Does the UAE Golden Visa lead to citizenship?

No. UAE citizenship is granted by nomination only in exceptional cases and is not available through investment. The Golden Visa is a long-term residency, and it is chosen for tax residency, lifestyle, and business access rather than a second passport.

Can I use a mortgaged property?

Yes, provided the property is worth at least AED 2,000,000 and the mortgage is with an approved UAE bank. Requirements vary by lender and emirate, so the title position should be reviewed before purchase.

How long must I stay in the UAE?

There is no minimum residence requirement other than entering the UAE at least once every six months. Tax residency certification is a separate test based on days present and a permanent place of residence.

All programs

Middle East · residency

UAE Golden Visa

10-year renewable residency in Dubai from AED 2,000,000 in property

The UAE Golden Visa grants 10-year renewable residency to property investors, company owners, and exceptional talent, with no personal income tax, no minimum stay beyond a single entry every six months, and full family sponsorship including domestic staff.

Program facts and figures reviewed 2026-08-27 by the Savory & Partners advisory desk. Government requirements can change without notice.

United Arab Emirates at a glance

Timeline

30–60 days

Visa-free access

Residency, no passport

Residence required

One entry every 6 months to keep the visa active

Family included

Spouse, all children, parents, and domestic staff

Programme open to new filingsCurrent processing: 30–60 daysCosts and rules verified 2026-08-27

Investment routes

Ways to qualify

Real estate ownership

$545k

One or more properties with a combined value of AED 2,000,000. Off-plan purchases from approved developers and mortgaged units meeting the equity threshold can qualify.

Recoverable assetHold Held while the visa is active

Public investment / deposit

$545k

AED 2,000,000 deposited in an accredited UAE investment fund or committed to a UAE company.

Recoverable assetHold 2 years minimum

Entrepreneur / company owner

$136k

Owners of an approved UAE start-up or SME with a minimum AED 500,000 capital, or approval from an accredited business incubator.

Recoverable asset

Fee terms

How we charge, on every file

Fixed and agreed in writing

Your professional fee is quoted in the engagement letter and payable in full on signature. It is fixed for the life of the file.

Government costs are never marked up

Contributions, due diligence, processing and passport fees are paid directly to the authority or its licensed agent at the published rate.

What is at risk

Due diligence charges are non-refundable once submitted. Contributions on most citizenship programs fall due only after approval in principle. Escrowed or asset-backed investment is recoverable subject to the program hold period.

When an extra fee applies

Only if you add a dependant after filing, switch programs, or a re-application is needed because of information that was not disclosed to us. Each is quoted before any work starts.

How you pay

Bank transfer in USD or AED to our corporate account. No cash, and government fees are never routed through personal accounts.

What the fee includes

A named senior adviser and a named case manager for the life of the file, reachable directly.
Eligibility and risk screening before a single document is collected, so nothing is filed that should not be.
The source of funds narrative drafted to the standard the authority expects, not a checklist handed back to you.
Collection, certification, apostille, legalisation and certified translation of every document, managed by us.
Filing directly with the authority as an authorized agent, with no third-party introducer in the chain.
Interview preparation and attendance where the program requires it.
Post-approval handling: contribution settlement, oath, passport collection and secure courier to your address.
A written status update every fortnight, and a same-day response on working days.

Fixed fee, never revised mid-file

Your professional fee is agreed in writing before any work begins and is fixed for the life of the file. No success fees, no hourly billing, no invoice you did not expect.

Government costs at cost, with receipts

Every contribution, due diligence, processing and passport charge is paid at the authority's published rate and evidenced with the receipt. We never mark up a government fee.

Pre-submission eligibility guarantee

If our screening concludes before submission that you are not fileable, the professional fee is refunded less work already performed, and that amount is stated as a number in your engagement letter.

Refusal cover

If a file we submitted is refused on grounds we assessed and cleared at engagement, we prepare and file an application on an alternative approved program at no further professional fee.

One adviser, start to passport

You are not passed between departments. The adviser who quotes your file is the adviser who signs off the passport delivery.

What we will never guarantee

Approval itself is a sovereign decision and no adviser can promise it. Any firm that guarantees approval is telling you something the authority has not agreed to.

Why it works