Blog

.

A UAE business owner can obtain a Golden Visa through three routes in 2026. Route A: company stake valued at AED 2,000,000 or more (paid-up capital or share value) + FTA letter confirming tax payments — 10 years. Route B: innovative project valued at AED 500,000 or more + approval from an accredited incubator or a UAE-licensed auditor letter — 5 years. Route C: basic salary of AED 30,000 per month as director of their own company — 10 years. All routes are self-sponsored with no 180-day rule.

.

For several years, the UAE property investor visa system remained relatively stable: a two-year visa required at least AED 750,000; a ten-year Golden Visa required at least AED 2 million, of which a minimum of AED 1 million (or 50%) had to be paid upfront. Clear, predictable, but not accessible to everyone.

.

There is no single concept of a "freelance visa" in the UAE. There are two fundamentally different routes. They differ in duration, cost, income requirements, and freedom of movement across the UAE.

.

Health insurance for employees is mandatory for all employers in all 7 UAE emirates. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have enforced this since 2006-2014. From 1 January 2025, a federal basic health insurance scheme extended the obligation to the Northern Emirates. Without an active policy, GDRFA will not issue or renew a residence visa.

.

A UAE residence visa is an immigration status. It authorises living and working in the UAE. It is issued by ICP or GDRFA.

UAE tax residency is a tax status. It confirms that an individual is a tax resident of the UAE. It is evidenced by a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) issued by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).

.

Three key distinctions make UAE payroll fundamentally different from most countries.