UAE Retirement Visa (5-Year, Age 55+)

General information, current as of 2026 but not guaranteed — visa thresholds, fees and rules are set by the authorities and change by circular. Always verify the current position with the official bodies before acting: GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae), the Dubai Land Department (dubailand.gov.ae), ICP (icp.gov.ae), or the UAE Government portal (u.ae). Do not state figures/fees as fixed.

What it is

A 5-year renewable UAE residence permit designed for retired foreigners. It is renewable as long as the eligibility conditions continue to be met. It is issued without needing a company sponsor/employer inside the UAE. This is a separate product from the Golden Visa — different eligibility and duration (Golden Visa = 10 years; Retirement Visa = 5 years). Do not confuse the two.

Basic eligibility

• Age: 55 or older.
• Work history: generally at least 15 years of service (inside or outside the UAE).
• PLUS qualifying through ONE of the financial/property routes below.

The three qualifying routes (meet ONE)

1. Property route — own Dubai property valued at AED 1 million or more. The Dubai Land Department's retiree service treats a retiree aged 55+ with property of purchase value ≥ AED 1M as eligible for the 5-year renewable permit. If the property is mortgaged, it can still qualify: at least AED 1M must have been paid, OR a bank letter must be provided stating the amount paid (the deposit generally cannot be released within 3 years), addressed to GDRFA. 2. Savings / deposit route — a financial deposit of AED 1 million or more. If the deposit is held outside the UAE it generally must be transferred into a UAE financial institution within ~60 days after residency issuance (subject to stated exceptions). Renewal requires a certificate of financial deposit. 3. Income route — a fixed annual income of AED 240,000/year (≈ AED 20,000/month). The income can be from inside or outside the UAE (e.g. a pension). Application requires bank statements for the previous 6 months plus documentation of the income source.

• Note: the UAE federal page shows an AED 180,000 figure for some cases, but Dubai applications

specifically require AED 240,000/year — for Dubai, use AED 240,000. (Confirm at time of applying.)

Family

The retiree can sponsor their spouse and children (via the family residence permit option) — it is not limited to the retiree living alone. Family members carry additional fees of ~AED 4,968.50 per person (per the Dubai Land Department listing), so the total family cost is higher than the retiree-only figure.

Validity & renewal

• Valid for 5 years, renewable provided the requirements are still met at renewal.
• Issued without an in-UAE sponsor/host.

Approximate Dubai government fees (retiree, property route — subject to change)

As currently listed for the Dubai Land Department retiree service (approximate, confirm at application):

• Medical examination: ~AED 700
• Emirates ID (5 years): ~AED 653
• Residence permit confirmation (5 years): ~AED 2,456.75
• Dubai Land Department fees: ~AED 2,020
• Administrative fees: ~AED 1,155
• Indicative retiree total: ~AED 6,984.75 (family members add more). GDRFA lists renewal/permit fees

separately and notes fees vary by circumstance (e.g. applying from inside vs outside the UAE).

Documents (broad outline — varies by route)

• General: passport, personal photograph, existing UAE Emirates ID/residence copy if applicable.
• Property route: title deed / DLD ownership document (+ valuation where required; bank letter/NOC if mortgaged).
• Savings route: bank/deposit certificate and deposit documentation.
• Income route: bank statements for the previous 6 months + official proof of the income source.

Health insurance

Because it is a residence visa, the applicant must meet the applicable UAE/Dubai health and medical requirements — budget separately for health insurance, which can be significant at age 55+. Check the official Dubai retirement pages for the current insurance/document requirements at the time of applying.

Do not confuse with the Golden Visa

• Retirement Visa = 5 years, age 55+, AED 1M property OR AED 1M savings OR AED 240k/year income.
• Golden Visa = 10 years, property investment of AED 2M+ (no age requirement). See the Golden Visa topic.

How Top Class helps

Many retirees qualify via the property route — buying a Dubai home of AED 1M+ both provides a residence and unlocks the 5-year retirement visa. Our advisor can help identify qualifying properties in budget and connect the client with the right GDRFA/DLD processing channel. For the definitive, current rules and fees, always verify with GDRFA Dubai / the Dubai Land Department.