Abu Dhabi Outlines Financial Requirements for Five-Year Retirement Residence Visa

The Abu Dhabi Residents Office has released official guidance outlining the financial thresholds and required documentation for foreign nationals seeking a five-year retirement residence visa, according to a report by Legit.ng. Under the scheme, applicants must satisfy at least one of three distinct financial qualifying pathways.

The first pathway requires applicants to hold investments or own one or more properties in the UAE with a purchase or market value of at least AED 1,000,000, as assessed by the relevant emirate's competent authority. For mortgaged properties, a deed is accepted if the amount paid toward clearing the mortgage reaches at least AED 1,000,000 at the time of application. Real estate applicants must provide a property value certificate and a search certificate from the Department of Municipalities and Transport or the relevant real estate registration authority confirming the asset is free from judicial seizure.

The second route permits qualification through a fixed deposit of at least AED 1,000,000 in a financial institution inside or outside the UAE. If the deposit is held abroad, it must be transferred into a UAE-based financial institution within 60 days of the residence permit being issued, unless already invested locally. Applicants choosing this option must supply a statement from a licensed bank verifying the funds will remain in place for a minimum of two years.

The third route requires proof of a fixed annual income of at least AED 240,000, or its equivalent in foreign currency, which may be sourced from inside or outside the UAE. For this option, the primary submission requirement is a bank statement proving the minimum annual earnings threshold.