Visas and company setup, honestly costed
Golden visa, the investor route, free zones - and the three-year bill nobody quotes you.
The visa route you pick decides your banking, your dependants and your annual bill, and the cheapest setup is rarely the cheapest over three years. We track the current thresholds and what the packages actually include once the marketing page ends.
- Golden Visa thresholds and what counts toward them
- Free zone comparison on total three-year cost
- Dependant and domestic-worker sponsorship rules
- Bank account acceptance by zone, the part that bites
What people are asking right now
Ranges from the market, not live listings. We move them when the market moves.
| Route | Validity | Requirement | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa (property) | 10 years | AED 2,000,000 | threshold |
| Investor / partner visa | 2 - 3 years | AED 50,000 + | share capital |
| Freelance permit (IFZA) | 1 - 2 years | AED 12,500 + | setup |
| Freelance permit (DIFC) | 1 - 2 years | AED 30,000 + | setup |
| Employment visa | 2 - 3 years | employer paid | - |
STRONG
Visa
Golden Visa property threshold stays at AED 2,000,000
Off-plan counts when the developer is registered with the Dubai Land Department. Unchanged as of August 2026.
AED 2,000,000 Read the full piece
WORTH A LOOK
Visa
Free zone licences start around AED 9,000 a year
SHAMS in Sharjah is the floor; inside Dubai, Meydan and IFZA begin near AED 12,500. As of August 2026.
from AED 9,000 Read the full piece
WORTH A LOOK
Visa
Essential health plan runs AED 700 to 1,200 a year
The legal minimum for residency. Narrow network, low annual cap, maternity in name only.
AED 700 - 1,200 Read the full piece
Fair questions
What is the Golden Visa property threshold?
AED 2,000,000 in property value. Off-plan can count when the developer is registered with the Dubai Land Department, so verify before you commit.
IFZA or DIFC for a solo consultant?
IFZA is materially cheaper and fine for most consultants. DIFC only pays off when you need its legal framework or a bank that insists on it.
Can I sponsor family on a freelance permit?
Usually yes, subject to a salary or income threshold and suitable accommodation. It is the step most people underestimate.
Signals as they appear.
Free, no sign-up, leave whenever.
@dxbradar