UAE adds more professionals to Golden Visa list: 6 key things you should know
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Healthcare workers, private educators, digital creators, e-sports professionals, and luxury yacht owners can now access a 10-year, self-sponsored residency, complete with family sponsorship, under one of the Gulf's most liberalised immigration frameworks. The move is part of a broader economic transformation strategy aimed at positioning the UAE as a destination for long-term settlement, not just short-term opportunity.
Below is a breakdown of what's changing, who qualifies, and why the policy matters.
Nurses with over 15 years of service now qualify
Timed with International Nurses Day, Dubai Health confirmed that long-serving nurses with at least 15 years of continuous experience are now eligible for the Golden Visa. The announcement, made under the directive of Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, acknowledges the vital role of frontline health workers and supports the emirate's medical tourism ambitions.
According to the Dubai Health Authority, Dubai hosts more than 3.7 million medical tourists annually, a figure expected to rise in the coming years.
Private school and university educators included
Teachers and university faculty in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have also been brought under the Golden Visa umbrella. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Department of Knowledge (RAK DOK) will oversee the implementation, which aims to retain top educational talent in a system ranked among the world's top ten by UNESCO.
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Eligible educators will be permitted to sponsor their families, providing a stable, long-term pathway that contrasts with more restrictive visa regimes in neighbouring countries.
Digital creators get a visa track of their own
Filmmakers, content creators, and digital influencers now have access to an independent visa track through Creators HQ. Announced at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, this pathway does not require employer sponsorship, making it especially attractive to freelancers and digital entrepreneurs.
Dubai's creative economy currently contributes an estimated $2 billion per year, according to the Department of Economic Development, a figure expected to grow as digital-first talent relocates to the emirate.
E-sports professionals join the list
With the gaming industry booming across the region, professionals over the age of 25 working in e-sports and game development are now eligible for long-term residency. Applications can be made through Dubai's DPG33 initiative, with mandatory accreditation from Dubai Culture.
Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism has adopted a similar model.
According to Statista, the UAE's gaming sector is valued at $1.8 billion, while Esports Insider reports that Abu Dhabi hosts around 20% of global gaming events.
Luxury yacht owners and executives now eligible
Under the new Golden Quay initiative, Abu Dhabi has opened the visa programme to yacht owners with vessels exceeding 40 meters in length and executives within the luxury maritime sector.
The inclusion reflects the emirate's push to grow its $1.2 billion maritime tourism economy, according to AD Ports.
Visa holders under this category are eligible to sponsor family members, further incentivising long-term residence and investment.
Streamlined application, global edge
The Golden Visa programme remains self-sponsored and application-based, with a streamlined process handled through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).
Processing takes roughly 30 days, considerably shorter than similar skilled migration schemes in Australia or Singapore.
Applicants must provide proof of qualifications, professional contributions, or ownership, depending on their category. Family sponsorship is available across most tracks, reinforcing the UAE's long-term settlement model.
Aligned with vision 2030
The expansion forms a key pillar of the UAE's Vision 2030, which targets the attraction of 100,000 skilled professionals to drive innovation-led growth.
CBRE data shows non-oil sectors contributed 8% GDP growth in 2024, gains now reinforced by talent acquisition across healthcare, education, gaming, and luxury tourism.
LinkedIn data also reveals a 70% retention rate among Golden Visa holders, underscoring the programme's success in anchoring top global professionals.
A shift in regional policy thinking
Unlike temporary employment visas common across the Gulf, the UAE's model encourages permanence, entrepreneurship, and autonomy. With over 20,000 Golden Visas issued since the programme's launch in 2019, the latest expansion further distances the Emirates from its regional counterparts in terms of immigration policy and economic openness.
By extending the Golden Visa to these newly prioritised sectors, the UAE sends a clear message: the future belongs to creators, caregivers, and innovators, and they are welcome to build that future from within its borders.
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