Long-Term Residency Programmes
The UAE’s Golden Visa programme, launched in 2019 and expanded in 2022, is the most established long-term residency scheme in the GCC. Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency launched in 2019, while other GCC states have introduced various investor and skilled-worker pathways.
| Country | Programme | Duration | Minimum Investment | Self-Sponsorship |
|---|
| UAE | Golden Visa | 10 years | AED 2mn property / business | Yes |
| UAE | Green Visa | 5 years | N/A (skilled workers) | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia | Premium Residency | Permanent | SAR 800,000 one-time fee | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia | Talent Residency | 1 year (renewable) | N/A (qualified professionals) | Yes |
| Qatar | Permanent Residency | Permanent | QAR 3mn property or QAR 200k/yr income | Limited |
| Bahrain | Golden Residency | 10 years | BHD 200k+ investment | Yes |
| Oman | Investor Residency | 10 years | OMR 250k+ investment | Yes |
| Kuwait | None | N/A | N/A | No |
Work Permit Framework
| Indicator | UAE | Saudi Arabia | Qatar | Kuwait | Bahrain | Oman |
|---|
| Employer Sponsorship Required | Yes (unless Golden/Green) | Yes (unless Premium) | Yes (unless PR) | Yes | Yes (flexi-permit available) | Yes |
| Permit Processing Time (days) | 5-15 | 10-30 | 7-21 | 14-45 | 5-10 | 10-20 |
| Freelance Visa Available | Yes | Yes (limited) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Remote Work Visa | Yes (1-year) | No | No | No | No | Yes (limited) |
| Dependent Visa | Automatic with salary threshold | Automatic with salary threshold | Automatic | Restricted | Automatic | Automatic |
| Nationalisation Quota | Emiratisation (2%+ private) | Saudization (sector-based) | Qatarisation | Kuwaitisation | Bahrainisation | Omanisation |
Citizenship Pathways
| Country | Citizenship by Investment | Citizenship by Naturalisation | Dual Citizenship Permitted |
|---|
| UAE | Exceptional talent pathway (since 2021) | 30 years residency (20 for Arabs) | Not officially recognised |
| Saudi Arabia | No formal programme | 10 years residency (exceptional cases) | No |
| Qatar | No formal programme | 25 years continuous residency | No |
| Kuwait | No formal programme | 20 years residency (15 for Arabs) | No |
| Bahrain | No formal programme | 25 years residency (15 for Arabs) | No |
| Oman | No formal programme | 20 years residency (10 for Arabs) | No |
Golden Visa Uptake and Impact
| Indicator | UAE Golden Visa | Saudi Premium Residency |
|---|
| Total Issued (cumulative to 2024) | 200,000+ | 15,000+ |
| Annual Issuance Rate (2024) | 60,000+ | 5,000+ |
| Primary Applicant Profiles | Investors, entrepreneurs, professionals | Investors, high earners |
| Property Market Impact | Significant demand driver | Limited |
| Talent Retention Impact | High (reduced churn) | Moderate |
| Family Inclusion | Spouse and dependents included | Spouse and dependents included |
Cost of Work Permits and Visas
| Visa Type | UAE (USD) | Saudi Arabia (USD) | Qatar (USD) | Bahrain (USD) | Oman (USD) |
|---|
| Standard Work Permit | 700-1,200 | 800-1,500 | 600-1,000 | 400-800 | 500-900 |
| Golden/Long-Term Visa | 1,500-2,000 | 213,000 (Premium) | N/A | 1,000-2,000 | 1,200-2,500 |
| Freelance Permit (annual) | 2,000-5,000 | 3,000-4,000 | N/A | 1,500-3,000 | N/A |
| Dependent Visa (per person) | 400-800 | 600-1,200 | 400-700 | 300-500 | 300-600 |
Strategic Assessment
The UAE’s visa ecosystem is the most comprehensive and accessible in the GCC. The Golden Visa programme has become a significant driver of high-net-worth individual relocation, property investment, and professional talent retention. The Green Visa and freelance permit framework add flexibility layers that no other GCC country currently matches.
Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency programme targets a narrower demographic at a substantially higher price point. Its value proposition centres on permanent status rather than the UAE’s 10-year renewable model, but adoption rates suggest the market prefers the UAE’s lower-cost, higher-accessibility approach.
Key Differentiators
The UAE leads on programme maturity, uptake volume, visa flexibility, freelance provisions, and talent attraction outcomes. Saudi Arabia leads on permanence of residency status. Bahrain offers the most cost-competitive alternative for smaller businesses seeking GCC work permits. Kuwait’s absence of any long-term residency programme represents a significant competitive disadvantage for talent attraction.