Sign in Subscribe
Emigration and immigration

UAE Golden Visa: Separating Fact from Fiction

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The announcement of a Rs 23 lakh Golden Visa in the UAE has sparked widespread discussion among Indians, with many wondering if this is a new category for foreigners to apply for UAE residency. According to Paresh Karia, CEO of Acquest Advisors, the "nomination-based visa" is actually a rebranding and formalization of existing practices under the UAE's Golden Visa framework. This new narrative shift is making the nomination process more mainstream and visible, especially to Indian professionals, business owners, and investors.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa that enables foreign nationals to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying benefits such as no income tax, capital gains or inheritance tax.
  • Currently, there are four categories under which foreigners can apply for the UAE Golden visa -- Business investors, Real estate investors, Entrepreneurs, and Outstanding Specialised Talents.
  • Investment amounts for these categories range from Rs 1.16 crore for entrepreneurs to over Rs 4 crore for investors.
  • The "nomination-based visa" is a rebranding and formalization of existing practices, where select individuals are recommended for long-term residency by government or semi-government entities based on their achievements or contributions to the economy.
  • The UAE has long operated a nomination system where individuals are recommended for residency based on their achievements or contributions to the economy.
  • The nomination process is becoming more transparent and accessible, especially to Indian professionals, business owners, and investors.
  • A background check is the first step in the UAE Golden Visa application procedure for those who apply under the nomination category, including anti-money laundering screening, social media checks, and criminal record checks.
  • Candidates can obtain pre-approval in their native country and will not be required to travel to Dubai for this process.

Statistics:

  • The UAE Golden Visa requires a minimum investment of AED (Rs 4.66 crore) in property for the business or real estate category.
  • The "nomination-based visa" does not require any investment in real estate or business.
  • The UAE government receives over 1,000 nominations for Golden Visas every month (Source: Paresh Karia, CEO of Acquest Advisors).
  • The UAE has a population of approximately 9.5 million people, with a growing expat community (Source: World Bank, 2022).

Sources:

  • World Bank (2022)
  • Contify.com
  • IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd. (2025)

Read more