Investor Visa vs. Golden Visa in Dubai: Understanding the Key Differences

 I am holding an investor visa in a mainland Dubai-based company and plan to buy a new house to make me eligible for the Golden Visa. What happens to my investor visa if I decide to get the Golden Visa?

 As an individual holding an investor visa in a mainland Dubai-based company, the prospect of obtaining a Golden Visa is undoubtedly enticing. The Golden Visa offers a pathway to long-term residency in the UAE, providing a host of benefits and privileges to its holders. However, the decision to pursue a Golden Visa raises questions about the status of one's existing investor visa and the implications of transitioning between the two.

 In the context of transitioning from an investor visa to a Golden Visa, it is important to note that the Golden Visa is typically granted based on specific criteria, such as property ownership. Therefore, if you decide to purchase a new house in Dubai to meet the eligibility requirements for the Golden Visa, it is likely that your investor visa will be affected.

 In most cases, obtaining a Golden Visa would supersede your existing investor visa, as the Golden Visa represents a higher level of residency status in the UAE. This transition may involve the cancellation or modification of your investor visa, as you would no longer be solely reliant on it for your residency rights in the country.

 Once you acquire your Golden Visa, you are granted a 6-month visa to enter the country before getting residency2. When you acquire your residence visa, you don’t need to stay in the country for long to maintain your status.

 Please note that this information is based on the rules as of early 2024 and may have changed. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please contact the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or the UAE’s embassies and consulates. For Dubai visas, contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai (GDRFAD).

This service allows the real estate investor owning a property the purchase value of which is equal to or more than 2 million AED at the time of purchase, to apply for a 10-years renewable residence permit. The husband or wife, children, and parents can be sponsored. In the event that a mortgaged property, a bank letter indicating 2 million AED paid amount as proof to be provided.

 How can I apply for a Golden Visa in Dubai?

Documents Required to Land department.

1- A passport

2- Availability of an e-Certificate of Title / Title deed

3- A personal photo

4- UAE ID (if any)

5- A copy of the current residence permit (if any).

 Charges for 10 years residency permit

1- AED 700 fee for medical examination

2- AED 1,153 fee for UAE ID (10 years)

3- AED 2,656.75 fee for confirmation of residency permit (10 years)

4- AED 4,020 fee for the Land Department

5- AED 1,155 administrative fee

The total is AED 9,684.75

 Family residence permit for 10 years

AED 5,668.50 fees

AED 318.75 fee for opening a family sponsorship file

A residence permit for the parents for 10 years

AED 5,668.50 fee for 10 years

Service Procedures:

Step I: A customer will move to a service center

Step II: A customer will submit the service requirements and pay the fees

Step III: A customer will perform a medical examination at the center

Step IV: Sending the residence permit of the applicant via e-mail

 However, it's important to consult with an immigration professional for specific advice on your situation. They can advise on any potential conflicts between your current visa and the Golden Visa based on your company's specific investor visa program.

Dubai to issue investors instant trade licences

The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) is planning to issue instant trade licences to investors under a new ‘120 days hassle free licence’ initiative that will be launched this year.

The move, which will allow investors to have their licences issued immediately, will drastically simplify the investment and business registration process, depending on the risk factors of the intended business activity.

The UAE has improved its rank in Ease of Doing Business to 33 in 2012, up from 35 in 2011, under the World Bank’s annual Doing Business report. DED said the scheme is aimed “to give businesses in Dubai a head start and promote the emirate’s competitiveness”.

“It is critical today that we ensure that the key sectors of our economy — trade, logistics, finance, knowledge sector, tourism, retail, and manufacturing and industry — are made even stronger and more competitive in this globalised age,” Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, said.

DED, the government’s trade licensing and regulatory body, renews and issues roughly 120,000 trade licences annually.

The 120-day licence allows businessmen to start businesses immediately and complete the rest of the licensing requirements, such as approvals from other government authorities concerned, within the subsequent 120 days.

Government authorities are entitled to ensure full compliance by the licence holder to the licence criteria on day 121.

The initiative, being implemented under the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will simplify procedures and facilitate business.

“The 120-day licence is part of DED’s efforts to enable businesses to make full use of the advantages of Dubai and improve the emirate’s ranking in the Doing Business Report of the World Bank,” said Mohammad Shael, Chief Executive Officer of the Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) Division at DED.

Business activities have been categorised as no-risk, low-risk and high-risk for the sake of evaluating the risk component.

More than 90 per cent of the businesses in the emirate are no-risk or low-risk and therefore a vast majority of businesses stand to benefit from the 120-day licence.

For high-risk business activities constituting the remaining 10 per cent, such as restaurants and clinics, all standards set by the government authorities concerned must be fully met before DED issues the licence.

Dr Khalid Maniar, founder and managing partner of Horwath MAK, told Gulf News, “The move will definitely attract investment and improve the competitiveness of Dubai, and enhance its global ranking in doing business.”

Shael said: “The categorisation depends on four main risk factors, evaluated on the basis of whether the business activity is harmful to human beings, harmful to animal life, harmful to plants, or harmful to the environment.

“When a businessman approaches DED for a licence, a 120-day licence is issued immediately, on completion of the necessary procedures, if the specific business activity falls under the no-risk or low-risk categories.”

Referring to the 120-day hassle-free licence as a new philosophy of business registration and licensing, Shael said the initiative along with significant reforms like Law No 13 of 2011 will dramatically enhance the ease of doing business.

“These facilities have stringent standards often embedded in their design and they go through years of preparations and inspections. Hence there is no risk in issuing them a licence.

“It will in fact allow them to complete procedures like testing and hiring before starting actual operations,” Shael said.

Law No 13 issued by Shaikh Mohammad in 2011 acknowledges the contributions of free zone companies to Dubai’s economy and allows such firms to open branches in Dubai while maintaining their presence in the free zone.