UAE Visa Types for Company Owners

Last verified: 2026-10-06

Summary

A company owner, partner or investor in the UAE can hold a residence visa through several routes. The official pages describe a sponsor-free Green Residence for investors and business partners, Golden Residency categories for investors and entrepreneurs, and visas issued through a free zone authority to shareholders. Which route applies depends on the ownership stake, the investment and the issuing authority.

Main routes

1. Green Residence (investors and business partners)

The UAE Government portal (u.ae) describes the Green visa as a long-term residence visa with these features:

A renewable residence visa valid for 5 years.
No need for a sponsor.
The ability to sponsor family members, including spouses and children.

Investors and business partners are listed among the eligible categories. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) guide says an investor or business partner must provide proof of investment or contribution to a business venture within the UAE and obtain the necessary licences and approvals from the relevant authorities. u.ae names two issuing bodies: GDRFA, Dubai, and the Abu Dhabi Residents Office. The ICP guide refers applicants to the Smart Services Platform and to its Customer Happiness Centers.

2. Golden Residency for investors

u.ae describes the Golden visa as a long-term residence visa. For investors, the criteria it lists are a minimum capital of AED 2 million, or property ownership, or a contribution to an establishment paying at least AED 250,000 annually in taxes.

The ICP Golden Residency guide lists several alternative pathways for investors in public investments, including:

A financial deposit of at least AED 2,000,000 with an investment fund or national bank.
Establishing a company in the UAE with capital of at least AED 2,000,000.
Being a partner in an existing or newly established company with a financial share of at least AED 2,000,000.
Owning a company committed to paying at least AED 250,000 annually in federal taxes.

For public investments, the guide says comprehensive health insurance is required and that the invested capital must be fully owned by the investor and not derived from a loan. It separately lists real estate pathways (owning property of at least AED 2,000,000, or buying off-plan units of equivalent value), with health insurance required and loan financing from approved local banks permitted.

The two official pages differ on validity. u.ae gives 10 years for public investments and 5 years for real estate; the ICP guide gives 10 years for both. Check the current figure with ICP before relying on either.

3. Golden Residency for entrepreneurs

The ICP guide lists these pathways for entrepreneurs: owning or being a partner in a UAE-registered small or medium enterprise with annual revenues of at least AED 1,000,000 in an approved field; approval of a business idea from an accredited business incubator, the Ministry of Economy or a relevant authority; or being the founder of ventures previously sold for a total value of at least AED 7,000,000. u.ae lists the criteria in terms of proof of an innovative or technical project, documents proving its value and a letter from an incubator or relevant authority. The two pages also differ on validity (5 years on u.ae, 10 years in the ICP guide).

u.ae directs applicants to the ICP portal for eligibility checks and to GDRFA for formal Golden visa services.

4. Partner or investor visa through a free zone

Free zone authorities issue visas to companies licensed in their zone. DMCC states that every DMCC-licensed company is eligible for four visa types, one of which is a Partner / Investor visa, and that this visa requires a minimum of 50 shares amounting to a total share capital of AED 50,000. Jafza states that its residence permit is valid for three years for both shareholders and employees. Conditions, validity and fees differ by free zone, so the zone’s own guide governs.

Steps (general sequence)

Identify the route that matches your ownership and investment (for example, free zone shareholder visa, Green Residence or Golden Residency).
Check eligibility on the authority’s own tool (u.ae points to the ICP portal for Golden visa eligibility).
Gather the documents the authority asks for, such as proof of investment, licences and, where required, health insurance.
Apply through the issuing body: the free zone authority, GDRFA, the Abu Dhabi Residents Office or ICP, depending on the route.

What it costs

Government fees, deposits, share capital requirements and licence packages vary by route and authority. Use the comparison tool on this site to see the cost items that apply to a setup, and confirm current visa fees with the issuing authority. Figures quoted above are thresholds from official pages as of 2026-10-06, not fees.

Common pitfalls

Treating the AED thresholds as interchangeable: the investor, entrepreneur and free zone share-capital thresholds are separate criteria.
Relying on one page when official pages differ, as they do on validity above.
Assuming a free zone visa conditions apply in another zone or on the mainland.
Overlooking supporting requirements such as health insurance or approved licences.

Check the authority

Figures and rules change. Confirm the current requirements with ICP, GDRFA, the Abu Dhabi Residents Office or your free zone authority before applying.

Figures and details in this guide are as stated on the cited official pages as of 6 October 2026.

Sources

This information is general; rules and fees can change. Check current details with the relevant authority.

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