UAE Golden Visa & Residency Program

The UAE is a melting pot of cultures, home to a diverse international community offering a variety of cuisines, festivities, and traditions from around the globe, but English is widely spoken. Thanks to the UAE’s economic success and being a world-renowned tax haven, shopping could be the national past time. Living in the UAE means experiencing a high quality of life, in a safe, diverse, and dynamic environment that encourages both personal and professional growth.

As of 2024, the minimum investment for the Golden Visa in the UAE has two separate residency options – 750,000 AED [approx. $205K] and 2,000,000 AED [approx. $545K] – however both routes are for the purchase of a property in one of the country’s freehold zones. However, if the investor chooses to mortgage the property, then only 50% of the required investment is needed up-front.

Yes, the UAE is an epicenter of global finance and virtually any form of financial transaction is possible in the UAE – just another reason for why the UAE Golden Visa is the most unique residency program in the world. The UAE is well-known by crypto-investors to be a friendly trading environment, and it is possible to purchase real estate in the UAE with cryptocurrency, and that include the UAE Golden Visa program.

The UAE residency by investment program is the most unique Golden Visa on Earth for a variety of reasons, but possibly the single most distinguishing feature of the UAE Golden Visa is that it is the only residency by investment program that permits entrepreneurs, investors, and families to mortgage their real estate purchase and still qualify for the Golden Visa. However, the mortgage option requires a minimum down-payment of 50%.

The UAE is one of the most difficult countries on Earth in which to acquire citizenship if you are not a naturally born citizen. As of now, there is no direct path from residency, including for Golden Visa holders in the UAE, to gain UAE citizenship. The most common route is through naturalization, which requires an individual to maintain residency for 30 years before they’re eligible – or citizenship by exception.

Both the 2-year and the 10-year Golden Visa residency permits are renewable as long as you maintain ownership of the property.

The UAE is a world-renowned tax haven, both for personal income and corporate income – and this includes crypto-generated gains and income.. For individuals, there is no tax on income, capital gains, inheritance, or property. In addition, the UAE maintains double taxation agreements with over 140 countries, including the UK, the EU, Turkey, most of Europe, and Israel.

Golden Visa investors are only required to visit the UAE once, to submit biometrics and have a health screening conducted. Once your Golden Visa residency is approved, there are no requirements to visit or relocate to the UAE at any time.

Astons is a licensed agent that helps entrepreneurs, investors, and families achieve citizenship and residency across the globe, including the UAE. We maintain licensed partnerships with official government agencies operating CBI and RBI programs as well as maintain local partnerships with officially licensed lawyers and experts. Our team always operates within the laws and regulations of the countries we work in.