Once a Distant Dream, Now UAE Golden Visa Fee For Indians Slashed Drastically; a Game Changer For Entrepreneurs ?

The United Arab Emirates has made its highly sought-after Golden Visa program much easier to apply for by lowering the entry fee from ₹4 crore to just ₹23 lakh (AED100,000). This is a big chance for Indian workers and business owners who want to live in the Gulf countries for a long time.

Lifetime residency with no ties to real estate

The first Golden Visa, which came out in 2019, required big investments in business or real estate, starting at ₹4.67 crore (AED 2 million), and had to be renewed every 5–10 years. The residency could be taken away if the house were sold. Under the new plan, people who apply pay a one-time fee of AED 100,000 and are granted permanent residency, even if they don't own a home, along with the right to have their families support them.

Shift in strategy to hiring people

In line with its plan to grow areas other than oil, like tech, healthcare, and education, the UAE is focusing more on global ability than just wealth. A survey by the Khaleej Times showed that there are serious skill gaps in fields like engineering, cybersecurity, AI, and cloud computing. To fill those gaps, the Golden Visa now lets professionals and innovators in the middle of their careers from India's growing middle class work in industries that are changing the world in the UAE.

Who is eligible? Added More Eligibility

The visa is now open to a wider range of people than just entrepreneurs and investors:

• Teachers with 15 years or more of experience, school principals, and college professors

• Doctors, researchers, and nurses with a lot of knowledge

• New digital creators: podcasters and YouTubers over 25

• All applications must be based on nominations and merit, with a focus on professional excellence, the possibility for innovation, and the contribution to the field.

How It Works

In the test phase, only people from India and Bangladesh were allowed to apply. The UAE has teamed up with Rayad Group to do background checks that check for things like criminal records and honesty with money. Applications can be sent from India through One Vasco Centres, authorised offices, or online platforms, so there is no need to go to the UAE in person.

What Indian Business Owners Must Know

The Golden Visa opens up strategic benefits for Indian business leaders and innovators:

• Tax breaks—no taxes on income, stock gains, or inheritance

• Stability in the economy—access to GCC markets and world networks

• Quality of life—a safe, business-friendly climate with top-notch infrastructure and the ability for family members to visit without a visa

One, more than 5,000 people are likely to apply in the first quarter. With the price cut, what used to be an exclusive program is now a possibility for young Indian workers who want to grow their businesses, enter new markets, or become fully immersed in the UAE's innovation ecosystem.

Prospects: A stronger link between India and the UAE

This strategy is more than just a residency permit; it makes it official that the UAE wants to build stronger cultural and economic ties with India. India is already the UAE's biggest export market, worth US$68.4 billion in 2021. The visa initiative is meant to boost trade, investment, and the exchange of skilled workers between the two countries.

In the end

The UAE's changes to the Golden Visa are a strategic shift from focusing on real estate moguls to middle-class workers. They give Indians a rare, quick way to become permanent residents. It's a chance to match your job goals with world-class resources while also helping to create a new era in India-UAE relations that is good for both sides.