At a glance
The UAE Virtual Working Program lets qualifying remote workers live in the UAE for one year while working for an employer or their own company abroad. You need at least USD $3,500 a month from that work, UAE health coverage, and the required residence documents.
- Work
- Remote work for an employer or your own company based outside the UAE
- Requirements
- Proof of the remote work, at least USD $3,500 monthly income, UAE health coverage, and residence documents
- Local work
- Does not permit ordinary employment with a UAE employer
Summary
This is the UAE's one-year remote-work residence for people whose employer or company is outside the UAE. Current official service pages use a minimum income floor of USD $3,500 a month and require proof that the work is done remotely.
Older Dubai pages and blog posts may still say USD $5,000. The official service pages used for this guide give the lower USD $3,500 figure.
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Confirm your remote work Show that you work for an employer or your own company outside the UAE.
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Show your monthly income Provide recent records meeting the official income requirement.
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Apply for residence Use ICP or Dubai's GDRFA, depending on the emirate, and plan ahead for expiry or renewal.
This permit does not allow ordinary employment with a UAE employer or automatically lead to permanent residence.
Eligibility
You may qualify if all of these are true:
Remote work outside the UAE
- Your employer is outside the UAE, or your company is registered outside the UAE.
- The work is done remotely.
- You are not relying on this route to take ordinary local UAE employment.
Income
- You can document at least USD $3,500 a month from that remote work or business.
- You need recent records showing your income.
Basic residence requirements
- Your passport is valid for more than 6 months.
- You have health insurance with UAE coverage.
- You can complete the normal medical fitness and Emirates ID steps.
Practical limits
- This is a 1-year route, not a long-term residence category by itself.
- If you later want Green Visa or Golden Visa status, you must qualify for those routes separately.
- The route is for remote work tied to a non-UAE employer or company, not for setting up ordinary local employment in the UAE.
What This Route Allows
The permit lets you live in the UAE for one year while continuing qualifying remote work for an employer or business outside the UAE. A further stay requires renewal or a separate residence permission for which you qualify.
What This Route Is Not
This permit does not authorize ordinary employment with a UAE employer. It is temporary residence and does not lead automatically to permanent residence or citizenship.
Next Steps
- Confirm that your employer or company is based outside the UAE and that you can work remotely.
- Collect the documents that prove the remote job or business relationship.
- Gather recent income records that clearly show at least USD $3,500 a month.
- Apply through ICP, the federal residence authority, or GDRFA, Dubai's residence authority, depending on the emirate.
- Before the permit expires, check whether you can renew or qualify for another option, such as the Green Visa.
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