UAE Opens Doors to Lifetime Residency for Indians with New Nomination-Based Golden Visa

New Delhi/Dubai, July 8, 2025 — In a significant departure from its traditional investment-linked residency model, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled a revamped Golden Visa programme offering lifetime residency to eligible Indians for a one-time fee of AED 1,00,000 (approximately ₹23.3 lakh), without the mandatory requirement of investing in property or business.

The new initiative, reflecting the UAE’s efforts to deepen economic and social ties with India, expands the Golden Visa beyond wealthy investors to include a broad spectrum of professionals. Under this nomination-based scheme, applicants can be chosen for their professional expertise, societal contributions, or potential to advance key UAE sectors such as science, culture, healthcare, education, startups, and finance.

Eligible categories now include healthcare workers like nurses, teachers, digital content creators, scientists, corporate executives, and maritime or logistics professionals. However, despite the attractive fee structure, approval is far from automatic. All applicants must undergo rigorous background checks, including anti-money laundering (AML) screenings and criminal record verifications.

In India, the application process is facilitated by Rayad Group in partnership with VFS Global and One Vasco. Submissions can be made through physical centres, online platforms, or dedicated call centres, and initial pre-approvals can be secured without travel to the UAE.

Compared to the older Golden Visa model, which demanded a minimum real estate investment of AED 2 million (around ₹4.66 crore), the revamped programme offers several advantages: lifetime residency irrespective of property ownership, the freedom to work or invest in any sector, the ability to sponsor family and domestic staff, no minimum asset threshold, and tax benefits like zero personal income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax.

The programme has already generated significant interest, with expectations that over 5,000 Indians may apply in the first three months alone.

However, official UAE government guidelines clarify that financial capability alone does not guarantee a Golden Visa. Investors from India still have to either place AED 2 million in a UAE-accredited fund or own qualifying real estate of similar value. Applicants must also provide proof of medical insurance and ensure that their capital is not financed through loans.

Despite the lower threshold under the nomination-based model, each category from students to professionals to investors has specific documentation and compliance requirements. Approval remains at the discretion of UAE authorities, underscoring that the process, while more accessible, is not merely a transactional purchase of residency.

The revamped Golden Visa reflects strengthening ties between India and the UAE, building on the momentum of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2022, and represents a strategic move by the Gulf nation to attract global talent and diversify its economy beyond oil revenues.