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Investor Visa Dubai: Your Ultimate Guide 2022

Jul 6, 2022 | Legal

Did you know that Dubai accounts for over 10% of the UAE’s total GDP? The investor visa Dubai was created to allow entrepreneurs and business owners from around the world to enjoy what the UAE has to offer.

Living in the United Arab Emirates has many benefits. These include a temperate climate, low taxes, and fruitful investment opportunities. As a result, doing business in Dubai and the UAE has never been more attractive.

So, if you’re thinking about investing in Dubai, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about the investor visa and how to chart a path toward UAE residency.

What Is an Investor Visa?

An investor visa is a special authorization granted by the UAE government to business owners and entrepreneurs. It’s also known as a Dubai investor visa and a UAE investor visa in some circumstances. This is an international visa program designed to encourage local investment in Dubai and the rest of the UAE.

This visa will allow you to move to the UAE to start your business. This gives you access to one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, Dubai.

There are a few different categories of investor visas available in the UAE. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different options.

Team of investors in a boardroom meeting

1. Investment in Real Estate

This kind of investor visa is for property investors that wish to extend their property portfolio in the UAE. These visas have a three-year and five-year validity. After your three-year visa has lapsed, you will be able to apply for the five-year option.

In order to qualify for the real estate investor visa, you will need to purchase property in the UAE for the value of AED 1 million. This translates to around $272,000 or £224,000 worth of property. The real estate market in Dubai is booming, with apartments, villas, and beachfront properties listed at massive discounts.

2. Investment in a Company

The company investor visa comes in two distinct variants.

The first is the five-year visa which requires an investment of at least AED 5 million. There are other options available for investors that would like to diversify further in the UAE. These options are made possible through government incentive programs that try to encourage investment in certain areas of the UAE.

3. Long-Term Residence

While permanent residency is not very easily accessible, there are long-term visas available for you.

The UAE has adopted a similar stance to the United States when it comes to long-term permits. High-net-worth individuals are eligible for long-term residence. Additionally, scientists, rare-skilled professionals, and those with exceptional talent also qualify. This is the most common way for celebrities and athletes to get a long-term permit in the UAE.

4. Retirement Visa

This is also a special visa program for retired individuals that would like to enjoy the luxury and comfort of the UAE. This visa will require you to deposit a minimum of AED 1 million into a bank account or purchase a property in the UAE worth at least AED 1 million.

In addition to this, you will need an active annual income of no less than AED 180,000. If you rely solely on investments, you will need to prove a monthly income of at least AED 20,000 from your pension investment fund.

Person investing and trading stock on smartphone

Dubai Investor Visa Benefits

The investor visa from the UAE comes with a whole host of benefits. Here’s a quick breakdown of why you should consider investing in the UAE.

Access to Dubai

Dubai is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. As an example to the world, this megacity showcases what the future of the UAE will look like. The economy of Dubai is incredibly diversified, with most of the GDP being related to the retail industry.

Dubai has everything you could ever dream of. From beachfront resorts to marina apartments and mega-malls, Dubai has it all.

While Dubai already has world-class infrastructure, the city is still growing. This means that the city is full of opportunities to take advantage of.

Tax-Free Environment

There are virtually no taxes in the UAE. The UAE has signed more than 70 double-tax treaties with different countries around the world. This means that if you have an investor visa, you will not need to pay any taxes at all.

This also makes the UAE a great place to move your business. Operating your business offshore comes with its own tax benefits as well.

World-Class Infrastructure

Despite the tax laws in the UAE, the government has managed to invest heavily in the infrastructure in the country. This means that you can expect world-class facilities, roads, and infrastructure throughout the entire country.

Security and Stability

The UAE is one of the safest countries in the world. Living in and around Dubai promises luxury, comfort, tranquillity, and nothing else. There are no riots, revolutions, or other negative public disturbances that you may experience in Europe and the United States.

This makes the UAE the perfect location to invest your hard-earned money.

This security is not just outdoors but also internally. The UAE has strict banking and financial regulations. This will ensure that your invested money remains safe.

If you have an investor visa in the UAE, you will have the same opportunities as a citizen. This also extends to the legal protection you will receive in the country.

Dubai Investor Visa Cost

As mentioned above, there are a few different kinds of investor visas available. Each of these visas comes with slightly different criteria. While property investor visas will require you to invest around AED 750,000 to AED 1 million, investing in a business will cost more.

The standard government fees for this visa will depend on where you wish to invest. There are special economic zones available that will allow you to invest at a discounted rate.

A general rule of thumb is to have shares worth more than AED 70,000 and make a refundable deposit of at least AED 10,000. Once your visa is expired or is cancelled, these funds will be returned to you.

You can still apply for an investor visa if you don’t hold shares of more than AED 70,000. While this is possible, the government will require you to place a larger deposit of AED 20,000.

How To Get an Investor Visa in the UAE

Getting an investor visa can be made easy with the help of professional corporate services.

However, for a quick guide, here are the steps to get your Dubai investor visa.

Step 1: Entry Visa

The first thing you will need to do is get into the country. This means that you will need to have an approved entry visa. Once you have arrived safely in the UAE, you can then start with your investor visa application.

Step 2: Apply for an Investor Visa

Depending on the specific type of investor visa you need, the application process will vary.

Typically, you’ll need the following few essential documents:

  • Proof of health insurance
  • Good conduct certificate from the Dubai Police
  • Current UAE visa
  • No objection letter from the bank
  • Your passport
  • Bank statements

A holder of a Dubai Investor Visa is eligible to apply for an Emirates ID card, open a bank account and acquire a UAE driving license.

Step 3: Medical Examinations

In order to get a Dubai investor visa, you will need to go through a medical examination. This will require you to undergo an X-ray exam and multiple blood tests at a medical centre. This process generally takes a few days to complete.

Step 4: Company Documents

If you plan to get an investor visa to invest or move a business to the UAE, you will need to bring a few extra documents along with you. These documents include the company registration forms and bank statements to prove that you have sufficient funds.

Entrepreneur filling out visa application form-2

UAE Residency Visa or UAE Golden Visa?

A residency visa is for people who wish to reside in a country permanently.

Due to innovative government changes, the UAE has also launched a new type of Dubai investor visa in the last few years. This new visa is known as the Golden Visa.

The Golden Visa offers a 5-year Green Residence Visa and is for professionals in a skilled field of work, freelancers, entrepreneurs and investors.

This new visa is an investor resident visa that can be issued for a period of five or ten years. The Golden Visa is crafted for high-net-worth business owners that are looking to make a more sizable investment.

How to Qualify for the Golden Visa

In order to qualify for a Golden Visa, you will need to meet strict criteria.

The most important requirement is an investment of at least AED 10 million. This translates to around $2,72 million or £2,25 million. How this AED 10 million is dispersed is up to you as an investor. For example, AED 10 million can be deposited into a local investment fund, or invested in a UAE company. The AED 10 million capital could be either partnering with an existing company or developing a new one.

These requirements apply to a single person obtaining a single visa. If you would like to start a business with more than one person, each person will need to invest AED 10 million under their own name.

Can I Bring Family With Me on a Golden Visa?

Yes, the Golden Visa allows spouses and children to accompany the Visa holder. You can find more information about this visa on the UAE Government’s official website. For other information on visas applicable to family members, check out this article, which is a comprehensive review of Dubai Family Visas.

Invest in the UAE Today

While it may be nearly impossible to get citizenship in the UAE, the investor visa in Dubai is a great alternative. This visa helps entrepreneurs and business owners who wish to invest in the great city of Dubai.

This is the best way to take advantage of Dubai’s tax-free environment while diversifying your investment portfolio.

Business in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Emirates is booming. Virtuzone is the UAE’s top company formation specialist. If you have any questions on business, Emirates ID acquisition, or the benefits of obtaining an investor visa Dubai, feel free to contact us today.

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