Is the UAE retirement visa a Golden Visa?

No. The retirement visa is a separate 5-year renewable residence permit for people aged 55 or over. The Golden Visa is a 10-year permit with different criteria.

What are the retirement visa requirements?

Age 55 or over, at least 15 years of work before retirement inside or outside the UAE, and one of: property worth at least AED 1 million, AED 1 million in savings, or annual income of at least AED 240,000.

What is the UAE Blue Visa?

The Blue Residency is a 10-year residence permit approved by the UAE Cabinet in May 2024 for exceptional contributors to environmental protection and sustainability. You can apply to ICP or be nominated by a competent authority.

Golden Visa vs Retirement Visa vs Blue Visa: Which UAE Long-Term Residency Fits You?

People often use "Golden Visa" to mean any long-term UAE residence. In fact there are three distinct schemes with different rules. Choosing the right one can save you money and paperwork.

Golden or retirement?

Gulf Pilot's free eligibility checker tests both the Golden Visa and the retirement visa in one go.

At a glance

Scheme	Duration	Who it is for	Key threshold
Golden Visa	10 years	Investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, talents, top students, humanitarians	e.g. AED 2m property or AED 30,000/month salary
Retirement visa	5 years	Retirees aged 55+	AED 1m property or savings, or AED 240,000/year income
Blue Residency	10 years	Environmental and sustainability contributors	Exceptional contribution, by application or nomination

The Golden Visa

A 10-year self-sponsored residence permit with routes for investors (including property worth AED 2 million), entrepreneurs, skilled professionals earning at least AED 30,000 a month, exceptional talents, outstanding students and humanitarian pioneers. There is no limit on time spent outside the UAE while the permit is valid. Full details are in our complete Golden Visa guide.

The retirement visa

A separate 5-year renewable residence permit, confirmed by GDRFA Dubai and u.ae. You need to be 55 or over, have worked for at least 15 years before retiring (inside or outside the UAE), and meet one of these:

property worth at least AED 1 million;
savings of at least AED 1 million; or
annual income of at least AED 240,000.

Dubai Land Department describes the property option as property worth AED 1 million paid in full and unmortgaged, or, if mortgaged, with at least AED 1 million paid as shown in a bank letter. For many retirees this is far more accessible than the AED 2 million Golden Visa property route.

The Blue Residency

Approved by the UAE Cabinet on 15 May 2024, the Blue Residency is a 10-year permit for people who have made exceptional contributions to environmental protection and sustainability, in areas such as marine and land conservation, air quality, sustainability technology and the circular economy. It is open to members of international organisations, companies, associations and NGOs, global award winners, and distinguished activists and researchers, whether inside or outside the UAE. You can apply directly to ICP or be nominated by a competent authority, and ICP offers applicants a six-month multiple-entry visa to complete the process.

Which one fits you?

Salaried professional earning AED 30,000+ a month: Golden Visa, skilled professional route. See our salary route guide.
Property owner with AED 2 million or more: Golden Visa, property route. See our property guide.
Aged 55+ with AED 1 million in property or savings, or AED 240,000 a year: retirement visa.
Sustainability leader or researcher: Blue Residency.

Next steps

Test the Golden and retirement routes together with Gulf Pilot's free checker.
Read the official service page on gdrfad.gov.ae or icp.gov.ae for your chosen route.
Moving house as part of your plans? Check your tenancy rights with our free AI Rights Assistant.