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United Arab EmiratesActiveStartup Visas
United Arab EmiratesActiveStartup VisasGolden Visa (Entrepreneur / Innovative Project)
5-year renewable residency for founders with an innovative project — as little as AED 500,000 with an accredited incubator's endorsement.
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Book a Consulting Session- Official program name
- Golden Visa — Entrepreneur Route
- Program category
- Starting an innovative company
- Current status
- Active and accepting applications
- Best suited for
- Founders with an innovative, technology-based, or future-oriented project, ideally with incubator backing
- Overview
- The UAE's entrepreneur Golden Visa route is designed for founders building an innovative, technology-driven, or future-oriented business. If the project is still pre-launch but has been approved by a UAE-authorized incubator, accelerator, or innovation hub (such as Hub71 or in5), the minimum planned investment drops to AED 500,000. The visa runs for 5 years and is renewable, but the founder must remain actively and operationally involved — passive equity ownership alone will not satisfy renewal criteria.
- Minimum investment
- AED 500,000 (incubator-endorsed innovative project route)
- Active involvement required
- Yes — ongoing operational involvement required, especially at renewal
- Residence status granted
- 5-year renewable Golden Visa
- Family inclusion
- Yes
- Spouse work rights
- To be confirmedGeneral UAE Golden Visa dependents typically may work, confirm specific terms
- Permanent residence pathway
- Not applicable — this is a long-term renewable residency, not a PR-to-citizenship pathway in the traditional sense
- Endorsement requirement
- Letter from a UAE-authorized business incubator, accelerator, or innovation hub confirming the project is innovative/technology-based/future-oriented
- Official source
- u.ae; ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security)
Want more background?
Our guide explains how this route works in practice and what to prepare first.
Read the United Arab Emirates guide →Directional guidance only, not immigration or investment advice. Establishing a company or obtaining a trade license does not by itself create Golden Visa eligibility. Confirm current requirements with the relevant UAE authority or an accredited incubator. Last verified September 15, 2026.