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The UAE retirement visa is a 5-year residence route for retired foreigners. It is one of the few UAE visas where the published conditions are short enough to check yourself in a minute, and where one emirate applies a materially higher bar than the federal rule. Read from the UAE Government portal on 8 August 2026; that page carries an update date of 28 July 2026.
The four conditions, as written
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 55 at the time of retirement |
| Work history | Not less than 15 years worked, inside or outside the UAE |
| Financial route 1 | Own property or properties of no less than AED 1 million and hold financial savings of no less than AED 1 million |
| Financial route 2 | Annual income of at least AED 180,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency, from a source inside or outside the country |
| Dubai variation | Annual fixed income of not less than AED 240,000, or the equivalent |
You satisfy one of the two financial routes, not both. Note how route 1 is worded, though: property and savings, each at a million dirhams. A great many summaries present that as property or savings. The official wording is the conjunction, and if your plan rests on owning property alone it is worth confirming with the issuing authority before you commit.
The Dubai difference, and why it is easy to miss
The federal income route is AED 180,000 a year. To apply from Dubai it is AED 240,000 a year, described as fixed income, from a source inside or outside the country. That is a third higher, and it is stated in the same paragraph as the federal figure rather than on a separate Dubai page, which is precisely why so much secondary coverage quotes only the lower number. If you are planning around Dubai specifically, plan around AED 240,000.
Who issues it
Two channels, depending on where you apply. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security issues the residence entry permit for a retired foreigner. In Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs issues the residence permit for the retired foreigner. Which one you deal with follows from the emirate, not from your preference.
If you do not qualify on age or years
The 55 and 15-year conditions are the ones with no workaround. If either fails, the retirement route is closed and the practical alternatives are other long-term categories: the Golden Visa for those who meet an investment, talent or property threshold, or an ordinary property-linked residence. Those run on entirely different criteria, and the Golden Visa cost guide sets out what that route actually requires.
What we have not verified
Government fees for the retirement visa are not stated on this page, because the portal page setting out eligibility does not give them and we have not sourced them elsewhere. Renewal is understood to depend on the conditions continuing to be met, which follows from how the eligibility is framed, but the portal page does not spell out the renewal mechanics either. Ask the issuing authority for both before budgeting.
Frequently asked questions
What are the requirements for a UAE retirement visa?
You must be at least 55 years old at the time of retirement and have worked not less than 15 years, inside or outside the UAE. You must also meet one of two financial conditions: own property of no less than AED 1 million and hold financial savings of no less than AED 1 million, or have an annual income of at least AED 180,000.
How long is the UAE retirement visa valid?
Five years. It is a long-term residence route for retired foreigners, issued by ICP federally and by GDRFA in Dubai.
Is the income requirement different in Dubai?
Yes. To apply from Dubai the annual fixed income must not be less than AED 240,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency, whether the income source is inside or outside the country. The federal figure is AED 180,000.
Do I need both property and savings, or just one?
The official wording of that route requires both: property or properties of no less than AED 1 million and financial savings of no less than AED 1 million. Many secondary sources present it as an either/or. Confirm with the issuing authority if your plan depends on property alone.
Can I qualify on income earned outside the UAE?
Yes. The portal states the annual income condition applies whether the source of income is inside or outside the country, and the same applies to the higher Dubai figure.
What if I am over 55 but worked fewer than 15 years?
The retirement route is not available; both conditions have to be met. The alternatives are other long-term categories such as the Golden Visa or a property-linked residence, which are assessed on different criteria entirely.
Want help checking your case against these conditions before you apply? Browse visa and residency services or send your details and have them checked.
Official references used for context in this article.
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