To qualify for the ten-year renewable residence programme through real estate investment, investors needed to purchase property worth AED 2 million or more, irrespective of the property’s status as off-plan, completed, mortgaged, or not.

Entrepreneurs looking to qualify must own a startup registered within the UAE in a sector identified as a priority for the country, or they must have a successful project with a minimum capital of AED 500,000. Additionally, obtaining approval from an accredited business incubator in the UAE is required.

This category targets individuals with rare skills in critical areas, including but not limited to, medicine, science, research, and technology. Professionals must possess advanced degrees in their fields of specialty, have proven exceptional achievements, and be recognised by their peers or government bodies. Specific criteria can include patents, published research, and long-term experience in their respective fields.

Eligibility requires recognition by reputable scientific institutions globally, significant contributions to their field, such as research or innovation, and recommendations from recognised scientific institutions in the UAE. Often, holding a Ph.D. or Master’s degree in science, engineering, or any other relevant field from prestigious universities along with documented research achievements is necessary.

Students must have a minimum grade of 95% in public or private secondary schools, whether inside or outside the UAE, or a GPA of at least 3.75 upon graduation from universities within or outside the country. This category is designed to retain bright young minds within the UAE to contribute to its future growth.