Investor visa UAE: the partner visa through your own company

When people search for an investor visa or partner visa in Dubai they usually mean the standard residence visa for the owner of a licensed company. It is not the golden visa or the green visa: there is no fixed federal investment amount on this route, the visa is tied to your shareholding in a company with a valid licence.

That makes it the most common way for founders to live in the UAE. It also means the visa depends on the company staying active, which matters for renewal and cancellation.

Residence visas are issued by UAE authorities, and the free zone or the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism sets the licence-side conditions. Timelines and individual quotas vary, so treat the points below as the general pattern and confirm with your zone.

Investor visa UAE compared with golden and green visas for company owners

Quick rule: The standard investor visa is the practical starting point for most founders. Green and golden visas suit owners who invest more and want a longer, less licence-dependent residence.

Investor visa UAE requirements

The general pattern is the same across mainland and free zone companies: a valid trade licence in which you appear as shareholder or partner, an establishment card for the company, a passport valid for at least six months, and then the entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID. Some free zones add their own share certificate or lease conditions.

• Valid trade licence showing your name and shareholding
• Immigration establishment card for the company
• Passport valid for at least six months
• A medical test and Emirates ID biometrics in the UAE

Dubai partner visa for minority shareholders

A partner visa is for a co-owner of the company rather than the majority shareholder. The licence or its partners' appendix shows the percentage you hold, and that holding is the basis of the application. Whether a minimum share applies depends on the authority and the free zone, so ask before you sign the shareholders' agreement.

Partner visa renewal and cancellation in Dubai

Renewal normally needs the licence and establishment card to be in force. If you leave the company, sell your shares or the licence lapses, the visa is generally cancelled, and you need another basis to stay. If you plan a share transfer, ask your PRO team to schedule the cancellation and any new visa so you do not fall out of status.

Investor visa UAE cost

Typically AED 3,400–6,500 per visa plus an establishment card at AED 1,500–2,500 (October 2026). Each extra visa adds the per-visa cost again. The number of visas you can issue depends on your licence and office, so ask your zone.

How the investor visa is issued

1. 1

   Get your trade licence

   Your name and shareholding must appear on the licence.

2. 2

   Open the establishment card

   The company's immigration file, needed before any visa is processed.

3. 3

   Apply for the entry permit or status change

   Apply online or through a PRO team, from outside or inside the UAE.

4. 4

   Medical test and Emirates ID biometrics

   Done at authorised centres, usually the same day or within a few days.

5. 5

   Residence permit issued

   ICP replaced the passport sticker with the Emirates ID in 2022.

Documents you will usually need

• Passport copy valid for at least six months
• Passport-size photo
• Trade licence and, where relevant, free zone share certificate
• Memorandum of association or partners' appendix
• Establishment card
• Current visa or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE

Things to weigh up

• The visa depends on the company. A cancelled licence or sold shares usually ends the visa.
• Visa numbers can be limited by your office or licence type, so confirm before you hire or add family.
• Some free zones add their own conditions, such as a share certificate or minimum desk, on top of federal rules.