Retiring in the UAE in 2026: how to get residence

8 min read · Published 6 October 2026

The UAE has a separate 5-year retirement visa for people aged 55 and over. It requires income from $5,500 a month, or savings or property from $280,000, and there is no tax on pensions.

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Key facts	2026
Age	from 55 with at least 15 years of work
Income	from $5,500 a month, ~$66,000 a year
Instead of income	savings or property from $280,000
Term	5 years, renewable on the same terms
Processing	about 48 hours in Dubai
Tax on pensions	0%: no personal income tax
Insurance	mandatory, valid in the emirate of residence

Data checked: 06.10.2026

The UAE is one of the few countries with a separate visa for retirees. It is issued for 5 years to those aged 55 and over who have worked at least 15 years and can show income, savings or a home. There is no personal income tax, so pensions and deposit income are not taxed.

The entry price is high: income from $5,500 a month or assets from $280,000, and life in Dubai costs more than in Europe. Below is who qualifies, documents, insurance, taxes, a couple's budget, cities and the steps.

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Who can get residence as a retiree

The retirement visa is issued to foreigners aged 55 and over with at least 15 years of work in the UAE or another country. One of three financial conditions applies: property worth at least 1 million dirhams, about $280,000; a deposit of at least 1 million dirhams in a UAE bank; or a fixed income of at least 240,000 dirhams a year, about $5,500 a month.

Almost no one has a Russian pension of that size, so retirees from Russia more often take the deposit or property route. Work is not allowed on this visa, but retired life does not need it.

retirees aged 55 and over with income from $5,500 a month, including pension, rent and dividends;
owners of a flat in the UAE worth from $280,000;
those with savings from $280,000 for a deposit in a UAE bank;
people with at least 15 years of work backed by documents.

Documents and how to prove a Russian pension

passport and colour photo;
proof of at least 15 years of work: an employment record book or a statement from the Social Fund;
for the income route, 6 months of bank statements and an official letter on the source of income, such as a pension statement;
for the deposit route, a UAE bank certificate of a deposit from 1 million dirhams;
for the property route, the title deed and a Land Department valuation;
health insurance and a medical test in the UAE;
translation and legalisation of documents issued in Russia.

The pension statement is ordered on the Gosuslugi portal or from the Social Fund, but a pension alone rarely reaches the threshold: income is combined from pension, rent and interest, and statements show six months of receipts.

The deposit can be opened after the visa is issued: the money is transferred to a UAE bank within 60 days. How a Russian citizen opens an account and which source-of-funds documents banks ask for is covered in a UAE bank account for Russians.

Health insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for residents of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and residence cannot be issued without it. Ordinary travel insurance does not work: you need a policy valid in the emirate of residence for the whole term.

For people over 55 a policy costs noticeably more, and chronic conditions may be excluded from cover. Private clinics in the UAE are of a high standard, but treatment without insurance is very expensive, so the policy is chosen before applying, comparing cover rather than just price.

Tax on your pension and the treaty with Russia

The UAE has no personal income tax, and individuals file no returns. Pensions, deposit interest, income from renting out your own flat and from personal investments are not taxed.

You become a UAE tax resident after 183 days in the country, or after 90 days with a residence visa and a permanent home. The double tax agreement with Russia is in force, and the Russian state pension is not taxed in Russia either. More in taxes in the UAE.

Monthly budget for a couple

Monthly item	Amount
One-bedroom flat in Sharjah, per month	$550-1,100
One-bedroom flat in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai	$1,250-2,300
Utilities in Sharjah	$110-250
Home internet	$85-110
One person's spending with housing in Dubai	$3,500-5,000
Total for a couple in Sharjah	from $2,500

The total for a couple in Sharjah: rent from $550, utilities and internet from $200, groceries and transport, excluding health insurance. Rent is paid a year in advance in one or several cheques, with a deposit of about 5% of the annual sum. In Dubai the budget is twice as high. A consultant in the chat will calculate it for your emirate.

From choosing the route to the resident ID

Retirees lose time on a UAE visa over details: service years not backed by a document, statements showing a pension below the threshold, money not moved to a UAE bank in time, a flat valued below one million dirhams. We choose the route for your income and assets, arrange translation and legalisation of documents, help with a UAE bank account and file the application.

A consultant will calculate the support fee in the chat.

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Where retirees settle

Dubai is chosen for its clinics, beaches and direct flights. Retirees like Jumeirah Lake Towers, noticeably cheaper than the Marina, and the quiet villa districts of Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.

Sharjah is half the price of Dubai for rent, and the best districts are Al Majaz and Al Khan by the lagoon and the sea. The rules are stricter: alcohol is banned in the emirate. Abu Dhabi is calmer than Dubai, while Ras Al Khaimah attracts with mountains, beaches and quiet.

From June to September daytime temperatures reach 40-45 degrees with high humidity, and life moves indoors with air conditioning. From November to March it is 20-28 degrees, the best season. Many retirees spend the summer in another country.

Steps and timelines

Step	Timeline
Visa-free entry	up to 90 days
Choosing the route: income, deposit or property; gathering service documents	2-4 weeks
Translation and legalisation of documents	before filing
Filing with the emirate's immigration authority	1 day
Processing	about 48 hours in Dubai
Medical test and resident ID	after approval
Moving money to a UAE bank deposit, if taking the deposit route	within 60 days

The 5-year package with the resident ID costs about $780 in Dubai, with the medical test and insurance paid separately. Residence is renewed on the same terms, and there are 60 days to renew after expiry.

Common reasons for refusal

under 55 on the filing date;
less than 15 years of work or no document proving it;
income below 240,000 dirhams a year or statements not covering 6 months;
a flat valued below 1 million dirhams;
money not moved to a UAE bank deposit within 60 days;
no health insurance valid in the emirate.

The most common mistake is counting the threshold by the contract price rather than the Land Department valuation. The valuation is checked before the purchase, and savings are moved to a UAE bank in advance so as not to miss the 60-day deadline.

This topic in other countries

Retiring in other countries:

FAQ

Does the UAE have a retirement visa?

Yes, for foreigners aged 55 and over with at least 15 years of work. It is issued for 5 years and renewed on the same terms.

What income is needed for the UAE retirement visa?

At least 240,000 dirhams a year, about $5,500 a month, shown by 6 months of statements. Savings or property from $280,000 work instead of income.

Is a Russian pension taxed in the UAE?

No, the UAE has no personal income tax. The Russian state pension is not taxed in Russia either.

Can you get the visa by buying a flat?

Yes, if the retiree is 55 or older and the flat is worth at least 1 million dirhams, about $280,000, by the Land Department valuation.

How much does the UAE retirement visa cost?

The 5-year package with the resident ID is about $780 in Dubai. The medical test, insurance and document translation are paid separately.

How much does retired life in the UAE cost?

A couple in Sharjah needs from $2,500 a month excluding insurance. In Dubai one person's spending with housing is $3,500-5,000.

Is health insurance required?

Yes, insurance is mandatory for residents of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For people over 55 a policy costs more and is chosen before applying.

Can you work on a retirement visa?

No. The visa is designed for living on a pension, savings or income from assets.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

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