Programme Objectives and Scope
The UAE Golden Visa Programme provides five- and ten-year renewable residency visas to categories of individuals the federation seeks to attract and retain: investors with significant capital commitments, entrepreneurs with viable ventures, scientists and researchers with proven credentials, skilled professionals in priority fields, outstanding students and graduates, and individuals with humanitarian contributions. The programme addresses a structural challenge in the UAE’s labour market model — the historical reliance on short-term, employer-sponsored visas that discouraged long-term commitment by expatriate talent. By providing residency security independent of employer sponsorship, the Golden Visa aims to encourage deeper economic participation, property investment, and entrepreneurial activity.
Key Targets and KPIs
The programme does not publish a single numerical target for Golden Visa issuances but tracks several metrics: the total number of Golden Visas issued, the sectoral and professional distribution of recipients, the economic activity generated by Golden Visa holders (company formation, property investment, employment creation), retention rates of highly skilled residents, and the programme’s impact on the UAE’s global talent competitiveness rankings. The 2022 expansion significantly broadened eligibility, and subsequent operational targets have focused on processing efficiency, digital application channels, and the integration of Golden Visa benefits with banking, education, and healthcare access.
Implementation Status and Progress
Since its launch in 2019, the Golden Visa programme has issued hundreds of thousands of long-term residency visas. The 2022 expansion lowered salary thresholds for skilled professionals, added new eligible categories including specialised degree holders and high-performing students, and simplified application processes. The programme has been particularly successful in attracting technology professionals, medical practitioners, academic researchers, and real estate investors. Major employers now routinely sponsor Golden Visa applications for senior staff. The integration of Golden Visa status with banking products, mortgage eligibility, and school enrolment has improved the practical value proposition for recipients. Processing times have been reduced through digital application channels managed by ICP and emirate-level residency authorities.
Lead and Supporting Institutions
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) owns the programme at the federal level. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in each emirate manages local processing. Supporting institutions include the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which interfaces with employer-sponsored categories, and emirate-level economic development authorities that promote the Golden Visa as part of their talent attraction packages. Abu Dhabi’s Talent Attraction and Retention Committee and Dubai’s Talent Attraction initiatives coordinate with the Golden Visa framework.
Relationship to We the UAE 2031 Pillars
The Golden Visa is central to the Society Pillar of We the UAE 2031, which prioritises building a cohesive, talented, and future-ready population. By providing residency security, the programme encourages long-term commitment to the UAE from the skilled expatriate population that drives much of the economy. The economy pillar benefits from increased entrepreneurial activity, property investment, and company formation by Golden Visa holders. The global engagement pillar is supported by the programme’s role in positioning the UAE as a globally competitive destination for talent, directly competing with immigration programmes in Canada, Australia, and the European Union.
Funding and Resource Allocation
The Golden Visa programme is operationally funded through visa processing fees and ICP’s institutional budget. The programme does not require significant direct government expenditure beyond administrative costs, as it functions primarily as a regulatory and immigration policy tool. The economic returns — in terms of talent retention, property investment, company formation, and consumption spending by long-term residents — substantially exceed programme operating costs. Emirate-level talent attraction initiatives that complement the Golden Visa receive dedicated budget allocations from economic development authorities.