When people talk about visas in the UAE, they often focus on employment — but for entrepreneurs, the investor visa Dubai is a more strategic and flexible option. It gives you residency without tying you to an employer, opens the door to sponsoring family, and proves you’re serious about doing business here.
Unlike tourist visas or short-term freelance arrangements, an investor visa gives you roots. It lets you open a bank account, sign rental contracts, register a car, and build a long-term presence in the country.
We’ve helped countless UK entrepreneurs secure their investor residency as part of a broader company formation process — either through a free zone licence or a full mainland LLC.
And now, with new pathways such as the 3-year investor visa Dubai, the entire process is quicker, more affordable, and more accessible than ever before.
A Dubai investor visa is a residency permit issued to individuals who own shares in a UAE-registered company. This could be a newly formed business (where you're the sole shareholder) or an investment into an existing business with proper share documentation.
The visa comes in several durations — most commonly two or three years — and is renewable as long as your company remains active and in good standing.
The steps usually involve:
You can apply for this through mainland or free zone setups, and in both cases, it allows you to stay in the UAE long term without needing an employer.
If your end goal is tax residency, permanent relocation, or family sponsorship, this visa gives you the most direct path.
A lot of guides online overcomplicate this. The truth is, getting an investor visa in Dubai is straightforward — as long as your business setup is clean and your paperwork is in order.
Here’s the process in clear terms:
You’ll need a valid passport, passport photos, and your company documents. If you’re setting this up from abroad, we can assist with remote formation and pre-approval before you arrive.
Once issued, your UAE investor visa gives you legal residency, and from there, you can proceed with other essentials — from setting up a bank account to leasing an apartment or bringing in dependents.
To qualify for an investor visa in Dubai, you need to show that you own shares in a UAE business. That’s the baseline requirement. The ownership must be documented — typically 100% in your name if it’s a new free zone setup, or as part of an LLC if going mainland.
Here’s what’s usually required:
If you’re forming the company remotely, we help you handle document notarisation, power of attorney, and all required legal filings.
It's also important to ensure your company activity matches the business model. Certain sectors may require external approvals — something we flag early in our licensing process.
There are now several visa lengths available, depending on your setup and issuing authority. Here's how they break down:
If you're wondering about the 2 years residence visa Dubai cost, you're looking at roughly AED 5,000–7,000 all in, including medical, Emirates ID, visa stamping, and insurance. The 1 year visa UAE price is slightly lower, but not by much — which is why most clients opt for 2–3 years when available.
These prices don’t include the cost of the business licence itself, which is handled during setup and depends on whether you go free zone or mainland.
Yes — and this is one of the best benefits of securing a residence visa UAE under the investor category. Once your visa is active and your Emirates ID issued, you can open a dependent file and sponsor your:
To do this, you’ll need to meet the basic income threshold, hold a valid tenancy contract (Ejari), and provide attested marriage/birth certificates. We assist clients with the full family visa application process, including translations and government filings.
This is where having the right trade licence — one that supports residency, renewals, and compliance — really matters. If your company isn’t in good standing, you won’t be able to renew your family’s visas either.
It’s a common question: should I apply for the Golden Visa instead of an investor visa? The answer depends on your timeline and investment level.
The Dubai investor visa is quicker to obtain, has lower upfront costs, and can be secured via simple company ownership — no property, no job offer, and no complex thresholds.
The Golden Visa, however, offers 10 years of residency with fewer renewal requirements and the ability to stay outside the UAE for long periods without losing your status. But it requires more documentation — usually proof of AED 2 million+ investment in real estate or business, or a high-value salary.
For most early-stage founders or solo operators, the investor visa is the natural starting point. You can always upgrade to Golden once you’ve built up qualifying assets or income.
The investor visa Dubai isn't just a way to stay in the country — it’s a statement. It tells banks, landlords, and clients that you're serious. That you're not just passing through. That you’ve put down roots.
It’s flexible, scalable, and recognised across the UAE. Whether you're opening a consultancy, launching an ecommerce brand, or managing global investments through an offshore company, this visa ties everything together.
We’ve helped founders from every background secure their place here — from bootstrapped startups to seasoned entrepreneurs. And we can help you too — without the jargon or the runaround.
Book a call. We’ll walk you through the structure, the documents, the timeline — and get your residency sorted.
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