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UAE retirement visa: how to move to Dubai after 55

The UAE issues a dedicated residence visa for retirees: five years, no employer or sponsor, renewable. Here is who qualifies, which financial condition you need to meet and how to apply.

Who it is for

The retirement visa is for foreigners aged 55 or over who want to live in the UAE without a job or a local sponsor. It is open both to people who have worked in the UAE for years and are retiring, and to those moving from abroad. Employment is not required or expected.

Financial conditions

Meeting one of them is enough. According to official UAE portals in 2026: property in the UAE worth at least AED 1 million, or savings of at least AED 1 million in a UAE bank, or a regular income (pension, annuity) of at least AED 20,000 a month; for people who have worked in the UAE for 15 years or more the income threshold is lower, around AED 15,000. Exact amounts and permitted combinations vary by emirate, so check with ICP or GDRFA when you apply.

Retirement visa through property

If you choose the property route, the home must be in your name and registered with the emirate's land department; its value is confirmed by a valuation. Usually this means a ready property without an outstanding mortgage — check the requirements for your case. It suits people who plan to buy a home to live in anyway: the purchase becomes the basis for the visa.

Documents

A passport valid for at least six months, a photo, proof of the financial condition (a bank deposit statement, the title deed and valuation, or a pension certificate and statements showing it is paid), and health insurance valid in the UAE. Documents issued abroad usually need to be attested and translated into Arabic.

How to apply

In Dubai through GDRFA (the Retire in Dubai programme), or through ICP for the other emirates. The process is the usual one for residence visas: application and fees, an entry permit if you are not yet in the country, a medical test, biometrics and the Emirates ID. It usually takes a few weeks.

Family and renewal

A spouse and children can be added; each has a medical test and gets their own Emirates ID. After five years the visa is renewed if the financial condition is still met. If you sell the property or your savings drop below the threshold, the basis for the visa no longer exists.

Retirement visa or Golden Visa

If you are 55+ and your budget for a home is AED 1–2 million, the retirement visa is often simpler: the threshold is lower than the Golden Visa through property (AED 2 million and up). If you buy for more than AED 2 million, the Golden Visa gives a longer term (usually 10 years) and does not depend on age.

How PromptEstates helps

PromptEstates matches ready and off-plan homes to your budget and shows which options suit the retirement visa, the two-year visa or the Golden Visa.

Frequently asked questions

From what age is the retirement visa available?

From 55. You do not need to have worked in the UAE — it is also issued to people moving from abroad.

Can I work on a retirement visa?

It is not meant for employment. To work you need a work visa or another basis.

Does a mortgaged home qualify?

The retirement visa usually expects a property without an outstanding mortgage — check with GDRFA or ICP for your case.

Do I have to live in the UAE full time?

UAE residence visas other than the Golden Visa can lapse after a long absence (usually over six months), so keep an eye on the dates.

Sources: ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, UAE Government portal — Residence visas, GDRFA Dubai — residency services

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