United Arab Emirates — founder

UAE Business/Investor Visa (free zone company)

Guide last reviewed: . Check the linked official guidance for current rules and application availability.

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The full guide

A standard 2-3 year investor/partner residency visa tied to owning and actively running a UAE free zone or mainland company — 100% foreign ownership has been allowed in both structures since the 2021 Commercial Companies Law reform. This is genuinely different from the Golden Visa: there's no single fixed capital minimum for the visa itself, no long independent validity, and the residency stays tied to keeping your trade license active. What actually gates entry is the real cost of forming and licensing the company plus the visa process, which typically runs AED 18,000-30,000 all-in for the first year in a standard free zone, before ongoing annual license renewal.

Processing: 2-7 business days

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See exactly what UAE Business/Investor Visa (free zone company) requires

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  • ✓Common pitfalls that actually cause refusals for this route
  • ✓See if YOU qualify — your real fit score, not a generic checklist

This is everything your application involves. Start a plan to get it done.

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Use these free resources alongside the official instructions for your chosen route.

Pasage provides immigration pathway information and preparation help based on official public criteria. We are not immigration lawyers, regulated advisers, or agents, and we do not guarantee any visa outcome. Rules and thresholds change — always confirm against the official source linked above before you apply.

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