gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Work & skilled workersAnnouncementMedium impactPending review

UAE expands Golden Visa eligibility categories

🇦🇪 United Arab EmiratesInvestor2 recorded versionsLast change 19 Jul 2026
ConfidenceModerate · 74%

Overview

Authorities signalled an expansion of nomination-based Golden Visa eligibility to additional specialised professions, administered through designated federal and emirate-level nominating bodies.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Foreign investors meeting the investment requirements
  • Entrepreneurs with qualifying innovative or technical projects
  • Doctors, scientists and researchers meeting the relevant requirements
  • Inventors and people with exceptional specialised skills
  • Creative professionals in eligible cultural and artistic fields
  • Executives and qualifying athletes
  • Outstanding university students and graduates
  • Outstanding secondary-school students
  • Humanitarian pioneers
  • Frontline heroes
  • Eligible family members sponsored by Golden Visa holders

What changed in the latest version

Before

-Golden Visa eligibility was initially focused mainly on investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents, researchers and outstanding students. -Applicants had to qualify under one of the designated categories. -Residence periods depended on the category. -The programme was primarily presented as a way to attract investment, specialised skills and exceptional talent.

After

The Golden Visa now covers a wider range of eligible groups. This includes exceptionally talented people and specialised professionals in areas such as medicine, science, inventing things, culture and arts, top executive roles, sport, and important scientific and engineering specialisations. Top students and graduates can qualify if they meet specific academic rules. People who have done humanitarian work and frontline workers are also now recognised groups. Investors and business owners can still qualify under their own separate rules. The Golden Visa still offers 5- or 10-year residence, depending on the category.

The Golden Visa offers eligible foreign nationals a more stable way to live in the UAE compared to a standard residence permit, which is usually tied to an employer. It can provide: * long-term residence for 5 or 10 years * residence without needing the usual employer to sponsor you * the ability to stay outside the UAE for longer than the normal time allowed for residence visas * the ability to sponsor eligible family members. For professionals and other applicants, the key change is that more types of people could now qualify if they meet the specific rules for their group.

Version history

  1. v1Effective 1 Jan 2026AnnouncementMedium impact
    UAE expands Golden Visa eligibility categories

    The UAE has added further professional and specialised talent categories to the ten-year Golden Visa framework.

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