Investor Visa Dubai: Everything You Need to Know

Obtaining an investor visa Dubai is the solution to having a business and residing in the UAE with the possibility of renewal. This way, you can take advantage of the advantages of doing business in the country, such as low corporate taxes. You will also be able to have your family with you in the country as the visa will allow you to sponsor your dependents.

In this article, we show you the most relevant details of this type of visa and the benefits it offers. Additionally, you will learn about investment opportunities and fees associated with visa processing and issuance.

Benefits of Investor Visas in Dubai

The investor visa Dubai allows foreigners who meet certain criteria to live and do business in the UAE. In addition, they obtain other considerable benefits for their residential and business aspirations such as:

• Take advantage of business opportunities thanks to the favorable business environment and the prosperous economy.
• You can obtain residency for yourself and your family for up to 10 years depending on the investment visa you obtain.
• Dubai, and the UAE in general, offers a favorable tax environment with no personal income tax and low corporate tax.
• It provides access to regional markets thanks to the strategic location of the nation in the Middle East.
• Another of the Dubai investor visa benefits is that the city has a business and technological infrastructure and a high standard of living.
• The city has a high level of security so you can rest assured for the duration of your stay.
• Investors over 55 years of age can have a peaceful retirement in the UAE.

Investor Visa Requirements in Dubai

The investor visa Dubai requirements include that the investor must be over 18 years of age. In addition to this criterion, applicants for one of these visas must meet one of the following requirements:

• Make a public sector investment of at least AED 10 million in various assets.
• Buy a property worth at least AED 1 million.
• Establish a business in the UAE with a project investment with a minimum capital of AED 500.

Cost of Obtaining an Investor Visa in Dubai

You can apply for the document at an Amer center and the investor visa Dubai cost consists of the following:

• The entry permit costs AED 1,175 for within the UAE and AED 525 for applications outside the country.
• Change of status for people within the UAE costs AED 675.
• Stamping the visa costs about AED 870.
• The Emirates ID is worth AED 500.
• Mandatory medical tests cost approximately AED 350.

However, you must consider other additional fees such as the required immigration settlement card. Additionally, you should note that you must obtain a business license from the Dubai Economic Department (DED).

Investor Visas Dubai New Rules

The authorities have made some changes to the investor visa Dubai, including reducing the minimum initial deposit. To begin with, for the 10-year golden visa, investors will only have to pay 20% as a down payment on the property. Previously, the down payment was 50% of the property value, which is still AED 2 million.

In addition, the new rules allow the property to be purchased at any stage of its construction. However, foreign property investors are still required to purchase the properties in the freehold areas.

Investment Options for Investor Visas

To obtain a Dubai investor visa, you must invest in any of the types of businesses in the UAE. The important thing is to invest with the value established by the authorities in one of the following options:

Real estate

The most popular option for investors who want residency is to buy one or several properties in the country. In this case, Dubai has a thriving real estate market, with both residential and commercial properties. In this way, you can aspire to obtain a golden visa for a renewable period of 5 years.

Establish a company

The other option you have to obtain the investor visa Dubai is to establish a company with established capital. You can establish a business both on the mainland and in one of the free zones in the Emirate. Furthermore, there are a wide variety of industrial areas that you can choose from to start your business activities.

An option for entrepreneurs is the establishment of a company or technical or future economic project. Additionally, you must meet requirements such as verification through a project auditor worth AED 500,000.

Public investments

People who invest in a public investment fund can also aspire to obtain a 10-year golden visa. However, you must meet any of the following conditions to apply for one of these visas:

• Letter from an accredited investment fund certifying a deposit of AED 2 million.
• Have a valid commercial or industrial license as well as a Memorandum of Association certifying investment capital of AED 2 million or more.
• Letter from the Federal Tax Authority stating that the investor pays the government at least AED 250,000 annually.

Additionally, you must meet other criteria including possessing the capital and providing health insurance.

Economic contribution to the country

You can also receive a Dubai investor visa if you contribute to the economy of the UAE. Some of these forms of contribution include those mentioned below:

• Direct investments in specific sectors
• Employment creation
• Participation in government initiatives

In this way, you can demonstrate that you are committed to and contribute significantly to the economy.

Invest in the financial market

Apart from the above, financial markets are also a viable option for investing in the UAE. In this case, you can buy stocks or bonds, invest in mutual funds, or trade commodities. Therefore, making investments in the financial markets can increase your chances of obtaining an investor visa Dubai.

Invest in innovation and technology

People who wish to invest in the country can also do so in the technology sector, as the country promotes this type of investment. For example, you can invest in the renewable energy, Artificial Intelligence, or healthcare sectors. These are investments aligned with the vision of the country of being one of the technological powers in the world.

Business Opportunities and Networking

Among the Dubai investor visa benefits is the opportunity to establish a wide variety of businesses and join a global business network. This is due to the strategic location of the country and other factors that facilitate the connection. These aspects include state-of-the-art infrastructure, and world-class transportation-related facilities (ports and airports).

All this and more have helped the nation attract investors and business owners from companies around the world. Therefore, through networking, you can grow your business in the country and even expand regionally or globally. In Dubai and the other Emirates, you can find a wide variety of trade exhibitions, international chambers of commerce, workshops, and seminars.

This way, you can take advantage of opportunities to establish meaningful relationships with partners, distributors, and customers. However, you should prepare properly by researching which companies and influencers will be attending this variety of events. There you can publicize your company and the projects you are developing or want to develop to connect with the right people and businesses.

Familia Sponsorship and Dependents

With an investor visa Dubai, holders can sponsor their family members or dependents to reside in the country. Nevertheless, you must meet the following requirements to sponsor your family members to obtain a residence visa:

• You must have a housing lease contract.
• Present the certified marriage certificate, if you want to sponsor your spouse.
• Present certified birth certificates to sponsor your children.
• Make a refundable deposit of AED 3,000 for each family member you wish to sponsor.

Renewal and Long-Term Considerations

Renewing an investor visa is an important step for your aspirations to continue doing business and living in the UAE. The Directorate of Nationalization and Residency Department (DNRD) makes its electronic renewal services ( eDNDR ) available to entrepreneurs. Below you can see the renewal process which consists of a few simple steps:

If you have an e-DNRD account, you can go to a typing center and present your username and password. In this case, it is not necessary to go to the immigration office to complete the visa renewal process. However, if you do not have an e-DNRD account, you must follow the steps that we will list below:

1. Find the form at the typing center and submit the following documents:

• Original passport with a six months validity at least
• 2 photographs of the same size as the passport with a white background
• Original medical certificate
• Health insurance
• Copy of Emirates ID renewal form
• A certified copy of a lease
• Last utility bill (copy)
• Copy of company bank statement
• International Bank Account Number of the sponsor (IBAN)
• If a professional license, a copy of the Service Agent Agreement
• Copy of the immigration establishment card

2. Finally, you must pay the renewal fees corresponding to the validity of the visa.

Investor visa Dubai renewal fee

The investor visa Dubai cost for renewal includes the following fees:

• Renewal with medical proof and Emirates ID costs AED 3,600 regular, AED 4,600 urgent, and AED 5,100 Royal.
• Simple renewal costs AED 2,730 regular, AED 3,730 urgent, and AED 4,230 Royal.

The difference between each renewal package is the processing time, which is as follows:

• The complete package (medical exam and UAE ID) is 5 days normal, 2 days urgent, and 1 day Royal.
• The basic package, has 8 days of normal processing, 4 days of urgent, and 2 days Royal.

On the other hand, the cost of the medical examination for visa renewal is as follows:

• Normal (3 to 5 days) AED 320.
• 2 days AED 420.
• 1 day AED 540.
• VIP (3 hours) AED 750.

What is the 5-year investor visa Dubai?

The investor visa Dubai gives you the option of obtaining residency for 2, 3, 5, and 10 years. However, each of them has certain conditions that all applicants must meet according to the validity period. To obtain one of these visas for 5 years, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

• You need to buy a property worth at least AED 2 million.
• You can purchase the property for the said amount with a loan from an authorized local bank.
• Have a minimum ownership retention period of 2 years.
• Invest in one or more off-plan properties in an authorized real estate company.

On the other hand, the investor visa Dubai requirements for 5 years for entrepreneurs are as follows:

• Invest AED 500,000 (at least) in an approved or existing project by an accredited business incubator.

What is the 3-year investor visa Dubai?

The 3-year visa for investors is for people who want to open or invest in a free zone or mainland company. In this case, you must invest in a company or start one with a minimum capital of AED 72000. Investors in free zones can enjoy 100% foreign ownership, tax freedom, and no mandatory local partners, among others.

What is the 2-year investor visa Dubai?

The 2-year visa for investors in the UAE is for those who make a minimum investment of AED 750000. However, interested parties can only purchase a finished property for the indicated value or greater than that amount. Additionally, if you register a property for this visa for two years, the minimum value increases to AED 1 million.

What is an investor visa in Dubai, and how does it differ from other types of visas?

An investor visa Dubai is a document that allows investors or entrepreneurs to establish themselves long-term in the UAE. You can apply for a visa for establishing a company or investing in real estate, both for a set amount. Since there are obvious differences with other types of visas (work, study, family, and more) we will emphasize the difference with a partner visa.

visas are for those with a sole proprietorship, while the partner visa is for those with shareholders in their business. A clear example of this type of company is the Limited Liability Company or LLC in the UAE. Nevertheless, the benefits and other features of these visas are the same.

What are the financial implications associated with obtaining an investor visa in Dubai?

Obtaining one of these visas requires meeting financial requirements depending on the type of investment and the validity period. Below, you can see the financial implications to consider apart from the cost of the visa:

• For property investments, these must be of a value equal to or greater than AED 1 million. In addition, the applicant must have sole ownership of the property with a maximum mortgage value of 50%.
• For property investors, each must have AED 1 million shares in the joint property.
• People who want to open a company to obtain a visa must have a minimum capital of AED 72000. It also applies to people who obtain a share in an established company for the same amount.
• Investors aged 55 and over must purchase one or more real estate properties for a minimum of AED 2 million.

What are the renewal requirements for an investor visa in Dubai?

Renewing an investor visa Dubai requires the presentation of various documents and other requirements. For example, you must undergo a medical examination, renew your Emirates ID, and renew your health insurance. The renewal of the document must be carried out at an authorized typing center.

Are there any tax considerations for investor visa holders in Dubai?

The holders of this visa can enjoy a tax-free environment. For example, you will not have to pay VAT and you will be able to have 100% ownership of the company in a free zone. Likewise, the government authorities have several double taxation agreements with a large number of countries.

What long-term opportunities does an investor visa in Dubai offer, such as residency and citizenship?

The United Arab Emirates does not offer direct or indirect citizenship in any form, only long-term residency. Visas for investors can range from 2 years to 10 years (golden visa) with the possibility of renewal. The golden visa applies to investors, entrepreneurs, CEOs, students with merit, and scientists.

How much do I must invest to get residency in Dubai?

As we have mentioned, it requires a particular investment depending on the type of investment you want to make. The minimum investment amounts in this case are the following:

• Property investments AED 1 million.
• Open a company with a capital of AED 72000 at least.
• Share in an established company AED 72000.
• Investors over 55 years, AED 2 million.

For more information about employment or visa issues in the UAE, you can contact our experts.