The Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO) has updated eligibility thresholds for the coveted 10-year Golden Visa, raising the minimum basic salary for skilled-professional applicants to AED 30,000 (about US$8,170) per month. The policy note—released 19 October and published by industry monitor UECN on 21 October—also clarifies that allowances such as housing or transport cannot be counted toward the threshold. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree attested by the UAE Ministry of Education and be classified in Levels 1 or 2 of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s occupational scale. Six consecutive months of UAE bank statements proving salary deposits are now mandatory, closing a loophole used by some firms to inflate one-off payslips. For HR teams, the stricter rules will require more robust payroll evidence and may disqualify mid-level managers previously on the cusp. Immigration advisers note that Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) still accepts total remuneration—basic plus allowances—so companies may need city-specific strategies when determining where staff should anchor their residency. Despite the higher bar, the visa remains attractive: holders enjoy self-sponsorship, 100 percent business ownership, and sponsorship rights for family members and domestic staff. ADRO hinted at a forthcoming digital pre-assessment tool that will allow employers to verify an employee’s eligibility before committing to legal fees.
Source: UECN
