Iranian applicants · United Arab Emirates
UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner for Iranian citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
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 route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- No fixed national clock publishedUse the current UAE Government Portal - Residence visa for doing business service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
- 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 change periodically and are separate from the UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner. Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.
Key figures for Iranian applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
No fixed national clock published
UAE Government Portal - Residence visa for doing business does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
Use the current UAE Government Portal - Residence visa for doing business service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Verified 10 September 2026 · UAE Government Portal - Residence visa for doing business
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.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United Arab Emirates. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicantApply for investor residence ↗
Company owners use this official UAE residence-visas hub to identify the investor residence route and emirate-specific filing channel.
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) · verified
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. Iranian applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
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 change periodically and are separate from the UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner. Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.
How long does the UAE Green Residence — investor / business partner take to process from Iran?+
UAE Government Portal - Residence visa for doing business does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current UAE Government Portal - Residence visa for doing business service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Iranian applicants usually file via a United Arab Emirates consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: UAE Government Portal - Residence visa for doing business, verified 10 September 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.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
Last checked: 21 July 2026