Visa & residency options
Remote workers employed or freelancing outside the UAE. Min income $3,500/mo, proof via 6 consecutive bank statements (rule updated Jan 2026). Cost AED 1,535 (~$420) as of Mar 2026. Processing 5–7 business days. Valid 1 year, renewable. 0% personal income tax.
For freelancers with UAE clients. Min income AED 7,500–10,000/mo. Requires free-zone licence.
10-year residence for investors (min AED 2M real estate), entrepreneurs and exceptional talent. Renewable every 10 years.
Residency: Long-term residence via Green/Golden visas. UAE does not offer permanent residency or citizenship through standard routes; Golden Visa is renewable every 10 years.
Tax & cost of living
0% personal income tax. Corporate tax 9% on profits above AED 375,000 (since June 2023). VAT 5%.
- Rent (1BR city): AED 7,000–12,000 (~€1,750–€3,000)
- Meal out: AED 40–80
- Transport pass: AED 300–500/mo
Banking & business setup
Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, RAKBANK, FAB, Wio, Liv. (digital). Emirates ID required for account opening — can be initiated pre-arrival with Tenaryia support.
Free zone (IFZA, DMCC, RAKEZ, ADGM, DIFC) — 100% foreign ownership, 0% personal tax, ~AED 12,000–50,000/yr depending on activity. Mainland LLC also 100% foreign-owned since 2021 across most activities.
Living in country
Dubai Marina, JBR, Downtown, Business Bay premium; JVC, Dubailand, Sharjah and Ajman much cheaper. Annual cheque payment system (1–4 cheques) — increasingly monthly options.
Mandatory private insurance (Dubai/Abu Dhabi); top-tier private hospitals (Cleveland Clinic, NMC, Mediclinic).
Wide private/international choice (British, American, IB, French, Indian curricula) — AED 30k–120k/yr.
Finance (DIFC, ADGM), logistics (DP World, Emirates), real estate, AI and Web3 (VARA, ADGM Web3 framework), tourism.