How do you retire in the UAE?

The retirement visa gives residents aged 55+ a renewable 5-year residence if they hold about AED 1 million in property or savings, or an income of AED 180,000+ a year.

Last updated: 2026-09-22 · Reviewed against official UAE government sources · Rules change often — always confirm with ICP or GDRFA before acting.

The financial routes

Route	Published threshold
Property	AED 1,000,000+ owned property
Savings	AED 1,000,000+ in qualifying savings or deposits
Income	AED 180,000+ per year (≈ AED 15,000/month)

Some program descriptions also cite a prior-work-history condition (commonly quoted as 15 years); its application varies by route and emirate — confirm whether it applies to your case.

Retirement vs property Golden Visa

If your plan already includes AED 2M+ in UAE property, the Golden property route doubles the term to 10 years with no age condition — often the cleaner instrument for property-based retirees.

Field notes — mistakes people actually make. Recurring issues reported in expat communities and case write-ups (individual cases vary):

Bringing unattested foreign financial documents — attestation and certified translation are where applications stall.
Counting a jointly-owned home's full value toward a single applicant's threshold.

Verify at the source

Rules change without notice. These official pages decide your case — check them before acting on anything above:

Frequently asked questions

Can I retire in Dubai without buying property?

Yes — the savings route (about AED 1M in qualifying deposits) and the income route (AED 180,000+/year) both work without property. Documentation differs by route; confirm with GDRFA for Dubai.

Does foreign pension income count for the UAE retirement visa?

Pension income can support the income route if properly documented, subject to current verification rules — confirm acceptable proof formats before applying.

Sources & verification. Figures on this page were cross-checked on 2026-09-22 against UAE government portals (u.ae, ICP) and current legal-advisory publications. This site is an independent guide by Growtoday Holdings FZE, Dubai — not a government website and not legal advice. Requirements vary by emirate, nationality and case; confirm with ICP/GDRFA or a licensed advisor before making decisions.

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