The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and the Ministry of Economy have issued an updated advisory clarifying that investors must maintain at least AED 2 million (US$ 545,000) in qualifying UAE assets to obtain or renew the 10-year Golden Visa—and that stand-alone cryptocurrency portfolios no longer count toward that threshold. Under Cabinet Resolution 136 of 2026, investments can be held as cash deposits with local banks, equity in UAE-registered companies, or UAE-issued sukuk and bonds. Mixed portfolios may still include crypto assets, but only the fiat-denominated portion will be counted. The move aligns the programme with the country’s updated federal tax and anti-money-laundering frameworks, officials said. The clarification arrives as Dubai hosts the SuperReturn Middle East Summit, where more than 500 global investors are assessing regional capital flows. Private-banking advisers expect stricter asset-verification to slow application processing times but say demand remains robust, particularly from Asian family offices looking for a Gulf base with long-term residency rights. Employers should review existing sponsorship arrangements: executives who planned to qualify via digital-asset wealth may need to restructure holdings or pursue an employer-sponsored residence permit instead. Meanwhile, immigration advisors note that property investors continue to qualify under separate real-estate criteria, provided title deeds are clear of mortgage encumbrances.
Source: UECN / Emirates News Agency
