UAE retirement visa cost (retiree residence)

Who the retirement visa is for

The UAE offers a five-year retirement residence for applicants who are at least 55 years old. It is renewable while the qualifying conditions continue to be met, and it lets the holder sponsor a spouse and children and access UAE banking and healthcare.

It is important not to confuse this with the 10-year Golden Visa. The retirement visa is a distinct five-year route aimed specifically at retirees, with its own financial tests.

The three financial routes

You generally qualify by meeting one of three financial conditions: owning property in the UAE valued at AED 1 million or more, holding financial savings of at least AED 1 million, or earning an annual income of at least AED 180,000. Some 2026 guidance references a monthly income of around AED 20,000, and Dubai's Retire in Dubai programme references a minimum monthly income of about AED 15,000.

For the property route, the property normally needs to be fully paid and registered with the Dubai Land Department. Where the property is mortgaged, the amount paid usually needs to reach AED 1 million, supported by a bank letter to the immigration authority.

• Property: AED 1 million or more, paid and DLD-registered.
• Savings: AED 1 million or more in a UAE account.
• Income: about AED 180,000 a year (Dubai references about AED 15,000 a month).

Figures and rules are periodically updated. Confirm the current thresholds with the official UAE sources before applying.

What it costs on top

Meeting a financial route is the eligibility step, not the total cost. Government charges for medical examination, Emirates ID, and the residence permit apply, and family sponsorship adds fees per person.

Ask any provider to separate official government fees from professional service fees, and to price each sponsored family member individually rather than quoting a single bundled figure.