🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
The UAE does not have a single "startup visa", but offers strong founder routes. Entrepreneurs can obtain a long-term Golden Visa under the entrepreneur/investor category, or set up a company — on the mainland or in a free zone such as DIFC, ADGM, DMCC or others — which then sponsors an investor/partner residence visa. Free zones allow full foreign ownership and have their own startup programmes.
- There is no single startup visa; the Golden Visa has an entrepreneur/investor category.
- Setting up a company (mainland or free zone) sponsors an investor/partner residence visa.
- Free zones (DIFC, ADGM, DMCC, etc.) allow full foreign ownership and run startup programmes.
- Check the relevant free zone or ICP/Golden Visa channel for current criteria.
Official authorities
- Golden Visa (u.ae)
Official long-term residence (entrepreneur/investor categories).
- Doing business in the UAE (u.ae)
Company setup — mainland and free zones.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.