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Abu Dhabi Updates 10-Year Golden Visa Benchmarks for Skilled Employees

The Abu Dhabi Residents Office released updated criteria on October 19, 2026, for foreign professionals seeking a 10-year UAE Golden Visa. Applicants must earn a minimum monthly basic salary of AED 30,000, excluding allowances, and hold Ministry Level 1 or Level 2 occupational status.

Issuing authority
Abu Dhabi Residents Office
Jurisdiction
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Publication date
October 19, 2026
Stage
Final rule
Official source
www.wam.ae
Illustration: A modern government service center counter in Abu Dhabi with official documentation folders and smart digital tablet displays on a polis
Illustration

The Abu Dhabi Residents Office released updated qualification criteria on October 19, 2026, for foreign professionals applying for a 10-year UAE Golden Visa under the skilled employee category, according to Briefly News.

Under the specified rules, applicants must earn a minimum monthly basic salary of AED 30,000 ($8,170), excluding supplementary allowances. Candidates are required to provide an employer-issued salary certificate alongside six consecutive months of UAE bank statements showing compliant income deposits.

Applicants must also be classified under Level 1 (managers and executives) or Level 2 (professionals) according to the occupational classifications of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

Additional criteria mandate an attested bachelor's degree recognized by the UAE Ministry of Education, as well as an active professional license where applicable.

Sources

The UECN Brief

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