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Obtaining residency in Dubai as an entrepreneur: multiple routes — investor visa via real estate (190,000 euros), investor visa via a company (180,000 euros), freelance permit with residency, employment visa via your own company, or Golden Visa (510,000+ euros for real estate or a company). Visa valid for 2-10 years, renewable. Crucial for tax benefits: without residency, no 0% income tax. Routes, costs, and timeframes are listed below.
The short answer
- Real estate investor visa: purchase > AED 750,000 (~190,000 euros), valid for 3 years.
- Investor visa company: investment ~AED 750,000, 2-3 years.
- Employment visa: via own Dubai company, 2-3 years.
- Freelance permit visa: from 1,500 euros, 1-3 years.
- Golden Visa: > AED 2 million (~510,000 euros) or specialist qualifications, 10 years.
Visa routes for entrepreneurs
1. Investor Visa via real estate
- For real estate purchase > AED 750,000 (~190,000 euros).
- Valid for 3 years, renewable.
- Visa costs: ~1,500-3,000 euros per person.
- Required: title deed, property valuation verification.
- Possible: bring family (spouse, children).
2. Investor Visa via company
- With an investment in own UAE company of ~AED 750,000.
- Valid for 2-3 years.
- Required: shareholding, capital contribution.
- In the free zone: local free zone is covered.
- Mainland: local agent and registered capital.
3. Employment Visa through your own company
- The director-major shareholder receives an employment visa from his own company.
- 2-3 years, renewable.
- Costs: ~1,500-3,500 euros all-in.
- Required: business license, MoU, proof of residential address.
- Includes Emirates ID (required for residents).
4. Freelance permit visa
- For freelancers via GoFreelance.ae, IFZA Freelancer, etc.
- Valid for 1-3 years.
- Costs: from 1,500 euros per person.
- Required: freelance license + medical + Emirates ID.
5. Golden Visa
Prestigious 10-year-old visas for:
- Investors: real estate > AED 2 million (~510,000 euros) or investment > AED 2 million.
- Entrepreneurs: startup with valuation > AED 500,000 or recognized by the government.
- Specialists: PhDs, senior professionals, talents in art/sports/science.
- Benefit: Valid for 10 years, family included, no local sponsor required.
- Increasingly popular among Dutch high-net-worth individuals.
Visa application procedure
- Entry permit: for visa procedure to the UAE.
- Medical fitness test: blood, X-ray, fitness certificate.
- Emirates ID application: biometrics.
- Visa stamp: in passport, thus residency.
- Bank account: possible after Emirates ID.
- Residence registration: at the Dubai Land Department or via Ejari.
Processing time: 2-6 weeks after arrival, provided documents are ready.
Bring family
- Spouse/partner: yes, via dependent visa.
- Children under 18: yes.
- Children 18-21 (studying): yes with proof.
- Parents: yes, subject to conditions (income, housing).
- Staff: housekeeping staff via separate sponsorship.
Dependent visa costs: ~1,000-2,500 euros per person. Plus medical and Emirates ID.
Extension and phasing out
After 2-3 years (or 10 for Golden): extension possible provided conditions are met:
- Business license renewed.
- Real estate still owned.
- Employer pays (employment).
- No criminal records.
Upon departure from the UAE > 180 days: the visa may be cancelled. For commuting travelers: pay attention to the attendance requirement.
Floor's choice
Floor (IT consultant, 35) without family:
- Option 1: GoFreelance freelance permit + visa = ~7,000 euros/year.
- Option 2: Free zone company (IFZA) + employment visa = ~10,000 euros/year.
- Option 3: Real estate purchase apartment + investor visa = 190,000 euro investment + ~3,000 euro visa.
Floor chooses option 2 (LLC for future scalability). No real estate (not yet sure about Dubai's future).
Honest recommendation
For a 2-3 year pilot: employment or freelance visa is flexible and inexpensive. For a long-term commitment: investor visa via real estate (combines residence + visa) or Golden Visa for higher investments. A good UAE visa advisor (€500-€2,000) prevents errors and speeds up the process. For family: arrange for all members at once; it saves costs and time.
For other topics: registering a company in Dubai, investing in Dubai , and doing business in Dubai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Investor visa via real estate (190,000 euros+), investor via company (~190,000 investment), employment via own company, freelance permit + visa, or Golden Visa (510,000 euros+ or specialist). Choice depends on structure and budget.
10-year residency visa for investors (real estate/business > AED 2 million), entrepreneurs with a recognized startup, or specialists (PhD, senior professionals, talents). Family included, no local sponsor required. Increasingly popular for high net worth.
Per person: freelance/employment 1,500-3,500 euros, investor real estate 1,500-3,000 euros, Golden Visa 3,000-5,000 euros. Plus medical (~500), Emirates ID (~300), and applicable processing fees. Family: ~1,000-2,500 per dependent.
Visa procedure: 2-6 weeks after arrival, provided documents are ready. Preparation of Dutch documents in advance (apostille, translation): 2-4 weeks. Total process: 1.5-3 months from decision to residency.
Spouse, children under 18 (and 18-21 studying), parents under conditions via dependent visa. Per dependent visa ~1,000-2,500 euros. Plus medical and Emirates ID. Employees (household): separate sponsorship.
Yes, provided conditions are met: business license renewed, property still owned, employer pays (employment), no criminal records. Departure > 180 days: visa may be cancelled – pay attention to the attendance requirement.
Possibly via real estate investment (190,000 euros) or the Golden Visa route (510,000 euros or specialist status). Or via a family sponsor if the spouse already has residency. Without any of these: tourist visa max. 90 days, no long-term.
