

Image source: THICHA SATAPITANON / shutterstock.com

The UAE investor visa grants its holder the right to live and work in the country throughout the visa's validity period.

To obtain an investor visa, you need to prepare originals and copies of the following documents from the company:

• a trade licence;
• a company immigration card;
• a memorandum of association and a list of partners (for LLC);
• a local service agreement;
• a partnership agreement, if applicable.

The investor visa has a limited validity period of 3 years, with the right to extend.

Family Visa

If an immigrant already has any type of UAE visa, they have the opportunity to become a sponsor for their immediate relatives. This rule applies to spouses, children, and parents.

To qualify for a family visa, you must meet certain requirements:

• The applicant wishing to sponsor their relatives must pay a deposit of 3,000 Dhs per family member (the amount is refundable).
• The immigrant’s salary. If a male sponsor is in the UAE on a work visa and wants to bring his wife and/or children to the country, his salary must be at least 4,000 Dhs per month. If the employer provides accommodation, the salary limit is reduced to 3,000 Dhs per month. If the sponsor is a woman, her monthly income must be at least 10,000 Dhs.
• To sponsor both parents, the investor's confirmed monthly income must exceed 20,000 Dhs. If one parent is deceased, a death certificate must be provided.

Read also!

Usufruct, leasehold, freehold and musataha: everything you need to know about these forms of ownership in the UAE

More details

To obtain a family visa, the following documents and their copies must be submitted:

• From the sponsor

1. a valid passport;
2. a UAE residence visa;
3. a national identification card;
4. a employment contract and a service record;
5. for free zone or government employment — an income certificate in Arabic;
6. certificates confirming property rental registration in the United Arab Emirates;
7. a utility bill;
8. a bank statement.

• From the dependents

1. a passport valid for six months or more;
2. a standard format photograph;
3. a previous visa, upon request;
4. a marriage certificate if the dependent and the applicant are spouses;
5. a birth certificates for minor children;
6. a medical insurance certificate approved in Dubai.

Family visas can be issued for a period of one to three years. It should be emphasised that this type of residence permit is directly linked to the sponsor's visa. If it is cancelled, the visas of all dependents also become invalid. There is a grace period of 30 days for this type of visa.

Domestic Workers Visa

This type of visa is intended for service personnel, such as servants, caregivers, housekeepers, personal drivers, etc. Each immigrant can become a sponsor for a domestic worker, provided they meet the following requirements:

1. The immigrant-sponsor must confirm an income of more than 25,000 Dhs.
2. The sponsor must be a full UAE resident and live in any of the cities with their family.
3. When applying for a personal driver's visa, the sponsor must own at least two cars

To obtain this type of visa, the following documents must be prepared:

• From the sponsor

1. a written application in standard format;
2. a proof of no relation to the worker;
3. a passport;
4. a valid residence visa;
5. a photograph meeting the document requirements;
6. a bank statement;
7. an employment contract;
8. a medical insurance certificate approved in Dubai;
9. a residential lease agreement (a property with two or more rooms);
10. an income statement.

Image source: hareluya / shutterstock.com

• From the worker

1. the original and a copy of a valid passport;
2. a valid residence visa;
3. a photograph meeting the document requirements;
4. a medical certificate of absence of diseases from the country of residence.

The obtained visa is valid for 12 months, and the sponsor has the opportunity to apply for further extension or cancel if necessary.

Benefits of UAE Resident Status

Having UAE resident status, any person has several advantages:

• Social benefits. The residents have access to various social services, including medical care and education.
• Employment opportunity. The residents have the right to work in the UAE without obtaining additional permits.
• Access to finance. The residents can open accounts in Emirati banks and obtain loans and mortgages on favourable terms.
• Family reunification. The residents have the right to sponsor their close relatives and family members for residence permits.
• Protection of rights and freedoms. The resident status ensures protection of rights at the level of local legislation.
• Access to real estate. The residents can purchase properties in certain areas of the UAE.
• Business opportunities. The residents have the right to open and manage their own business within the country.
• Stability. Having the resident status provides a certain degree of stability and security for living and official employment in any of the seven emirates.
• Visa-free travel. The residents can travel using their resident status to simplify visa procedures.
• Tax advantages. The UAE offers a favourable tax climate, which is very beneficial for most foreign investors.

Frequently Asked Questions about Obtaining UAE Residency Status

Is it mandatory to find a sponsor to obtain a visa?

For most visa categories, such as work or student visas, a sponsor is mandatory (this can be an employer, a family member, etc.). However, for some categories, such as the Golden visa, a sponsor is not required.

How long does it take to obtain a residence visa?

The process of obtaining a UAE residence visa can take varying amounts of time depending on several factors, but on average it takes two to four weeks.

Read also!

Working in Abu Dhabi: Specifics and Job Search Opportunities

More details

What is required to renew a residence visa?

Not everyone knows that a residence visa can be renewed. To start the process, you need to submit an application and present the original documents and their copies again.

Basic requirements may include: a completed application form, new photographs, documents from employer or sponsor, a medical insurance policy, receipts for visa renewal fees and some additional documents.

Can an active residence visa be cancelled?

Yes, an active UAE residence visa can be cancelled. For this, you need to contact the relevant government authorities and follow the established procedures.

We have thoroughly examined the question of how to become a UAE tax resident. The procedure for obtaining residency in the United Arab Emirates is straightforward and provides great opportunities for personal and professional growth.

It's important to note that successful visa processing requires careful attention to detail, compliance with all legal rules, and a willingness to adapt to current changes in legislation.

Article header image source: Sven Hansche / shutterstock.com

Written byWilliam "Will" Harrington

Enjoyed the article? Share: