UAE Golden Visa for Pakistanis (2025 Guide): Benefits, Verified Requirements, Application & Scam Prevention
UAE Golden Visa is the UAE’s long-term residence program (5 or 10 years, renewable) that lets eligible professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, creatives, outstanding students/graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes live, work, and study in the UAE while enjoying extended family sponsorship and travel flexibility. The official UAE Government portal summarizes the program’s benefits, categories, and digital services to apply via ICP (federal) and GDRFA Dubai (emirate), which this guide cites throughout.
What is the UAE Golden Visa?
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa (5 or 10 years, renewable) offered to investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, skilled professionals, outstanding students/graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and frontline heroes. Key program benefits officially include: no sponsor required, flexibility to stay outside the UAE for >6 months without invalidating residency, the ability to sponsor family members (spouse and children regardless of age), and the ability to sponsor unlimited domestic helpers. Family members may remain in the UAE until their permit expiry if the primary holder passes away.
UAE Golden Visa Key benefits
- Long-term stability (5 or 10 years; renewable) to live and work in the UAE with a single residency track. UAE
- No local sponsor requirement—holders can self-sponsor under their approved category. UAE
- Travel flexibility—you can stay longer than six months outside the UAE without losing residency. UAE
- Broader family sponsorship—sponsor spouse and children of any age, plus unlimited domestic helpers. UAE
- Local add-ons (by emirate)—e.g., Abu Dhabi has published partner programs with discounts on real estate, banking, insurance, cars, healthcare, hospitality, etc. (benefits vary and are administered locally). AdroAdroHKTDC Research
Note: Emirate-level perks (e.g., Abu Dhabi Residents Office partner benefits) are additional conveniences, not core immigration rights; always verify current offers at the emirate’s official site. Adro
Who is eligible for UAE Golden Visa? UAE Golden Visa New Rules / UAE Golden Visa Eligibility
The UAE Government portal lists the Golden Visa categories and their specific criteria. Some of the most requested tracks for Pakistanis include: UAE
1) Investors (public investments, deposits, or taxes) – up to 10 years UAE investor Visa / UAE Golden Visa Fee
GDRFA Dubai’s official service details multiple investor tracks with explicit thresholds/controls:
- Public/company investment: investor/partner with ≥ AED 2 million share of company assets (with audited financials, valid trade license, tax registration, bank statement, etc.). gdrfad.gov.ae
- Financial deposit: ≥ AED 2 million deposit with a local UAE bank (can be sukuk/bonds) frozen ≥ 2 years during the 10-year residency. gdrfad.gov.ae
- Tax contribution: ≥ AED 250,000 tax paid in the last year (letter from the Federal Tax Authority). gdrfad.gov.ae
- Fees (Dubai—illustrative): GDRFA lists a residence permit fee of AED 1,100 (plus Knowledge/Innovation Dirhams, “inside country” fee, delivery, and an incremental issuance fee when residency exceeds two years). Always check the latest on the service page when you apply. gdrfad.gov.ae
2) Real estate investors (uae visa by investment)
Two complementary official sources confirm the real-estate route:
- GDRFA Dubai: own one or more properties totaling ≥ AED 2,000,000; if joint ownership, your share must be ≥ AED 2,000,000; valuation must be certified by Dubai Land Department (DLD); lien may be required to ensure ownership continuity throughout the Golden Residency validity. gdrfad.gov.ae
- Dubai Land Department service: confirms property value ≥ AED 2 million; outlines 10-year investor residence, documents (title deed/e-certificate), family/parents sponsorship, service centers, and a detailed fee breakdown (medical exam, 10-year Emirates ID, confirmation of residency, DLD fee, admin fee). Dubai Land Department
Note: The federal portal summarizes real-estate Golden Visa as 5 years (renewable on the same terms). Dubai’s GDRFA/DLD investor pages explicitly run a 10-year track for eligible real-estate investors. Follow the service page of the emirate where you’re applying. UAE / gdrfad.gov.ae Dubai Land Department
3) Entrepreneurs (tech/future projects)
Federal guidance: 5-year Golden Visa if you own a technical/future project meeting valuation (≥ AED 500,000), with letters from (i) a UAE auditor, (ii) the emirate authority confirming future/tech nature, or (iii) an accredited incubator. UAE
4) Outstanding specialised talents (doctors, scientists, creatives, inventors, executives, specialists in engineering/science)
These require endorsements from specified bodies: e.g., MoHAP/Emirates Scientists Council, Dubai Culture/DCT Abu Dhabi, Ministry of Economy for patents; Executives need bachelor’s degree, ≥ 5 years in role, salary ≥ AED 50,000, and valid work contract. UAE
5) Skilled professionals (Abu Dhabi criteria)
ADDED specifies a minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000, MOHRE occupational level 1 or 2, relevant degree, and practising license where required. Applications can run through TAMM/ADRO or ICP. added.gov.ae
6) Outstanding students & graduates
- High-school toppers: national-level ≥ 95% — 5-year Golden Visa.
- UAE university graduates: GPA thresholds (≥3.5 for A-class; ≥3.8 for B-class), graduate within ≤2 years.
- Top 100 global university graduates: GPA ≥3.5 plus UAE MoE equivalency.
These criteria are set out on the UAE Government portal, with detailed GDRFA Dubai service pages for top students/graduates. UAE/gdrfad.gov.ae
7) Humanitarian pioneers & frontline heroes
Humanitarian pioneers (long service or ≥ AED 2 million funding) and recognised frontline heroes (e.g., nurses, lab techs during crises) can qualify via competent authority endorsements. UAE
Step-by-step guide: How Pakistanis can apply for UAE Golden Visa (official channels only)
Only apply via government platforms. Official routes are: ICP Smart Services (federal) and GDRFA Dubai (online smart services or in person at Amer Centers listed by GDRFA). The federal portal also points to UAE PASS and emirate-level tools like TAMM/ADRO. UAEgdrfad.gov.aeadded.gov.ae
Typical flow (verify exact steps on your service page):
Confirm category and gather proofs (e.g., DLD valuation, audited statements/tax letters, salary certificate, endorsements, MoE equivalency). UAE
Create/Log in with UAE PASS and open ICP Smart Services or GDRFA for the relevant Golden Visa category. UAE
Submit application and upload documents; in Dubai you may alternatively apply via Amer Centers listed in the GDRFA investor service. gdrfad.gov.ae
Complete medical fitness & biometrics for Emirates ID, as prompted by the platform; pay fees listed on the service page. Dubai Land Department
On approval, residence is issued and the Emirates ID is produced per the standard workflows. Keep copies of submissions, receipts, and email confirmations. UAE
Expected time: GDRFA’s investor service gives an expected completion time of ~5 days; DLD’s investor service quotes 7–10 business days for its workflow. Timelines vary by category, completeness of documents, and endorsements. Always check the live service page. gdrfad.gov.aeDubai Land Department
UAE Golden Visa Requirements
- Passport and recent photo (UAE photo specs).
- Category evidence (e.g., title deed/e-title & DLD valuation, audited financials/tax letters, salary certificate, practising license, endorsements).
- Education credentials where relevant (MoE accreditation/equivalency).
- Health insurance (as required at issuance/renewal).
Check the ICP or GDRFA/DLD service page for your exact list. UAEgdrfad.gov.aeDubai Land Department
Fees & validity (what to expect) (An Estimate)
- Validity: Golden Visa tracks are 5 or 10 years, depending on category; Dubai investor routes commonly run 10 years. UAE/gdrfad.gov.ae
- Illustrative Dubai fees (investor): Residence permit AED 1,100 (+ Knowledge & Innovation Dirhams, “inside country” fee, delivery). The issuance fee increases AED 100 per year for residencies over two years; DLD investor service lists a detailed fee table for 10-year residence, ID, medical, etc. Review your live service page at the time of application. gdrfad.gov.ae/Dubai Land Department
Family sponsorship (spouse, children & domestic workers)
Golden Visa holders can sponsor spouse and children regardless of age and unlimited domestic helpers. If the primary holder dies, family may remain until permit expiry. These benefits are laid out on the UAE Government portal. UAE
UAE Golden Visa -specific prep checklist for Pakistani nationality
- Property investors: ensure title deeds/e-title, DLD valuation, and understand lien/hold requirements during residency validity (Dubai). gdrfad.gov.ae
- Company investors/deposit/tax routes: prepare audited financials, bank deposit certificate (if applicable), FTA tax letter, and trade license per your sub-path. gdrfad.gov.ae
- Skilled professionals/executives: confirm salary threshold (e.g., AED 30,000 for Abu Dhabi Skilled Professionals), MOHRE occupation level (1–2), UAE practising license (if required), MoE degree accreditation. added.gov.ae/UAE
- Talents/creatives/scientists: secure endorsements only from the named authorities (Dubai Culture/DCT, Emirates Scientists Council, MoE for patents). UAE
How to avoid scams and frauds in the name of “UAE Golden Visa” ?
The UAE has issued official guidance on avoiding labour/visa fraud and stresses the use of official channels only (ICP/GDRFA, apps, licensed typing centres). UAE
Your anti-scam checklist (all verifiable):
- Use only: ICP Smart Services and GDRFA platforms (or Amer Centers) listed on official pages. Verify you are on icp.gov.ae, smartservices.icp.gov.ae, or gdrfad.gov.ae. UAE/gdrfad.gov.ae
Ignore social-media ads promising “express” Golden Visa for extra fees; UAE authorities have publicly warned these are fake and unauthorised. Khaleej TimesUAE
- Never share passport/ID over WhatsApp to unverified agents. Submit documents only through official portals or licensed centers referenced on service pages. UAE
- Confirm endorsements (for talent/creative/science categories) come from the specific government bodies listed on the u.ae page; private “endorsements” for a fee are a red flag. UAE
- Report suspicious offers to the relevant authority’s contact lines (e.g., ICP contact center). icp.gov.ae
UAE Golden Visa FAQs
1) Can Golden Visa holders remain outside the UAE for more than six months?
Yes. Golden Visa holders are exempt from the 180-day rule; residency is not invalidated by being outside >6 months (see federal portal and GDRFA investor page). UAE/gdrfad.gov.ae
2) Do I still need a work permit for a new job if I hold a Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa is self-sponsored residency; employment still requires a valid work permit through MOHRE when changing jobs (process handled by the employer via official systems). (For immigration facts, rely on u.ae/ICP/GDRFA; employment permits are a separate labour process.) UAE
3) What minimum property value qualifies in Dubai?
AED 2,000,000 total (single or multiple properties), with DLD valuation/controls; conditions include lien during residency and rules for joint ownership. gdrfad.gov.ae
4) What salary is needed for Abu Dhabi’s Skilled Professionals track?
AED 30,000/month (or equivalent), plus MOHRE level 1–2 role, degree, and licences where required, per ADDED. added.gov.ae
5) Where do I apply for UAE Golden Visa ?
Use ICP (federal) or GDRFA Dubai (online or Amer Centers). The federal portal points directly to these digital services and eligibility checkers. UAE
Conclusion
Getting Saudi Exit-Re-Entry or Final Exit right comes down to a few controllable checkpoints and using the correct official channel for your situation. For families/dependents, Absher (Individuals) is the primary route to issue E/R or, when eligible, a Final Exit; always confirm passport validity (≥90 days for E/R; ≥60 days for Final Exit), ensure the iqama comfortably covers your requested duration, settle any traffic fines, and remember the “no vehicle registered” rule for dependents’ Final Exit. These are explicit service conditions in the Absher user guides and National Platform pages, and they are the biggest causes of avoidable rejections. (absher.sa, My.gov)
For employees/workers, issuance typically sits with the employer through Absher Business/Muqeem; however, under the labor-mobility reforms, certain worker-initiated Final Exit scenarios are possible when contractual criteria in the HRSD/Qiwa ecosystem are met. In practice, success still depends on the same baselines: valid passport/iqama, cleared violations, presence inside KSA at issuance, and compliance with the platform’s prompts. absher.sa
If a traveler is abroad when plans change, you generally have two official lifelines: (1) Absher’s “Extend Exit & Re-Entry for Sponsors Outside Kingdom” service initiated by the sponsor; and (2) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Request for extending a return visa” via the embassy channel, with stamping and documentary conditions set by MOFA. Before flying, you can also verify or print visa details through Absher inquiry or the Muqeem Visa Validity checker for peace of mind at the airport. (My.gov, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, vv.muqeem.sa)
Finally, budget carefully: current public clarifications indicate that E/R fees are not refundable even if the visa is cancelled, and fee tables for single vs. multiple E/R (and outside-KSA extensions) are widely reported based on Jawazat guidance. Confirm fee and validity on the service page at the moment you apply, then lock plans accordingly to avoid waste. As interfaces and wording are periodically updated, always treat the Absher/National Platform service pages as your source of truth on the day of issuance. (The Economic Times, Gulf News, My.gov)
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