Every route into the city, in plain English — from a 30-day holiday to the 10-year Golden Visa.
30-day single-entry from ~AED 200 + VAT. Many nationalities (US, UK, EU, and 50+ more) get visa on arrival free — check your passport's rule before paying an agency for something the airport gives you in 20 seconds.
Come WITHOUT a sponsor or job offer and hunt on the ground. Ranked by education/experience tiers. The smart play for serious relocators — interviews go 10x better in person.
The crown jewel: no sponsor, no employer tie, and you keep it even if you spend 6+ months abroad. Main routes: AED 2M+ property, exceptional talent (doctors, engineers, creators, scientists), entrepreneurs. Government fees only AED 2,800–4,000 — the cheap part of an expensive qualification.
The Golden Visa's accessible sibling (since 2022): skilled professionals, freelancers and investors below Golden thresholds. No employer sponsor needed.
Independent professionals: AED 7,500–20,000/year depending on free zone, typically with proof of ~AED 360K annual income over two years. Your clients become your visa.
Keep your foreign job, live in Dubai. Proof of employment + income threshold. Renewable.
Meet ONE: AED 2M property, AED 1M savings in a UAE bank, or AED 20K/month income. Dubai is quietly becoming a retirement product.
Free 5-minute morning brief: events, gold & AED rates, real estate, visas, the talk of the city.