Retire in the UAE on a five-year visa you can renew, starting at 55
The UAE doesn't tax your pension. On Dubai's property route, government fees for the main applicant come to about $1,900.
No job or sponsor needed. You prove your age and your money, pass a medical exam, buy UAE health insurance and get an Emirates ID. Our cost data puts a couple's monthly budget at about $3,900.
What you need to show
55+
Minimum age
on every route
AED 240,000
Yearly income, about $65,300
or one of the asset routes
AED 1M
Savings or property, about $272,000
deposit stays 2 to 3 years
5 years
Then renew
if you still qualify
Match the route to where your money sits
You need one of these, not all of them. The UAE wants money that's steady or parked, so start with where yours comes from.
- Pension or other fixed income: AED 240,000 a year (about $65,300), shown with six months of bank statements.
- Savings: AED 1 million in a UAE bank, moved there within 60 days and left for two years in Abu Dhabi or three in Dubai.
- A home: AED 1 million of Dubai property, fully paid. A married couple can hold it together.
- AED 2 million to invest? The 10-year golden visa gets you more for the money.
Retirement Visa
For retirees; renewable every 5 years.
- Processing time
- ~14 days
- Timeline
- 5 years (renewable)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Key requirements
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Age 55+
- Proof of financial means
- Health insurance
What it costs and how long it takes
Dubai Land Department's property route costs AED 6,984.75 (about $1,900) in government fees, covering the medical exam, Emirates ID and a five-year permit. It quotes 7 to 10 business days. GDRFA lists 48 hours for its retiree permit.
Each family member adds AED 4,968.50 (about $1,350) on the property route. Budget for health insurance too: past 64, insurers ask for your medical reports and price you one by one.
Here's the catch: six months away cancels it
Stay outside the UAE more than six months and your residence is canceled. Golden, blue and green visa holders are exempt; retirement visa holders aren't on that list. Getting back in takes an ICP entry permit and a fine of AED 100 (about $27) for every 30 days you were gone. Keep long trips home under six months.
The U.S. side of retiring here
No UAE income tax
The UAE doesn't tax individuals' income. You'll pay 5% VAT on most things you buy.
The IRS still counts it
There's no U.S.-UAE tax treaty, and the foreign earned income exclusion doesn't cover pensions, annuities or Social Security.
Medicare stays behind
Original Medicare usually doesn't pay for care outside the U.S. Some Medigap plans cover emergencies on trips, not daily life here.
Register a will early
Non-Muslims can register wills with Dubai Courts, DIFC Courts, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department or ADGM Courts.
Get help before you file
Two filing offices, two published income figures and an insurance requirement make this easy to get wrong on paper. These partners handle the visa file, the coverage and the U.S. taxes.
Zerra
UAE Visa Service
Zerra is a UAE visa and relocation service that prepares and files residence applications.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
Hunter Schultz is a healthcare coach who helps people moving abroad sort out how they'll get and pay for care.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
ExpatInsure brokers global health insurance for people living outside their home country.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
MyExpatTaxes prepares U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad.
Beacon Global Advisors
Financial Planning
Beacon Global Advisors offers financial planning for Americans with assets and income across borders.
UAE retirement visa questions
Does Medicare cover me if I retire in the UAE?
Almost never. Original Medicare usually doesn't pay for health care outside the U.S. Some Medigap plans cover emergency care while traveling, but living in the UAE means buying UAE health insurance. After 64, insurers ask for your recent medical reports and price your policy individually.
How long does the UAE retirement visa take to process?
GDRFA Dubai lists 48 hours to process its retiree permit, and Dubai Land Department quotes 7 to 10 business days on its property route. Leave extra time for the medical exam and Emirates ID, and for moving savings into a UAE bank, which you have 60 days to do.
Can I qualify with savings instead of income?
Yes. Deposit at least AED 1 million (about $272,000) in a UAE bank. Money held abroad has to arrive within 60 days, and it has to stay: Abu Dhabi requires two years, and Dubai uses a three-year fixed deposit. In Dubai you can also combine savings and property, with at least AED 500,000 in each.
Can Americans apply for the UAE retirement visa from the U.S.?
Yes. Dubai's retirement program takes international applicants, not just people already living in the UAE. You send passport copies for yourself and any dependents, proof of your income, savings or property, and a marriage certificate if your spouse is coming. Dubai's immigration office (GDRFA) also lists at least 15 years of work before retirement, so keep your employment history handy.
Do I still owe U.S. taxes if I retire in the UAE?
Yes. The UAE doesn't levy income tax on individuals, but that doesn't erase your U.S. bill. There's no U.S.-UAE income tax treaty, and the foreign earned income exclusion doesn't cover pensions, annuities or Social Security, so that income stays taxable on your U.S. return.
How much income do I need for the UAE retirement visa?
Plan on AED 240,000 a year, about $65,300 or $5,450 a month. That's the figure on GDRFA Dubai's service page and in Abu Dhabi. Dubai's retirement program page lists a lower AED 180,000 (about $49,000), so ask your filing office which figure it applies before you apply. You prove income with six months of bank statements.
Can my spouse and children come with me on a UAE retirement visa?
Yes. Retirement visa holders can sponsor dependents for the length of their own visa. In Dubai, residents can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 25, and children with special needs at any age. Family members over 18 need a medical exam. On Dubai Land Department's property route, each family member adds AED 4,968.50 (about $1,350) in fees and needs health insurance.
How long can I stay outside the UAE on a retirement visa?
Up to six months at a time. Stay away longer and your residence is canceled. Golden, blue and green visa holders are exempt from that rule, but retirement visa holders aren't on the list. To return, you'd apply to ICP for an entry permit and pay AED 100 (about $27) for every 30 days or part of one spent outside.
Not sure the UAE is where you want to retire?
Compare it with the countries that fit your budget, your climate and your pace.
Why noy you?