Iranian applicants · United Arab Emirates
UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner for Iranian citizens
5-year renewable, self-sponsored Green Residence for investors and business partners in UAE commercial activities.
This page covers the UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner specifically for Iranian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Iran. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 10 days – 4 weeks
- Government fees
- Federal ICP schedule: AED 100 application + AED 100 per year of the 5-year Green Residence + AED 100 smart-services fee. In-country status adjustment is AED 500 if applicable; business-licence, medical, Emirates ID, insurance and emirate/free-zone fees are separate.
- Typical duration
- 5 years, renewable while the investment and activity conditions remain met.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Bilateral context
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: a United Arab Emirates consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence
Tourist entry vs. this route
Tourist-entry rules for Iranian nationals are set by The Official Platform of the UAE Government and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner is a separate application from any tourist entry.
Key figures for Iranian applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
10 days – 4 weeks
Investor / partner entry visas issue in 2–4 weeks where the commercial licence and share structure are in place.
Verified 1 June 2026 · UAE Government Portal — Investor residence
Visa overview
The current federal long-term investor/partner route is the 5-year Green Residence. It is self-sponsored and requires competent-authority approval to conduct the activity plus a qualifying contribution to a UAE company. Company formation and licensing are separate from immigration; applicants meeting the higher Golden Residency tests may instead qualify for a 5- or 10-year Golden category.
Additional sources
Primary source
ICP — Green investor residence conditions, documents and fees ↗ · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A passport valid for at least 6 months and approval from the competent authority to conduct the commercial activity.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
- ✓A contribution to the UAE company of at least AED 1 million in cash or the foreign-currency equivalent, whether at incorporation or when joining an existing company.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
- ✓In-kind, tangible or intangible capital contributions must be evaluated by the Ministry of Economy for the minimum-contribution test.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
- ✓The investment and all route conditions must remain in place for renewal, and the issuing authority must be notified if they cease to be met.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
Common blockers
- !Company contribution below AED 1 million, or an in-kind contribution not accepted at the required value by the Ministry of Economy.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
- !Holding a trade licence or shares without the competent activity approval or the immigration evidence required by ICP.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Passport, personal photo and current trade licence.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
- ·Partnership or investment agreement showing the applicant and qualifying contribution.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
- ·Competent-authority approval and any Ministry of Economy valuation needed for non-cash contributions.Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) ↗
Application pathway
Choose and license the activity
Use the relevant mainland economic department or free-zone authority; a company licence is a separate prerequisite, not the residence itself.
Document the qualifying contribution
Show at least AED 1 million in the company; obtain a Ministry of Economy valuation if relying on in-kind or intangible capital.
File the Green Residence request
Submit the passport, photo, trade licence and partnership/investment agreement through ICP or the competent Dubai channel.
Complete issuance and Emirates ID
Follow the authority’s instructions for entry or in-country status adjustment, medical/insurance steps and Emirates ID.
Maintain the investment
Keep the licence, activity approval and qualifying contribution in place and notify the authority if a condition ceases before renewal.
Other United Arab Emirates routes covered for Iranian applicants
Not sure United Arab Emirates is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer investor routes that Iranian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Iranian citizens eligible for the UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner?+
Eligibility for the UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner is set by The Official Platform of the UAE Government and is not nationality-restricted. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Iranian applicants typically file the UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner?+
a United Arab Emirates consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by The Official Platform of the UAE Government — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Iranian applicants need a tourist visa for United Arab Emirates as well?+
Tourist-entry rules for Iranian nationals are set by The Official Platform of the UAE Government and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner is a separate application from any tourist entry.
How long does the UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner take to process from Iran?+
The typical published decision window is 10 days – 4 weeks. Iranian applicants usually file via a United Arab Emirates consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: UAE Government Portal — Investor residence, verified 1 June 2026.
What is the difference between investor residence and Golden Visa?+
The current federal investor/business-partner Green Residence is self-sponsored for 5 years and currently requires at least AED 1 million contributed to the company. Golden Residency has different evidence and higher category thresholds: public-investment investors can receive 10 years, while qualifying real-estate investors and entrepreneurs receive 5 years.
Is incorporating a UAE company enough to receive Green Residence?+
No. Incorporation and the trade licence are separate business steps. ICP also requires the competent authority’s activity approval, the qualifying company contribution, and the residence application documents.