Residency by Investment

UAE Golden Visa vs Portugal Golden Visa

A side-by-side view built from the same verified records as each programme page. Missing values are labelled, never estimated.

Show differences only

Residency

United Arab Emirates

UAE Golden Visa

Residency

Portugal

Portugal Golden Visa

Status

Program status

United Arab Emirates: Operational
Portugal: Operational

Investment

Minimum investment per route

United Arab Emirates: Qualifying property, 10-year visa: AED 2,000,000Show full wordingShow less
Portugal: Cultural heritage / artistic support (from): EUR 250,000; Investment fund units: EUR 500,000Show full wordingShow less

Costs

Government fees

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.
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.
Portugal: Information pending verification

Family

Family eligibility

United Arab Emirates: 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).
Portugal: Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply
Full wordingHide full wording
Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents.

Obligations

Residence requirements

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
Portugal: At least 7 days in Portugal in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period, continuous or not (official SEF renewal guidance, now administered by AIMA).Show full wordingShow less

Processing time

United Arab Emirates: In Dubai, the Land Department's service time is 7 to 10 business days.Show full wordingShow less
Portugal: A large backlog: about 39.6 months reported in March 2026.Show full wordingShow less

Route to citizenship

United Arab Emirates: Golden Visa is a residence status; it does not lead to citizenship.Show full wordingShow less
Portugal: Naturalisation under the Nationality Law as amended by Organic Law 1/2026 (published 18 May 2026, in force 19 May 2026): 10 years of legal residence for most nationals, 7 for EU and CPLP nationals, generally counted from the first residence title. Applications pending on 19 May 2026 follow the previous rules.Show full wordingShow less

Program comparison
Criteria	Residency United Arab Emirates UAE Golden Visa	Residency Portugal Portugal Golden Visa
Status
Program status	Operational	Operational
Investment
Minimum investment per route	Qualifying property, 10-year visa: AED 2,000,000	Cultural heritage / artistic support (from): EUR 250,000; Investment fund units: EUR 500,000
Costs
Government fees	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.	Information pending verification
Family
Family eligibility	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).	Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply Full wordingHide full wording Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents.
Obligations
Residence requirements	Golden visa holders may stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six-month limit without the visa lapsing.	At least 7 days in Portugal in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period, continuous or not (official SEF renewal guidance, now administered by AIMA).
Processing time	In Dubai, the Land Department's service time is 7 to 10 business days.	A large backlog: about 39.6 months reported in March 2026.
Route to citizenship	Golden Visa is a residence status; it does not lead to citizenship.	Naturalisation under the Nationality Law as amended by Organic Law 1/2026 (published 18 May 2026, in force 19 May 2026): 10 years of legal residence for most nationals, 7 for EU and CPLP nationals, generally counted from the first residence title. Applications pending on 19 May 2026 follow the previous rules.

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