Owning a UAE company is itself a residence route: shareholders can hold a 2-year investor or partner visa attached to their business, with longer 5-year and 10-year options for larger investments. This guide is for founders and shareholders who want residence through their company – who qualifies, the process, the documents, and what it actually costs once company setup and visa fees are counted separately.
What You Need to Know First
The standard route is a 2-year investor or partner visa based on company ownership, costing indicatively AED 4,000-7,000 in government fees as of mid-2026 – on top of, and separate from, the cost of setting up the company itself. Model your own numbers with the visa cost calculator.
- Investor visa and partner visa are the same mechanism: residence attached to shareholding in a UAE mainland or free zone company.
- The 10-year golden visa is a different track, requiring for example AED 2 million in qualifying investment (official u.ae criteria).
- Company setup typically runs AED 12,000-25,000 and the visa stack AED 4,000-7,000 – budget them as two separate lines.
- Your visa is tied to your shareholding: selling your shares or closing the company removes its legal basis.
- An investor visa lets you sponsor your spouse and children, subject to the family sponsorship rules.
Investor visa at a glance
Indicative parameters for the company-ownership routes as of mid-2026:
| Item | Position (mid-2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard duration | 2 years, renewable while you hold the shares |
| Indicative visa cost | AED 4,000-7,000 in government fees per person |
| Separate setup cost | AED 12,000-25,000 for licence and formation, depending on jurisdiction |
| Golden visa threshold | AED 2 million qualifying investment (for example public investment or real estate), per u.ae |
| Family sponsorship | Allowed, subject to income and accommodation rules |
| Sponsor | Self-sponsored through your own company |
Who the investor visa is for
This route fits anyone whose UAE presence is anchored to a business they own: founders relocating to run their company, shareholders who need residence for banking and day-to-day operations, and investors formalising their base. For the strategic reasoning – why founders typically attach residence to their own company rather than an employer – see our guide to founder visa logic. If your goal is family relocation or you are weighing several visa types, start with the broader UAE visa cost guide.
Investor vs partner visa: what the difference is
In practice they are the same visa with different labels: “investor” is commonly used when you own the company outright, while “partner” refers to holding shares in a company with multiple shareholders. Both attach residence to your position in the trade licence, both follow the same fee logic, and both are self-sponsored. Terminology varies by emirate and authority, so do not be surprised when the same product is named differently in Dubai and in a northern-emirates free zone.
The three routes compared
Choose the route by how much you are investing and how long you want the residence to run:
| Route | Duration | Core requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor or partner visa | 2 years | Shareholding in a UAE mainland or free zone company | The default founder route; renewable while ownership continues |
| Green residence (investor or partner category) | 5 years | Approved investment or partnership; criteria set by ICP | Self-sponsored; verify current category requirements with ICP |
| Golden visa (investor category) | 10 years | AED 2 million qualifying investment, for example public investment or real estate (u.ae) | No employer or sponsor needed; family sponsorship without salary caps |
Process: from company to stamped visa
The sequence is always company first, visa second:
- Set up the company. Choose mainland or free zone and obtain the trade licence naming you as shareholder. The choice affects visa quotas and cost – see mainland vs free zone vs offshore.
- Register the establishment card. The company’s immigration file (and e-channel registration where required) enables it to issue visas; some free zones take refundable deposits at this stage.
- Apply for the entry permit. Issued in your name as investor or partner.
- Activate residence. Complete status change (if inside the UAE), the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics.
- Receive the stamped visa. Residence is then valid for the full term, renewable while you hold the shares.
Typical documents: passport, photos, the trade licence and shareholding documents (memorandum or share certificate), the establishment card, and proof of health insurance. If you prefer to have the filings handled, you can speak with a verified consultant about investor visa support.
Setup cost vs visa cost: budget them separately
Most sticker shock comes from mixing two different budgets into one number. The company – licence, registration, office product – typically costs AED 12,000-25,000 depending on jurisdiction, as covered in our Dubai setup cost guide and estimable with the business setup cost calculator. The visa itself is a separate stack of government fees – entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID, issuance – indicatively AED 4,000-7,000 as of mid-2026. Free zones may add e-channel or immigration deposits, often refundable. Price the visa stack for your emirate and duration with the visa cost calculator so the two budgets stay clean.
Sponsoring your family on an investor visa
An investor visa carries the same family sponsorship rights as an employment visa: you can sponsor your spouse and children if you meet the income and accommodation requirements, with each dependent adding their own fee stack and insurance. Golden visa holders can sponsor family without the standard salary caps. The rules, age limits and per-dependent costs are covered in our family visa sponsorship guide.
Renewal – and what happens if you sell your shares
Renewal is routine while the ownership continues: the company licence must be current, and you repeat the medical, Emirates ID and issuance components. The visa’s weak point is its legal basis – your shareholding. If you sell your shares or the company is liquidated, the basis falls away: the visa is cancelled or cannot be renewed, and any dependents’ visas linked to yours follow. Plan the sequencing before an exit: secure an alternative status (a new company, an employment visa or a golden visa) before cancelling the old one, and remember dependents get a grace period after cancellation to regularise their status.
FAQ
What is the difference between an investor visa and a partner visa in the UAE?
Functionally nothing: both attach a 2-year self-sponsored residence visa to shareholding in a UAE company. ‘Investor’ is commonly used when you own the company outright and ‘partner’ when you hold shares alongside others. Fees, process and renewal logic are the same; only the label on the licence differs by emirate and authority.
What is the minimum investment for a Dubai investor visa?
There is no single official minimum for the company route: the practical floor is the cost of forming and licensing a company that names you as shareholder, typically AED 12,000-25,000 as of mid-2026. The 10-year golden visa is different – it requires AED 2 million in qualifying investment under the official u.ae criteria.
Can I get a UAE residence visa by buying property?
Property-linked residence options exist, including a golden visa route at AED 2 million in real estate per u.ae. For shorter property visas, published thresholds vary between sources and have changed over time, so treat any specific figure as unverified and confirm the current requirement directly with GDRFA or ICP before purchasing with a visa in mind.
Can I sponsor my spouse and children on an investor visa?
Yes. An investor visa gives the same sponsorship rights as an employment visa: you can sponsor your spouse and children if you meet the minimum income and accommodation requirements, and each dependent has their own fee stack and mandatory insurance where applicable. Golden visa holders can sponsor family members without the standard salary caps.
How do I check my investor visa validity?
Use the official online channels: the ICP smart services portal or app for visas issued in most emirates, or the GDRFA Dubai app for Dubai-issued visas. Enter your passport or Emirates ID details to see the visa status and expiry date. Your Emirates ID validity normally mirrors the visa term.
Can I work in the UAE on an investor visa?
You can work in and manage your own company – that is the visa’s purpose. Taking employment with another company is a different matter: it typically requires that employer to obtain a work permit for you through MOHRE or the relevant free zone authority. Working outside your own company without a permit risks fines for both sides.
What happens to my visa if I sell my investment or close the company?
The visa loses its legal basis. Selling your shares or liquidating the company leads to cancellation or non-renewal of the investor visa, and dependents’ visas linked to yours follow. A grace period applies after cancellation to regularise status. If you plan an exit, arrange an alternative residence route before cancelling the existing one.
Is a mainland or free zone company better for an investor visa?
Both support investor and partner visas, so the choice rests on business factors: activity permissions, office requirements, cost and visa quotas. Free zone packages are often cheaper to enter and bundle visa allocations with the licence; mainland gives unrestricted onshore trading. The visa itself works the same way in either jurisdiction.
Can I get an investor visa with a mortgaged property?
For property-linked routes, mortgaged properties are commonly reported to qualify only under conditions, such as a minimum paid-off value or a bank no-objection certificate, and practice varies by emirate and programme. Verify the current treatment with GDRFA or ICP and your bank before relying on a mortgaged property for residence.
How long does the investor visa process take?
Once the company exists and its immigration file is active, the visa itself commonly completes within one to three weeks: entry permit, then status change if inside the UAE, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics and stamping. Company formation beforehand adds its own timeline, from days in some free zones to several weeks on mainland.
Next Steps
Decide your route (2-year company visa or a longer track), confirm the jurisdiction for your company, then price the setup and the visa as two separate budgets before engaging anyone.
Calculate your investor visa cost component by component, and pair it with the setup calculator for the full relocation budget.
Sources
UAE Business Setup Specialist
Krystyna Sokolovska is a UAE business setup specialist who helps founders, independent professionals, and growing companies navigate business launch decisions in the Emirates with more clarity and less risk. Her work focuses on the practical side of entry into the UAE market — choosing the right setup path, understanding licensing options, preparing for banking, planning visa steps, and avoiding common mistakes that slow companies down.
Need help with this?
Submit a request and receive tailored offers from verified UAE business consultants. Free, no obligation.