Federal standard (per u.ae): annual income of at least AED 180,000 (~AED 15,000/month) from any source, OR property worth AED 1,000,000 plus AED 1,000,000 in financial savings. Dubai (GDRFA) applies a higher threshold of AED 240,000/year (~AED 20,000/month), with property OR savings of AED 1,000,000 as alternative routes. Abu Dhabi (ADRO) requires both AED 240,000/year income and AED 1,000,000 in property or deposits.
⏱️ Duration
5 years, renewable under the same conditions
👪 Dependants
Yes
Spouse and school/student-age children may be sponsored. Parents may be sponsored on a separate 1-year renewable visa. Each dependant requires valid UAE health insurance, and dependant visas cannot extend beyond the validity of the main applicant's visa.
🛂 Citizenship Path
No direct pathway
The retirement visa is a residence permit but does not lead to permanent residency or UAE citizenship on its own. It is renewable every 5 years as long as the financial conditions continue to be met.
The UAE Retirement Visa is a 5-year self-sponsored residence permit that lets foreign retirees live in the United Arab Emirates without an employer, guarantor, or local host. It is aimed at retired expatriates who want to stay on in the UAE after retirement, as well as retirees abroad drawn by the country's zero personal income tax, world-class infrastructure, and warm climate. The visa is delivered federally by the ICP and, in Dubai, under the "Retire in Dubai" / Dubai Global Retirement Programme — a branding of the same federal visa rather than a separate scheme.
Requirements
Applicants must satisfy an age or work-experience condition plus one financial route. The financial 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, or
Property worth at least AED 1,000,000 and financial savings of at least AED 1,000,000
Financial — Dubai (GDRFA): annual income of at least AED 240,000 (~AED 20,000/month); alternatively, real estate worth at least AED 1,000,000 OR a financial deposit of at least AED 1,000,000 transferable to a local UAE institution within 60 days.
Financial — Abu Dhabi (ADRO): real estate worth at least AED 1,000,000 OR a deposit of at least AED 1,000,000, plus an annual income of at least AED 240,000.
No educational or professional qualifications are required, and applicants must pass a security background check.
Required Documents
Passport copy and a coloured personal photograph
Income route: 6 months of bank statements showing 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 proof of transfer to a UAE institution within 60 days if held abroad
Medical fitness test results
Emirates ID application
Valid health insurance covering UAE residency
Duration & Renewal
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.
Family Members
Holders may sponsor their spouse and school- or student-age children. Parents can be sponsored separately on a 1-year renewable visa. Every dependant needs valid UAE health insurance, and dependant visas cannot outlast the main applicant's visa. Family sponsorship via the DLD route costs AED 4,968.50 plus AED 318.75 file opening per person; via the Visit Dubai portal it is AED 3,714.75 per dependant.
Tax Implications
The UAE levies no personal income tax on individuals. Retirement visa holders residing 183+ days may qualify as UAE tax residents and can apply for a Tax Residency Certificate from the Federal Tax Authority. Corporate tax (9%) applies only if the holder conducts business activity in the UAE with turnover above AED 1 million per calendar year.
Application Process
Several channels are available depending on the emirate and 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 roughly AED 2,280, with 48-hour processing via digital channels.
Dubai Land Department (property route): apply through DLD centres (Al Manara or Golden Cube). Fees total roughly AED 6,985, with 7–10 business days processing.
Visit Dubai portal (all routes): apply at visitdubai.com/en/retire-in-dubai. Fee is AED 3,714.75 per applicant, processing up to 15 working days.
Other emirates: apply via the federal ICP smart services portal (icp.gov.ae) or the UAEICP app.
Applicants from abroad receive an entry permit valid for 60 days, within which they must enter the UAE and complete the medical fitness test (HIV, TB, and communicable disease screening), biometric registration, and Emirates ID issuance.
Employment Restrictions
The retirement visa does not authorise employment in the UAE, and holders may not work for UAE-based employers. Any freelance or consulting work requires a separate work permit or a switch to an appropriate visa category.
Important Considerations
Deposits held abroad must be transferred to a local UAE institution within 60 days of visa issuance
Staying outside the UAE for more than 180 continuous days results in automatic visa nullification
A 60-day grace period applies after visa expiry or cancellation
Overstay fines are AED 50 per day
Fees vary between channels (GDRFA, DLD, Visit Dubai), so confirm exact costs with your chosen channel
The property route requires the property to be fully paid, or proof of AED 1,000,000 equity if mortgaged
As of August 2026, ADRO nomination requests for the retirement category are temporarily unavailable, though applications continue via ICP and, in Dubai, via GDRFA and the DLD