UAE Updates Golden Visa Criteria and Hosts SuperReturn Middle East Summit

An advisory reported by Time Out Dubai has outlined qualification standards for the 10-year UAE Golden Visa for investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Under the stated rules, business partners and company investors qualify by maintaining an investment valued at a minimum of Dh2 million alongside valid trade licensing and UAE corporate tax registration. Commercial banks can facilitate eligibility via Dh2 million fixed deposits or local sukuk instruments, while authorities clarified that holdings solely in digital or cryptocurrency assets do not qualify.

Separately, more than 500 international investment leaders, asset managers, and policymakers are gathering in Dubai for the SuperReturn Middle East conference from 13 to 15 October 2026, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM). Held at The Ritz-Carlton in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the event features the Global Leaders Series hosted by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and inD, focusing on private credit, family office investments, and bilateral investment corridors between Dubai and Asian markets.

In broader policy developments, the UAE Cabinet has approved a three-year federal budget of Dh292.5 billion for 2027–2029, representing a 28.3 percent spending increase, with 2027 expenditures set at Dh90.1 billion. Furthermore, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism reviewed Cabinet Resolution No. 136 of 2026, which implemented full fee waivers across 29 industrial property services starting 14 September 2026.

Additional regulatory updates introduced in October cover electronic invoicing, shared housing, and food standards. Measures include Ministry of Finance accreditation requirements for e-invoicing providers, with violations across these regulations carrying fines of up to Dh1 million, business suspensions, and licence cancellations.