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Dubai Details Minimum Income and Eligibility for One-Year Virtual Work Visa

Dubai has outlined the eligibility criteria for its one-year Virtual Work Visa available to remote employees and digital nomads of any nationality. Applicants must earn a minimum monthly income of US$3,500 (AED 12,856) from an employer or clients based outside the UAE. The residency permit allows holders to live in Dubai, travel internationally, access local services, and sponsor family members.

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Summary of official information. Always check the official source and follow the guidance of the authorities. UECN does not issue risk ratings; the absence of an alert does not mean that a destination is safe.

Issuing authority
Invest in Dubai
Jurisdiction
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Publication date
October 8, 2026
Stage
Final rule
Official document
Virtual Work Visa
Official source
news.google.com

According to requirements published on the Invest in Dubai programme portal and reported by TUKO.co.ke, the Dubai government has outlined the qualifications for its Virtual Work Visa. The programme allows foreign remote workers to secure a one-year residency visa to reside in Dubai while maintaining employment outside the United Arab Emirates.

To qualify, applicants of any nationality must prove a minimum monthly earnings threshold of US$3,500, equivalent to AED 12,856 (or approximately KSh 452,000). The qualifying income must originate from an overseas employer or clients located outside the UAE, as the scheme is intended specifically for remote staff rather than domestic employment.

The visa does not require a UAE-based sponsor or local company employment. Successful applicants receive a 12-month residency that permits unrestricted travel into and out of the UAE, alongside access to local utilities and civic services.

Under the programme, visa holders are also permitted to sponsor immediate family members, including a spouse and children, granting dependants residency and access to local schooling for the duration of the permit.

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