Retirement Visa

The UAE Retirement Visa is a 5-year self-sponsored residence permit that allows foreign retirees aged 55 and above to live in the United Arab Emirates without employment, sponsorship, or a local host. It targets retired expatriates who wish to remain in the UAE or foreign retirees attracted by the country's zero personal income tax environment, world-class infrastructure, and year-round warm climate. The program operates under Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 and Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 (Article 52).

Applicants must meet the age/experience requirement and one of the financial criteria. Specific thresholds vary by emirate and processing channel.

Age/experience (one of):

• Reached 55 years of age, or
• Completed at least 15 years of work experience (inside or outside the UAE)

Financial — Federal standard (u.ae):

• Annual income of at least AED 180,000 (~AED 15,000/month) from any source inside or outside the UAE, OR
• Own property worth at least AED 1,000,000 and hold financial savings of at least AED 1,000,000

Financial — Dubai (GDRFA): higher annual income threshold of AED 240,000 (~AED 20,000/month); alternatively, real estate ownership of at least AED 1,000,000 OR a financial deposit of at least AED 1,000,000 transferable to a local UAE financial institution within 60 days.

Financial — Abu Dhabi (ADRO): real estate ownership of at least AED 1,000,000 OR a financial deposit of at least AED 1,000,000, with an annual income of at least AED 240,000 in addition.

No educational or professional qualifications are required. Applicants must also pass a security background check.

• Passport copy (valid 6+ months)
• Coloured personal photograph
• Income route: 6 months of bank statements demonstrating the applicable income threshold, plus an income source letter from an official body
• Property route: e-Certificate of Title or Title Deed confirming property value of AED 1,000,000+
• Savings route: financial deposit certificate (AED 1,000,000+), with transfer acknowledgment to a UAE financial institution within 60 days if held abroad
• Medical fitness test results
• Emirates ID application
• Valid health insurance covering UAE residency

The visa is granted for 5 years and is renewable indefinitely under the same conditions. Applicants must continue to meet the financial requirements at each renewal.

Holders may sponsor their spouse and children (school-age or student-age). Parents may be sponsored on a separate 1-year renewable visa. Each dependant must have valid UAE health insurance. In Abu Dhabi, sponsors are responsible for dependants' health insurance; in Dubai, employers/sponsors must provide coverage. Family sponsorship via the DLD route costs AED 4,968.50 + AED 318.75 file opening per person; via the Visit Dubai portal, the fee is AED 3,714.75 per dependant.

The UAE does not levy personal income tax on individuals. Retirement visa holders residing 183+ days may qualify as UAE tax residents under Cabinet Resolution No. 85 of 2023 and can apply for a Tax Residency Certificate from the Federal Tax Authority. Corporate tax (9%) applies only if the individual conducts business activity in the UAE with turnover exceeding AED 1 million per calendar year.

Multiple application channels are available depending on the emirate and chosen financial route:

• GDRFA Dubai (income/savings route): apply via the smart services portal (smart.gdrfad.gov.ae) or in person at Amer Service Centers. Fees total approximately AED 2,280. Processing takes 48 hours via digital channels.
• Dubai Land Department (property route): apply through DLD service centres (Al Manara Center or Golden Cube). Fees total approximately AED 6,985. Processing takes 7–10 business days.
• Visit Dubai portal (all routes): apply at visitdubai.com/en/retire-in-dubai. Fee is AED 3,714.75 per applicant. Processing takes up to 15 working days.
• Other emirates: apply via the federal ICP smart services portal (icp.gov.ae) or the UAEICP mobile app.

Applicants from abroad receive an entry permit valid for 60 days, during which they must enter the UAE and complete the medical fitness test (screening for HIV, TB, and communicable diseases), biometric registration, and Emirates ID issuance.

The retirement visa does not authorize employment in the UAE. Holders may not work for UAE-based employers. Engaging in freelance or consulting work requires obtaining a separate work permit or switching to an appropriate visa category.

• Financial deposits held outside the UAE must be transferred to a local financial institution within 60 days of visa issuance
• The standard 180-day continuous absence rule applies — staying outside the UAE for more than 180 days results in automatic visa nullification
• Grace period of 60 days after visa expiry or cancellation
• Overstay fees are AED 50 per day (increased from AED 25 per day)
• Fee structures vary between processing channels (GDRFA, DLD, Visit Dubai), so applicants should confirm exact fees with their chosen channel
• Property ownership route requires the property to be fully paid (for the DLD Golden Visa route) or proof of AED 1,000,000 equity if mortgaged