How to apply for Abu Dhabi Golden Visa for Entrepreneurs?

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) ranked the UAE #1 in its Global Entrepreneurship Index 2022, making it an ideal place to start a business. This ranking is in line with the country’s goal of creating an attractive landscape for entrepreneurs. If you already own a business, relocating it to Abu Dhabi can be equally as rewarding as a start up. Plus, you can sponsor yourself, your family and employees with a long term visa.

Eligibility Criteria

You are eligible if you fulfill the following:

• An owner or partner who has obtained an approval for the concept of a pioneering business project by an approved business incubator or the Ministry of Economy or ICP or a competent local authority to establish the proposed activity in the UAE

Or

• An owner or partner in a pioneering business project within the sectors approved by the Ministry of Economy or ICP or a competent local authority. The business project must be classified as an SME achieving an annual revenue of no less than AED 1,000,000.

Or

• To be a founder or one of the founders of a previous pioneering project/projects that was/were sold with a total value of no less than AED 7,000,000 subject to the approval of the Ministry of Economy or ICP or a competent local authority.

Documents Required

To apply for the entrepreneur category, you will need to provide : 

For an Owner or Partner in a Pioneering Project:

• Trade License.

• Financial or Social certificates (required by Hub71 and Ma’an respectively).

• Audited financial statements for the past two years.

• Company Profile/Deck.

• LinkedIn Profile.

• Nomination issued by a business incubator in the UAE. (Applications made through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office webapp will automatically be sent to the relevant Business Incubator for nomination).

For an Entrepreneur with an Approved Pioneering Project Concept:

• Nomination issued by a business incubator in the UAE. (Applications made through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office webapp will automatically be sent to the relevant Business Incubator for nomination).

• Founders LinkedIn profile.

• Business concept overview deck.

• Acceptance letter into an incubator, venture’s studio or accelerator program.

• Trade License (if available).

For a Founder (or One of the Founders) of a Previous Pioneering Project:

• Nomination issued by a business incubator in the UAE. (Applications made through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office webapp will automatically be sent to the relevant Business Incubator for nomination).

• Trade License of previous project.

• Founders/Co-founders LinkedIn profile.

• Proof of Company being sold for AED 7,000,000.

• New Owner full name or LinkedIn profile (if applicable).

How to apply for Abu Dhabi Golden Visa for Entrepreneurs?

Click here to apply for your Golden Visa nomination through Abu Dhabi Residents Office

Additionally, applicants can also submit their application online through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) at: https://icp.gov.ae.

Duration

• 10 years