Golden Visa for Entrepreneurs: AED 500,000 Project Requirement

Entrepreneur Golden Visa at a Glance

Under the UAE Cabinet decree on long‑term visa provisions for investors, entrepreneurs and talents, qualifying entrepreneurs can obtain a five‑year residence visa (Golden residence) that is renewable provided conditions continue to be met. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) implements this category within its Golden Residency services, and MoEC guidance confirms it as a long‑term residence route for owners and partners of qualifying “pilot projects” and SMEs.

Successful applicants are first issued a six‑month multiple‑entry permit. This permit allows them to enter and re‑enter the UAE while they complete the remaining medical, biometrics and residency stamping steps, and it can usually be renewed once for a further six months if procedures are still in progress. Once the Golden visa is stamped, entrepreneurs enjoy a five‑year residence without the need for frequent visa renewals tied to employment contracts.

The benefits cover business partners, up to three executive directors, and the spouse and children. If business and eligibility standards are met, the Golden residence for entrepreneurs and their families is renewable for five years, offering greater planning stability than standard visas. Golden residence holders can sponsor service workers and nominate three CEOs and their families for Golden visas, provided those CEOs work with the entrepreneur for the duration of the permit. This links residency to key business roles, making the entrepreneur Golden visa essential for structuring management teams and long-term operations in the UAE.

The AED 500,000 Project Requirement Explained

The AED 500,000 figure is central to the original framing of the entrepreneur category, particularly for projects assessed on capital value rather than current revenues. It originates in Cabinet‑level decisions and was later incorporated into ICP’s operational criteria for Golden residency.

Origin of the AED 500,000 Threshold

The Cabinet decree of 24 November 2018 describes entrepreneurs eligible for long‑term residency as individuals who have previously implemented a successful project with a minimum value of AED 500,000, or those who have obtained approval from an accredited business incubator in the UAE. Subsequent ICP media releases in 2019 echoed this description, characterising the entrepreneur category around either a 500,000 AED Golden visa project value or incubator approval.

ICP’s current Golden residency services page operationalises this by requiring a formal approval letter from a UAE auditor confirming that the project value is at least AED 500,000. In other words, the Cabinet’s conceptual requirement of a “project of at least AED 500,000” has been translated by ICP into a documentary requirement that quantifies and verifies that value through a licensed audit professional.

Technical or Future‑Oriented Projects and Local Approvals

ICP’s entrepreneur category does not rely solely on a monetary threshold; it also aims to support projects in technical and future‑oriented sectors. For this reason, the Golden residency services page states that, in addition to the AED 500,000 valuation, the entrepreneur must submit either an approval letter from the competent authority in the emirate confirming that the project is of a technical or future nature in which leadership is achieved, or an approval letter from an accredited business incubator in the UAE.

The competent authority will usually be the emirate‑level body responsible for the project’s sector, such as a technology, economic development or free‑zone authority, which assesses whether the project aligns with strategic, innovative or advanced‑technology priorities. Alternatively, an accredited incubator may confirm that the project has sufficient innovation and growth potential. Examples frequently considered “technical or future” include fintech platforms, health‑technology solutions, smart‑manufacturing ventures and advanced digital services, but the final classification depends on the authority or incubator’s assessment.

Alternative Eligibility Routes Beyond the AED 500,000 Requirement

While the AED 500,000 threshold remains embedded in ICP’s description of the entrepreneur category, the Ministry of Economy now sets out additional, and in some cases broader, eligibility routes for entrepreneurs seeking Golden residence.

MoEC SME Revenue Route (AED 1 Million)

An entrepreneur may qualify if they are the owner or partner of a pilot SME project registered in the UAE, in a sector accredited by MoEC or the competent local authority, that generates annual revenues of not less than AED 1 million. This approach focuses on the project’s actual performance and economic contribution rather than solely on initial capital or valuation.

This revenue‑based route is particularly relevant where a project began with relatively modest capital but has grown to a substantial turnover that exceeds the AED 1 million annual threshold. In such cases, the project may not readily fit a simple AED 500,000 capital valuation but can still meet MoEC’s definition of a successful pilot SME project, subject to verification of the sector accreditation and revenue figures.

When the AED 500,000 Requirement May Not Apply Directly

The combination of Cabinet‑level rules, ICP procedures and MoEC’s updated conditions means that the AED 500,000 requirement is no longer the only quantitative test applied to entrepreneurs. Where MoEC’s criteria are framed around revenue of at least AED 1 million, or aggregate project‑sale value of at least AED 7 million, eligibility may be assessed principally on those figures rather than on AED 500,000 capital value.

However, ICP still issues residence permits, and its electronic systems may continue to request specific documents, such as an auditor’s letter or incubator approval, depending on the sub‑category selected. Applicants therefore need to cross‑check the ICP platform, MoEC guidance and any emirate‑specific rules published by competent authorities before applying, as practice and emphasis can vary between cases and over time.

Core Documentation and Conditions for Entrepreneur Applicants

Beyond demonstrating entrepreneurial activity and project quality, applicants must meet baseline identity, residence and compliance conditions that apply across the Golden residency system.

Identity, Residency and Health Insurance

All entrepreneur applicants must submit a copy of a valid passport. They must also hold valid health insurance in the UAE with a term of at least one year, which can be renewed, and provide proof of housing in the UAE through a property ownership certificate (title deed) or a registered tenancy contract, such as Ejari in Dubai. These requirements link long‑term residence to appropriate healthcare coverage and stable accommodation.

An entrepreneur Golden visa applicant must have comprehensive health insurance coverage for themselves and their family members in accordance with the guidelines of the competent local authority. In practice, this means aligning policies with emirate rules (for example, mandatory health insurance in Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and ensuring that dependants added under the Golden visa category are insured at the time of application and at the time of residence issuance.

Personal and Family Information

To extend the entrepreneur Golden visa benefits to spouses, children, business partners and executives, additional personal documents are required. These typically include attested marriage certificates to prove the spousal relationship, birth certificates for children, and identification documents and employment contracts for partners, CEOs or executive directors linked to the project. In some cases, no‑objection letters may be needed where nominees already hold other UAE residence permits.

Cabinet statements and ICP media releases confirm that business partners and up to three executive directors can benefit from the entrepreneur's Golden residence, together with the spouse and children. All such dependants remain subject to the same basic conditions as the principal applicant: valid passports, compliant health insurance, security and background checks, and adherence to local housing rules when their residence is issued.

Application Channels and Emirate‑Specific Notes

Although the legal basis for the entrepreneur Golden visa is federal, the application process and initial assessment bodies differ depending on where the project is based, especially between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates.

ICP Channels for Most Emirates

For emirates other than Abu Dhabi and Dubai, ICP’s Golden residency page states that entrepreneur applications are submitted through the standard ICP channels. This typically involves creating a user account on the ICP smart services portal or using approved service centres, selecting the Golden residency entrepreneur category, and uploading the prescribed documents, including the auditor’s letter, authority or incubator approvals, identity documents and housing proofs.

Once the application is submitted, ICP collects the relevant government fees and reviews the file, sometimes requesting additional information or corrections. If the application is initially accepted, a six‑month multiple‑entry permit is issued so that the entrepreneur can enter the UAE, undergo medical examinations and biometrics, and complete the residence‑stamp procedure. Applicants abroad should factor in the time required for these steps before making operational commitments that depend on residence issuance.

The Cabinet decree also provides that entrepreneurs may later upgrade to an investor Golden visa if they meet the investor‑category requirements, which generally relate to higher investment levels and different types of qualifying assets. The precise investor thresholds and accepted forms of investment can change over time, so entrepreneurs planning such a transition should review the current investor‑category conditions on the ICP platform or with the competent local authorities before restructuring their holdings.

Benefits for Family Members, Partners and Key Executives

One of the strongest practical features of the entrepreneur Golden visa is the ability to structure residence status around a core business team and their families. Cabinet‑level announcements and ICP media releases specify that the Golden residence in the entrepreneur category can cover the entrepreneur, their business partners, up to three executive directors, and the spouse and children of the principal entrepreneur. This is designed to support continuity of management and family life around long‑term projects.

MoEC’s entrepreneurship page provides further detail, noting that an entrepreneur holding a Golden residence may also obtain visas for service workers, subject to the usual labour and immigration rules, and can nominate three CEOs and their family members for Golden visas. The condition is that those CEOs commit to working with the entrepreneur for the duration of the residency permit, underscoring that the Golden residence for executives is linked to an active leadership role in the project rather than a passive title.

FAQ

Is the AED 500,000 project requirement still valid for the UAE entrepreneur Golden visa?

The AED 500,000 threshold remains embedded in the Cabinet decree and is reflected in ICP’s Golden residency entrepreneur category through the requirement for an auditor’s letter confirming a project value of AED 500,000 or more. At the same time, MoEC’s 2025 FAQ introduces complementary routes based on SME revenues, project‑sale value and incubator or authority approvals. Applicants should therefore assess whether they qualify under the AED 500,000 project requirement, a MoEC alternative, or a combination of both when preparing their files.

How can I prove a project value of AED 500,000 for Golden residency purposes?

You must obtain an approval letter from a licensed UAE auditor stating that the project value is at least AED 500,000, as required by ICP’s Golden residency services. Auditors usually rely on audited financial statements, capital‑injection records or valuations of business assets to support this figure and will also verify your status as owner or partner. The auditor’s letter should clearly identify the project and align with your trade licence and corporate documents to avoid inconsistencies during ICP review.

Can I get a Golden visa for entrepreneurs if my revenue is high but my initial capital was below AED 500,000?

MoEC’s conditions allow an entrepreneur to obtain a Golden visa if the applicant owns or partners in a pilot SME project in an accredited sector that generates annual revenues of at least AED 1 million, even if the initial capital was lower. In such cases, eligibility is assessed primarily on current revenue and sector accreditation rather than on the AED 500,000 capital value. You must still satisfy ICP’s procedural requirements and submit the documents requested on its platform, but your substantive qualification can be based on the MoEC revenue route.

Do I still need a business incubator approval if I already meet the AED 500,000 project value threshold?

ICP’s entrepreneur category requires, in addition to the auditor’s letter, either an approval letter from the competent authority in the emirate confirming that the project is of a technical or future nature with leadership potential or an approval letter from an accredited business incubator in the UAE. If you hold a suitable approval from the competent authority, a separate incubator approval is not mandatory. However, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you will generally interact with AREA 2071 or HUB71 as incubator platforms because ICP channels applications through them in those emirates.

How do I apply for an entrepreneur Golden visa through AREA 2071 or HUB71?

For projects based in Dubai, applicants normally start by submitting their information and project details through AREA 2071’s dedicated Golden visa nomination process, while Abu Dhabi projects follow HUB71’s equivalent procedures. These incubator platforms assess innovation, sector alignment, and growth potential, and nominate only applicants they approve to ICP for Golden residence processing. Once nominated, you proceed with ICP’s standard steps, including entry permit issuance, medical tests, biometrics and final five‑year residence stamping.

What documents are required to include my spouse and children in an entrepreneur Golden visa application?

To add your spouse and children, you generally need attested marriage and birth certificates, copies of their passports, and proof of comprehensive health insurance for each family member in line with local authority rules. ICP and MoEC guidance indicate that the spouse and children of an approved entrepreneur can receive a Golden residence linked to the main applicant’s permit, but security checks and identity verification still apply. Housing and financial capacity may also be reviewed to ensure adequate support for dependants.

How long is the entrepreneur Golden residence visa valid in the UAE, and can it be renewed?

The entrepreneur's Golden residence is issued for 5 years and renewable if the eligibility conditions continue to be met. At renewal, you may be asked to provide updated evidence of project performance, sector accreditation, approvals from MoEC or local authorities and continued health‑insurance coverage and housing. Planning ahead for renewal helps avoid gaps in status, especially for family members and executives whose visas are tied to the entrepreneur’s permit.

This article is intended to provide general information based on official UAE sources, and does not constitute personalised legal advice. Before acting, applicants should verify the current rules and fees directly with the relevant authority or an authorised service centre.