What is the Golden Visa for Entrepreneurs in the UAE?

This category of golden visa allows you to stay in the UAE for 5 to 10 years and you do not need a sponsor to apply for it. Other features of the entrepreneur golden visa include:

• The visa allows you to sponsor your family members including your spouses and children.
• You can sponsor an unlimited number of domestic helpers to the UAE.
• Your family members can continue staying in the UAE until your visa expires in case you pass away.
• You can stay outside the UAE for over six months and your visa will still be valid.

We will look at the eligibility criteria for both the 5 years and the 10 years’ entrepreneur golden visas.

5 years Golden Visa

• You should own an economic project that deals with innovation and is of technical nature.
• You should have an approval letter from an auditor in the UAE to certify that the project is value at least 500,000 AED.
• A letter from the UAE authorities that states that the project is technical and innovative in nature.
• You need to show proof of support from an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
• A health insurance that is valid for at least one year and one that can be extended.
• Proof that you have a house in the UAE, either on rental or bought property.
• A valid passport

10 Years Golden Visa

To qualify for the 10 years’ entrepreneurs’ golden visa, you need to meet either of the following requirements:

• You should be an owner or partner of a business project that has been approved by a business incubator, the ICP, the Ministry of Economy or a local authority to start the proposed business in the specific emirates.
• You should be an owner or a partner of a pioneering business project that is approved by the Ministry of Economy or ICP or an accredited local authority. The business should be a small to medium enterprise that gets an annual revenue of at least 1 million AED.
• You should be a founder of a pioneer business project that is approved by the Ministry of Economy, ICP or a competent local authority and sold it at a value of at least 7 million AED.

Requirements for an Owner or Partner in a Pioneering Project

• A Trade license
• Your financial or social certificates
• The audited financial statements of the past two years
• The company’s profile
• Your LinkedIn profile
• A nomination that has been issued by a business incubator in the UAE

Requirements for an Entrepreneur with an Approves Pioneering Project Concept

• A nomination from a business incubator in the UAE
• The founders LinkedIn profile  
• An overview of the business concept
• A letter of acceptance by a business incubator, venture’s studio or accelerator program
• A trade license if you have one

Requirements for a founder or one of the founders of a previous pioneering project

• A nomination that is given by a business incubator in the UAE
• A trade license of the previous project
• The founders or co-founders LinkedIn profile
• The proof that the company was sold for AED 7 million
• The full name of the new owner of the company and their LinkedIn profile in applicable

Documents Required

Generally, you will need the following documents to apply for a Golden visa to the UAE:

• A copy of your passport
• A colored photograph of yourself
• A copy of the health examination test result
• A copy of your health insurance
• A copy of your entry permit

Below are the associated types of fees you will incur to get the golden visa for entrepreneurs: