Dubai Residence Visa for the Retired

Who qualifies

GDRFA Dubai issues the permit to retired foreigners who are 55 or older and who completed at least 15 years of service before retirement, whether that service was inside or outside the UAE. The permit is self-sponsored, so no employer or host in the country is involved.

Financial requirements

The financial test can be met in one of three ways:

1. A fixed annual income of at least AED 240,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency, from a source inside or outside the UAE. GDRFA asks for bank statements covering the last six months and a letter from an official body naming the source.
2. A deposit of at least AED 1,000,000 held inside or outside the UAE. Funds held abroad must be moved to a financial institution in the UAE within 60 days of the residence being issued, unless the money is invested in the UAE.
3. Property worth at least AED 1,000,000, counted by purchase value or market value, with one property or several added together. The emirate’s land authority carries out the valuation.

A mortgaged property is accepted when at least AED 1,000,000 of the mortgage has been paid at the time of applying. The Dubai Land Department retiree service applies the same idea, asks for a bank letter showing the amount paid, and requires the property to be in the applicant’s name.

The application route

Income and deposit cases are filed with GDRFA Dubai. Applicants log in to the smart services system with UAE Pass or a username, or file at a Customer Happiness Center or an Amer Service Center. The online service runs around the clock, and GDRFA lists an expected completion time of 48 hours. The full requirements are on the GDRFA Dubai service page for the retired foreigner permit.

Property owners can use the Dubai Land Department retiree service instead. The applicant attends a Golden Visa service center, such as Golden Cube or the office at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and the listed service time is 7 to 10 business days.

Costs

GDRFA lists a permit fee of AED 200, plus AED 10 for the Knowledge Dirham, AED 10 for the Innovation Dirham, AED 500 for applications made inside the UAE and AED 20 for delivery. The permit fee rises by AED 100 for each year beyond two years, and the five-year schedule on the same page shows AED 2,280 for residence and AED 575 for the identity card.

On the Dubai Land Department route the retiree pays AED 6,984.75 in total: AED 700 for the medical examination, AED 653 for a five-year Emirates ID, AED 2,456.75 for the residence permit, AED 2,020 as the department fee and AED 1,155 in administrative fees. Opening a sponsorship file for family members adds AED 318.75. Health insurance premiums are paid separately on either route.

Duration, renewal and grace period

The permit lasts five years and is renewable under the same terms as when it was first granted. Renewal runs as a separate GDRFA service. After the permit expires or is cancelled, the holder has a 60-day grace period to stay in the UAE.

Family members

The Dubai Land Department retiree service allows the husband or wife and children to be sponsored. Each dependent adds documents, health insurance and fees to the budget, and marriage and birth certificates are part of the family file.

Work and health insurance

GDRFA files this permit under residency services issued without work permission, so income has to come from a pension, savings or other sources outside a UAE job. Valid UAE health insurance is required for the applicant.