Know Everything About the UAE Investor Visa

Due to its global mindset, the UAE is a free economy that promotes a business culture. The UAE is an investor-friendly and stable global hub that gets its most significant economic share from trading, investment, financing, manufacturing, insurance, and mainly real estate acquisitions. In 2019, the government of the UAE started the UAE investor visa facility that enables ex-pats to live, study, and work in the emirates without citizenship and with complete ownership of their properties and businesses. So if you are planning to move to the UAE, why not take advantage of it? Let’s understand the types and advantages of a UAE investor visa or Golden Visa.

UAE Investor Visa Explained

Launched to attract foreign investors, the UAE Investors Visa is a residency scheme for non-emiratis who contribute to the nation’s economic growth through various sectors, including real estate and business. This exclusive programme allows foreign investors and their families to live, work, and study in the UAE without a local sponsor. Depending on the level and the type of investment, this visa is available for different durations, typically lasting up to 2, 5, or 10 years.

Many types of investor visas are available in the UAE, among which the ‘golden visa’ offers long-term residency to individuals meeting a specific requirement, such as investing a minimum of 2 million AED in real estate or 10 million in the public sector. Authorities have designed the visa to appeal to non-emiratis investors. It offers numerous benefits, such as the ability to sponsor family members, tax advantages, and unrestricted travel within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

• The Benefits of the UAE Investor Visa

Here is the list of benefits for those receiving an investor visa in Dubai :

• • Reliability and Safety: Ex-pats who have investor visas in the UAE get almost equal opportunities as UAE residents. If the rights of the visa holders are violated, a person could turn to the local court for further assistance.
  • Stability and Security: There are no negative phenomena, riots, or protests in the UAE. Apart from this, the crime rate in all the emirates of the UAE is almost zero. One can safely roam around the city at night. People who commit serious crimes are instantly stripped of their visas and are expelled from all sorts of UAE services.
  • Tax-free relaxation for investor visas in the UAE: There are no taxes for ex-pats with investor visas. The UAE has inked more than 70 double taxation agreements with various nations like the UK, Canada, Bangladesh, China, Japan, France, etc. As a result, having an investor visa in Dubai means you will not be subjected to any sort of taxes.
  • Developed Infrastructure: Besides the fact that the UAE has a tax regime, foreigners who have a UAE investor visa do not feel a lack of opportunity. The investor visa holder in the UAE has access to high-quality goods, communications, transportation services, and easy and free access to all of Dubai’s benefits.

Types of UAE Investor Visas

The UAE offers many investor visas for ex-pats who invest in the country. Here are a few of them:

• UAE 2-YEAR INVESTOR VISA

Investors can obtain a two-year renewable residency visa in the UAE through the Taskeen programme the Dubai Land Department offers.

2-Year Investor Visa in Dubai Eligibility Criteria

Read about the eligibility criteria for a two-year investor visa below:

• • The investor must purchase a property valued at a minimum of AED 750,000 in Dubai.
  • The authorities have excluded properties like off-plan and commercial from eligibility.
  • For mortgage properties, you must pay at least 50% of the property’s value or AED 750,000 upfront.
  • The investor is required to submit an electronic version of the Title Deed.
  • If married couples share property ownership, they must attest to a marriage certificate as proof.
  • A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the bank is needed if the property is under mortgage.

• 5-YEAR INVESTOR VISA UAE

Property investors who meet the Dubai golden visa requirement criteria may also apply for a 5-year UAE investor visa. This type of visa can be categorised as a golden visa.

• • To obtain a 5-year investor visa, an expat must meet the different conditions and Dubai golden visa requirements.

The investor must invest at least AED 5 million in real estate.

• • Investors must ensure that the investment amount is not financed through a loan.
  • The property must be retained for a minimum of three years.

• A 10-YEAR INVESTMENT VISA IN THE UAE

Investing at least AED 10 million in the UAE to be eligible for up to 10 years of the UAE investor visa is among the golden visa requirements. An ex-pat can make the required investment in any of the UAE’s emirates without a sponsor to avail of the benefits of an investor visa in the UAE. Below is a list of investments where an ex-pat could retain a long-term real estate investor visa under the General Investor group.

• • Upon making a new company or starting a new business in any UAE emirates with an investment of AED 10 million.
  • Upon forming a partnership in an already existing firm with a share of a minimum of AED 10 million.
  • Upon having the deposits and an investment cost of a minimum of AED 10 million in any emirate of the UAE.
  • Upon ensuring that AED 6 million of the minimum AED 10 million investment is invested in sectors other than the property market.

Conditions and UAE Golden Visa Requirements for a 10-Year Investor Visa

• The investor has to prove that the invested amount is not a loan.
• Your minimum investment must be retained for three years at least.
• Financial solvency must be for the invested amount, i.e., AED 10 million.
• Investors with a 10-year visa can hire an executive director and an advisor besides their family (children or spouse).
• This visa could be extended to the visa holder’s business partners if each partner contributes an investment of AED 10 million.
• Expatriate investors could apply for a multiple-entry permit for up to 6 months.
• People with special talents in culture, science, or the arts can also stay for an extended period. One condition is that the ministry must accredit them in their respective streams.

Documents for the 10-Year Investor Visa in the UAE

To successfully apply for the UAE 10-Year Investor Visa, applicants must submit the following essential documents:

• • Valid Passport Copy: Your passport copy must be clear and have at least six months of validity.
  • Property Ownership Proof: The property must be situated in Dubai and have a minimum value of 2 million AED, as shown on the title deed. Properties from other emirates or the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFCA) are not eligible​.
  • Previous Emirates ID: Include a copy of your Emirates ID if applicable. 
  • Recent Digital Photograph: The applicants must bring a passport-sized, high-resolution digital photograph that complies with the specifications of the UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship​.
  • National Identification: Applicants from specific countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan must also provide their national ID cards
  • Health Insurance: Proof of valid health insurance issued by a UAE-based provider is mandatory.

Applicable Visa Fees

The total cost for obtaining a 10-year UAE Investor Visa amounts to AED 9,684.75, which includes various mandatory charges. Here is a breakdown of the fees:

Secure UAE Real Estate Investor Visa Through GDRFA

The GDFR (General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs) allows non-Emirati investors to obtain long-term residency in the UAE  by providing residency for up to 10 years. It has a renewable option if the investors meet all the investment conditions.

• Overview of Key Steps Involved

• Eligibility for 10-YEAR GOLDEN VISA for Investors 

There are different eligibility criteria for investors concerning their investment, which are as follows:

• • Investor or Partner Requirement: A copy of the passport, trade license with partners listing, previous year’s financial statements, last six months’ bank statements, and proof of property ownership must be submitted. In addition, a certificate from the Federal Tax Authority that confirms transactions above 100,000 AED annually is necessary.
  • Deposit Investors Documents: You must present proof of a minimum 2 million AED deposit in bonds or sukuk in one of the UAE banks, along with a passport copy and proof of residence in Dubai.​
  • Property Investors Documents: Provide a copy of the passport and proof of ownership for at least one of the properties or more, collectively valued at over 2 million​ AED.
  • Taxpayer Investors Requirement: A Federal Tax Authority letter confirming partnerships with companies paying annual taxes of at least 250,000 AED, along with relevant company documents such as the trade license listing partners.

• Applicable Fees

The fees for the GDRFA Investor Visa include the following:

Wrapping it Up

Whether be it the ownership of business, property, or tax-free regimes, the UAE investor visa is a card that allows the ex-pats to avail of the UAE’s opportunities like any indigenous resident of the Emirates. Different types of investor visas in Dubai come with different requirements, benefits, and charges. Therefore, you need to understand each of them before applying. Simply, by investing AED 10 million in UAE’s business or real estate, you can enjoy the perks of UAE residency and the advancements of the Emirates. To make the visa application process hassle-free, you can always reach out to the professionals to help you make an easy and swift move into the Emirates.

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