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MaltaUnited Arab Emirates

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Residency

Malta

Malta Permanent Residence Programme

Residency

United Arab Emirates

UAE Golden Visa

Status

Program status

Malta: Operational
United Arab Emirates: Operational

Investment

Minimum investment per route

Malta: Property purchase (from): EUR 375,000
United Arab Emirates: Qualifying property, 10-year visa: AED 2,000,000Show full wordingShow less

Costs

Government fees

Malta: Administration fee EUR 60,000 (EUR 15,000 on submission, EUR 45,000 on approval in principle); government contribution EUR 37,000.Show full wordingShow less
United Arab Emirates: Small entry-permit fees (AED 100 each), then in Dubai AED 9,884.75 for the investor's 10-year residence, with the medical test, Emirates ID and residence permit included, and AED 5,774.50 per family member.
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Entry permit for real estate investors: AED 100 application + AED 100 issuance + AED 100 smart-services fee. In Dubai, the Land Department's total for the investor's 10-year residence is AED 9,884.75, which already includes the medical examination (AED 700), Emirates ID (AED 1,153), residence permit (AED 2,856.75), Land Department fees (AED 4,020) and administrative fees (AED 1,155). Each family member's 10-year permit is AED 5,774.50, plus AED 318.75 once to open a family sponsorship file and AED 100 for each sponsored person.

Family

Family eligibility

Malta: Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply
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Spouse or partner, children under 18, unmarried children up to 28 who are principally dependent, and financially dependent parents and grandparents of either spouse.
United Arab Emirates: Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply
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Golden Residency holders can obtain residence permits for their spouse, their children regardless of age, and their parents (ICP).

Obligations

Residence requirements

Malta: No minimum stay. Holders file annual declarations on property, health insurance and capital during the first five years.Show full wordingShow less
United Arab Emirates: Golden visa holders may stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six-month limit without the visa lapsing.Show full wordingShow less

Processing time

Malta: Due diligence about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation are completed within eight months of approval in principle.
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Due diligence typically takes about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation must be completed within eight months of approval in principle. Applicants may ask for temporary residence when they apply: a one-year renewable card once basic checks are done and the first EUR 15,000 is paid, revoked if the application is refused.
United Arab Emirates: In Dubai, the Land Department's service time is 7 to 10 business days.Show full wordingShow less

Route to citizenship

Malta: No investment route to citizenship. Naturalisation follows Malta's ordinary residence-based rules.Show full wordingShow less
United Arab Emirates: Golden Visa is a residence status; it does not lead to citizenship.Show full wordingShow less

Program comparison
Criteria	Residency Malta Malta Permanent Residence Programme	Residency United Arab Emirates UAE Golden Visa
Status
Program status	Operational	Operational
Investment
Minimum investment per route	Property purchase (from): EUR 375,000	Qualifying property, 10-year visa: AED 2,000,000
Costs
Government fees	Administration fee EUR 60,000 (EUR 15,000 on submission, EUR 45,000 on approval in principle); government contribution EUR 37,000.	Small entry-permit fees (AED 100 each), then in Dubai AED 9,884.75 for the investor's 10-year residence, with the medical test, Emirates ID and residence permit included, and AED 5,774.50 per family member. Full wordingHide full wording Entry permit for real estate investors: AED 100 application + AED 100 issuance + AED 100 smart-services fee. In Dubai, the Land Department's total for the investor's 10-year residence is AED 9,884.75, which already includes the medical examination (AED 700), Emirates ID (AED 1,153), residence permit (AED 2,856.75), Land Department fees (AED 4,020) and administrative fees (AED 1,155). Each family member's 10-year permit is AED 5,774.50, plus AED 318.75 once to open a family sponsorship file and AED 100 for each sponsored person.
Family
Family eligibility	Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply Full wordingHide full wording Spouse or partner, children under 18, unmarried children up to 28 who are principally dependent, and financially dependent parents and grandparents of either spouse.	Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply Full wordingHide full wording Golden Residency holders can obtain residence permits for their spouse, their children regardless of age, and their parents (ICP).
Obligations
Residence requirements	No minimum stay. Holders file annual declarations on property, health insurance and capital during the first five years.	Golden visa holders may stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six-month limit without the visa lapsing.
Processing time	Due diligence about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation are completed within eight months of approval in principle. Full wordingHide full wording Due diligence typically takes about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation must be completed within eight months of approval in principle. Applicants may ask for temporary residence when they apply: a one-year renewable card once basic checks are done and the first EUR 15,000 is paid, revoked if the application is refused.	In Dubai, the Land Department's service time is 7 to 10 business days.
Route to citizenship	No investment route to citizenship. Naturalisation follows Malta's ordinary residence-based rules.	Golden Visa is a residence status; it does not lead to citizenship.

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