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UAE

Golden Visa Program

From the tallest building on Earth, the world’s only 7-star hotel, to the largest dancing fountain, and the fastest rollercoaster, the United Arab Emirates is known for breaking records unimaginable. This is the place where aspirations become reality.

WHY CHOOSE UAE?

The United Arab Emirates is a cultural melting pot that brings together people from all over the world, each with their own unique story and a diverse set of skills that make this country the place to be.

Situated on the crossroads of the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa, with excellent air and sea connections with the rest of the world, the country bears great strategic importance for global business.

The UAE has also started offering its own Golden Visa, which enables expats to live, work and study in the country without the need for a national sponsor, and with 100% ownership of their business in the UAE.

With high economic diversity and state of the art infrastructure, the United Arab Emirates presents endless opportunities for businesses to thrive.

BENEFITS

  • Fast and straightforward procedure where applications are processed within 3-4 months;
  • Residency cards are renewed every 5 years for the lifetime of the main applicant and their parents, provided they keep a house of minimum sales value as per the investment thresholds;
  • Applicants are issued with a 1-year long multiple entry residence visa for Greece upon application, which is canceled upon issuance of their residency cards;
  • No VAT is payable on property purchases until the end of 2023;
  • Right and no obligation for residing in the country;
  • Children up to 21 years old and parents of the spouses can participate in the Program;
  • Holders of the residence permit have access to public education (schools, universities) at the same terms as these for Greek nationals;
  • Visa-free access to 172 countries, including Schengen countries;
  • Right to enter and reside in Greece even in case of closed borders;
  • Greece has been ranked as the world’s number one country for retirement.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Greece Golden Visa Program is considered one of the most attractive and competitive residency-by-investment programs in Europe. To qualify, applicants must fulfill all investment criteria in addition to meeting the below requirements:
  • Be at least 18 years old;
  • Possess a valid passport;
  • Enter Greece legally;
  • Complete in full the purchase of the property.

The following family members qualify as dependents of the main applicant:

  • Spouse;
  • Children up to 21 years old;
  • Parents of the main applicant;
  • Parents of the spouse.

INVESTMENT OPTIONS

In order to qualify for the Program, investors must comply with the regulatory requirements related to the contribution. In summary, applicants should:
  • Invest in a housing unit having a minimum price of €250,000. This threshold is raised to €500,000 as on August 1, 2023 for the areas of Central, Southern and Northern Athens and other specific municipalities and islands, or
  • Invest in financial products such as corporate shares, bonds and Government Treasury bonds that are traded on regulated markets, as well as bank deposits. All these must meet certain criteria. The starting investment amount is €400,000 rising to €800,000.

REAL ESTATE

For applicants to be eligible to maintain and renew their permits, they must hold their investments. Reselling the property/investment without replacement nullifies the permits for the applicants. Applicants can own multiple properties as long as the combined value matches or surpasses the minimum property investment threshold. Joint ownership of property by the spouses is allowed as well as joint ownership by two or more main applicants provided each applicant individually meets the minimum investment criteria. The property can be rented out to third parties without any restrictions. Property purchases made after December 31, 2023 will be subject to the payment of VAT on the sales price. Exclusive offers and bespoke products designed by ARTON are available upon request.

APPLICATION FEES

The fees associated with this Program include service fees for the principal applicant and all accompanying family members. Applicants must also consider the out-of-pocket expenses related to the purchase of the property and translation and authentication of documents.

LICENSE OPTIONS

To set up a company in the United Arab Emirates, there are five main categories of licenses to select from depending on your goals:

  • Professional
  • Commercial
  • Trading
  • Industrial
  • Tourism

AVAILABLE PATHWAYS

The United Arab Emirates has three pathways to company registration: mainland for global trading, free zone for 100% foreign ownership in the free zone, and offshore for tax optimization.

Mainland

A mainland company is nothing but an onshore company which is registered under the government authority of the concerned emirate. The trade license is issued by the Department of Economic Development of the particular emirate. A UAE mainland company is mainly characterized by the liberal trading conditions. Unlike the other two types of companies, a mainland company has the advantage of receiving authorization to trade both on the UAE local market and outside the UAE.

Free Zone

A free zone company is a company formed within a special economic area within an emirate where goods and services can be traded. There are more than 40 free zones operating in the UAE. Free zones have their own regulations and have a government regulatory body called the Free Zone Authority. The Free Zone Authority is in charge of trade license issuance. A UAE free zone is characterized by the benefits of 100% foreign ownership and tax concessions. A free zone company is authorized to trade between businesses in and outside of the UAE.

Offshore

An offshore company is a business entity that is set up with the intention of operating outside its registered jurisdiction and/or the location of its ultimate ownership. A company may legitimately move offshore for the purpose of tax optimization or to enjoy more suitable regulations.

AVAILABLE JURISDICTIONS

Establishing a company in any part of the world can be challenging – with a multitude of available jurisdictions in the UAE alone, how do you know which one works for you?

While this can depend on several factors like your business activity, company structure, and the necessity of a physical office space, our seasoned business setup consultants take away the hassle with personalized solutions that cater to your unique business needs.

Here are some of the best jurisdictions in the UAE:

Department of Economic Development (DED) Dubai Mainland

For businesses wishing to operate in Dubai and expand across the UAE, the Department of Economic Development Dubai Mainland enables direct trade with customers, other mainland businesses, and the provision of essential services from the government of Dubai.

Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC)

A globally recognized and strategically located freezone, DMCC is ideal for corporate businesses that require a physical presence. With more than 19,000 companies registered to date, DMCC is a trade and enterprise center for commodities.

Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)

Best known for its world-class port and close proximity to major markets, Jebel Ali Free Zone is an economic trade hub for industrial businesses that require warehouse spaces and logistics infrastructure

Meydan Freezone

Meydan Freezone is the place to be for freelancers and start-ups. With numerous competitive licensing options, this freezone provides a vast support system to new and emerging businesses entering the UAE market.

Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC)

RAK ICC is one of the world’s fastest growing corporate registries. For businesses looking to setup an offshore operation in the UAE, RAK ICC offers the most time-efficient and cost-effective solution.

UAE GOLDEN VISA

In addition to the business setup options which give foreigners short-term residency status, the Government of UAE has also established a successful long-term residency program. The UAE Golden Visa for investors in public projects and real estate secures 10-year visa for qualifying applicants

The minimum investment requirement is AED2M in the form of:

  • A deposit in an investment fund in the UAE, or
  • Purchased property or off-plan deal.

In some cases, there is a minimum mandatory holding period and restrictions to use loans for the investment.

Benefits :

  • Can include the spouse and children, as well as one executive director and one advisor;
  • Extended period for stay outside of UAE for more than 6 months;

APPLICATION FEES

All application fees charged by the UAE government are subject to frequent change. These fees depend on the jurisdiction type, license activity and complexity of the process.

Contact us to get precise quote based on your needs and preferences.

NEXT STEPS:

PROGRAM CHECK

Compare the different programs side by side and examine their features.

PROGRAM COST

Find out the cost estimates for each program tailored to your family.

PROGRAM MAP

See the power of global mobility for each passport.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE (PDF)
ARTON INDEX SCORE
COST
Web Designer 14%
SPEED
Web Designer 5%
GLOBAL MOBILITY
Web Designer 7%
QUALITY OF LIFE
7%
SIMPLICITY
17%

The Arton Index is an overall assessment and comparative benchmark of the country and its investment program.
uae
9,915,803

Population growth 0.58%

47,792 USD

GDP (per capita)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
686 billion USD

179

Visa free countries

LOCATION
Middle East

CAPITAL
Abu Dhabi

DIFFERENCE
UTC +4

TOTAL AREA
83,600 km2

AGE DEMOGRAPHICS
0-14: 14.94%, 15-24: 12.36%, 25-54: 64.15%, 55-64: 6.59%, 65+: 1.96%

LANGUAGE
Arabic: 77%, English: 67%

RELIGIONS
Islam: 76%,

Christianity: 9%,

Hinduism: 8%,

others: 7%

GOVERNMENT TYPE
Elective monarchy

CURRENCY
UAE Dirham (AED)

EXCHANGE RATE
1 USD = 3.67 AED

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