Can you stay in the UAE on a retirement visa after you stop work?

Yes, if you are 55 or over and meet one of the financial tests. Dubai’s residency authority issues a retired foreigner a residence permit for five years with no sponsor or host, renewable on the same terms.¹

Do you qualify?

You need both of these:

1. At least 15 years of service before retiring, inside or outside the UAE, and age 55 or over.¹
2. One financial test from the table below.²

The UAE Government lists an income test of AED 180,000 a year or the equivalent in foreign currency, from inside or outside the UAE, and AED 240,000 for a visa from Dubai.³

GDRFA says a deposit held outside the country must be moved to a financial institution in the UAE within 60 days of the residence being issued, unless you invest its value in the UAE. A mortgaged property counts if the amount paid off is at least AED 1 million.¹

Visit Dubai adds that the visa needs UAE health insurance.²

If you plan to use your gratuity or savings scheme payout towards the savings test, check the deposit rules with GDRFA before you apply.

What documents do you need?

Visit Dubai also asks for passports of any dependants, a marriage certificate if you sponsor your spouse, and your current visa and Emirates ID if you already live in the UAE.¹²

What does it cost?

Visit Dubai says that once GDRFA or the Dubai Land Department approves an application, AED 3,714.75 is paid per applicant and per dependant, covering the entry permit, status change, residency stamping, Emirates ID, medical examination and management fees. Health insurance is extra. It says processing can take up to 15 working days after the application is complete.²

GDRFA’s own service page lists a residence permit fee of AED 200, AED 10 each for the Knowledge and Innovation fees, AED 500 for applying inside the country and AED 20 for delivery. It says the issue fee rises by AED 100 for each year over two years.¹

Ask GDRFA for the total for your family before you pay. The two published figures cover different items.

How do you apply?

Online with UAE Pass on the GDRFA website or app, at a Customer Happiness Centre, or at an Amer service centre.¹ Visit Dubai runs its own Retire in Dubai application.²

After your residence permit ends or is cancelled, GDRFA allows 60 days to stay in the country.¹ Apply before your work visa is cancelled so you do not rely on the grace period.

The small print

• Wording. GDRFA’s and the UAE Government’s English pages put the property test and the deposit test in one condition, joined by “and”. Visit Dubai lists property, savings and a combination as separate options. Ask GDRFA which applies to you.¹³²
• Processing. GDRFA lists a 48-hour service time for digital and Amer channels.¹