The UAE has relaxed the rules for granting residency to retired foreigners. In 2018, the country introduced a retirement visa for its residents aged 55 years or older. The new conditions make non-Emiratis with at least one property worth Dh1 million (approximately $275,000), or a bank deposit of Dh1 million, or an active annual income of Dh180,000 (Dh15,000 per month), eligible to apply for the retirement visa.

“Today, we approved the conditions for granting residency to retired foreigners. Retirees can continue their stay with us in the UAE. We welcome everyone in our country,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Earlier, for a retiree to be eligible for a five-year renewable retirement visa, they had to either invest in a property worth Dh2 million; have financial savings of no less than Dh1 million, or have an active monthly income of no less than Dh20,000.

The Retire in Dubai programme allows eligible applicants to apply for a long-term UAE retirement visa.

The programme is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Gulf region. It was launched by Dubai Tourism and Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD).

Retired residents over the age of 55, their spouse and dependents can qualify for a 5-year UAE Retirement Visa. The visa is renewable after five years provided the retiree continues to meet the eligibility criteria at the time of renewal.

Why the UAE is opening its doors to retirees

Experts maintain that the relaxation in the financial requirements will allow even more expats to stay back in the UAE after their retirement. Officials maintain that the ‘Retire in Dubai’ programme, in collaboration with Dubai Tourism and the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship (FAIC), will contribute towards making the economy more dynamic and will facilitate frequent visits by the families and friends of the retirees.

According to the Dubai Statistics Centre (DSC), about 170,000 people in Dubai are over 55 years old, with expats representing almost 92 per cent of the population in the emirate.  Beyond the number of existing retirees, 12 per cent of the emirate’s population is between 45 and 54 years old. According to officials, about 1.3 per cent of employed people in the UAE were aged between 60 and 64 and fewer than one in 200 are aged over 65.

Providing qualified expats with residence visas to stay beyond their working lives and the introduction of a series of other new visa options will give a boost to the tourism sector and economic activities, the participants at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 heard this May.

Detailed eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a 5-year renewable Dubai retirement visa, the retiree must fulfil one of the following criteria:

Dubai Retirement Visa: The Requirements

If you qualify, then there should be nothing stopping you from making this amazing country your retirement home.

Wondering how to go about it? Here’s a step-by-step application process:

Step 1

Send an e-mail to retireindubai@dubaitourism.ae with your application and documentation attached (see below for a complete list of documents).

Step 2

You will then receive a payment link for the non-refundable $25 processing fee for Dubai Tourism’s service partners, Al Rais.

Step 3

Once you’ve paid the fees, your documents will be processed. You’ll receive an e-mail in case additional documentation is required (within three working days).

Step 4

Once the documents are in order, your application will be forwarded to the relevant entity for processing your visa.

• For those applying for the Dubai Retirement Visa on the basis of their income and savings (Options A or B), the application will be sent to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
• For those applying for the Dubai Retirement Visa on the basis of property ownership (Option C), the application will be sent to the Dubai Land Department (DLD). Please do note that properties with DIFC title deeds are currently not being processed by DLD but will be considered by GDRFA.

Applicants will receive updates on the status of their application directly from DLD or GDRFA, whichever is applicable.

DOCUMENTS

Please note that all certificates must be translated into Arabic. If you are an international applicant, please ensure the letters are attested by the UAE embassy in your country.

Base Documentation

1. A copy of the applicant’s passport
2. Copies of the dependents’ (spouse and children) passports if applicable
3. A copy of the applicant’s marriage certificate (in case s/he wishes to sponsor their spouse)
4. A copy of the applicant’s and their dependants’ current visas and Emirates IDs (in case the applicant and their dependants are UAE residents)

Documents for Option A

(Dh15,000 or equivalent monthly income from a pension or previous employer)

1. Proof of Retirement: To prove that you are a qualified retiree who has worked in the past. It can be in the form of:

• An end of service letter

– End of service letter from your last employer

– It should specify the number of years of service

– It must validate that you are a retiree

OR

• A letter from your social services or an equivalent entity

– Must specify that you are retired

2. Proof of income source: A letter confirming that you receive a monthly income of at least Dh15,000 monthly (Dh180,000 annually). The letter must include the name of the beneficiary (you) and specify the date when your pension began.

The letter can either be:

• From the relevant entity which provides the source of income, e.g., pension scheme
• From your previous employer if they are continuing to provide monthly retirement income

3. Six-month bank statement:

Please note that, at this stage, GDRFA only considers income from pension schemes or social services.

• A minimum deposit of Dh15,000 from the pension scheme / social service into your account
• Dubai-based bank
• Monthly statement for the last six months, stamped by your bank

Documents for Option B

(Dh1 million or equivalent savings in a three-year fixed deposit)

1. Proof of Retirement: To prove that you are a qualified retiree who has worked in the past. It can be in the form of:

• An end of service letter

– End of service letter from your last employer

– It should specify the number of years of service

– It must validate that you are a retiree

OR

• A letter from your social services or an equivalent entity

– Must specify that you are retired

2. Proof of savings:

Stamped bank letter from a UAE-based bank (in Arabic)

• The Dh1m must be placed in a three-year fixed deposit in a bank located in UAE
• The bank must issue a letter addressed to the GDRFA, stating that the funds are secured as above

Documents for Option C

(Dh1 million or equivalent unmortgaged property)

1. Copy of Title Deed:

• The property must be located in Dubai (not in any other emirate or country)
• A minimum value of Dh1m as per the title deed
• It must be in the name of the applicant (not the applicant’s spouse). If owned by a company, the company must be 100% owned by the applicant
• In case there are shared owners, the applicant’s share (and spouse’s share collectively) of property ownership must be at least Dh1m
• It must be fully paid for (unmortgaged)
• It must not be off-plan

Please note:

• Properties with DIFC title deeds are currently not being processed by DLD but will be considered by GDRFA
• Multiple properties with a combined value of Dh1m may be used as long as they meet the above criteria

Documents for Option D

(A combination of Options B and C valued at least Dh1 million or equivalent in a 3-year fixed deposit and unmortgaged property)

1. Copy of Title Deed:

• The property must be located in Dubai (not in any other emirate or country)
• A minimum value of Dh1m as per the title deed
• It must be in the name of the applicant (not the applicant’s spouse). If owned by a company, the company must be 100% owned by the applicant
• In case there are shared owners, the applicant’s share (and spouse’s share collectively) of property ownership must be at least Dh1m
• It must be fully paid for (unmortgaged)
• It must not be off-plan

Please note:

• Properties with DIFC title deeds are currently not being processed by DLD, but will be considered by GDRFA
• Multiple properties with a combined value of Dh1m may be used as long as they meet the above criteria

2. Proof of Savings:

Stamped bank letter from a UAE-based bank (in Arabic) of the balance amount i.e. If the property’s value is Dh500,000, then you must prove at least Dh500,000 in savings.

• The savings must be placed in a three-year fixed deposit in a bank located in the UAE
• The bank must issue a letter addressed to GDRFA, stating that the funds are secured as above

So that’s the documentation required. The good thing is that, once you’re done with it, you won’t need to renew your Dubai Retirement Visa for the next five years.

After all the paperwork is complete and accepted, it will take about 15 working days for your visa to be processed.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Once your Dubai retirement Visa application is approved, you will be invited to undergo a medical test. After the medical examination, you will be expected to purchase a medical insurance plan that suits you. Please note that it is not mandatory (but recommended) to purchase one from local insurance providers. You may use your existing international insurance as long as you provide a letter from the insurance provider specifying that the coverage includes the UAE.