To qualify for a UAE Residence Visa, you have to fall under one of these categories:
- Work in the UAE, under a governmental office or in a private company.
- Study in a UAE educational institution.
- Dependent of a UAE citizen or foreign resident (child, parent, maid, or a close relative)
- Investment in the UAE.
- Purchase property in the UAE.
- Retire in the UAE.
- Getting a freelance visa.
- Being a talented professional.
Foreigners who start a business or invest in an existing company in Dubai's mainland or the free zones are eligible for a residence visa.
To obtain the investor visa, you will need to invest at least two million AED (approximately $550,000) to obtain this investor visa. The investment is in the form of real estate and, moreover, entitles you to a Golden Visa for five years, renewable provided the qualifying conditions still apply.
The UAE Golden Visa is a long term residence visa offered to investors, entrepreneurs, talented people and researchers in the fields of art, culture, science as well as students with promising academic performance. This new visa scheme allows foreigners to live, work or study in the UAE without the need of a local sponsor and 100% foreign-owned businesses. The Golden Visa can be issued for 5 or 10 years and it can be renewed as long as the requirements are met.