December 20, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: These two long-term residency programs, the UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency, have completely reversed the game of immigration in the Gulf region; they are literally seeking to attract foreign investment and the best talent to the region.
Program Initiation and Strategic Goals of UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency
Therefore, in 2019, the UAE unveiled its Golden Visa and in 2022, redesigned it to make it significantly easier to obtain. In 2019, Saudi Arabia began its Premium Residency, commonly known as the Saudi Green Card, as part of the Vision 2030 initiative, and with significant updates planned at the beginning of 2024. The major distinction between the UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency is the breadth and permanence of these two in nature.
The Golden Visa takes into account an assortment of categories: investors, entrepreneurs, professionals, standout students, and niche talents. Legal peeps note that the strategy adopted by the UAE is more comprehensive, and it includes more types of investments in various industries.
Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia is a narrower initiative that would aim to meet certain investment criteria, kick-ass talent and certain job roles that align with the economic diversification of the Kingdom.
Features of UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency
When comparing the UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency, it will be evident that the time frames differ. The UAE will give you a renewable five-year or ten-year contract, based on the category. A nice thing is that you can spend over half a year in the UAE and still retain your residency, which is a great victory for the working and the students in the whole world.
| Aspect | UAE Golden Visa | Saudi Premium Residency |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 5 or 10 years, renewable if criteria met | Permanent (lifetime, one-time fee) or 1-5 years renewable annually |
| Cost | AED 2,800–4,800 processing + investment (e.g., AED 2M property); varies by category | SAR 800,000 permanent or SAR 100,000/year renewable; SAR 4,000 for some categories like real estate |
| Eligibility Categories | Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, skilled professionals (doctors, engineers), outstanding students/graduates, humanitarians | General (financial solvency), investors/entrepreneurs, special talents, gifted individuals, real estate owners; age 21+ |
| Stay Rules | No minimum stay; can be absent >6 months without cancellation | No sponsor needed; extended absence ok for permanent, but may affect privileges |
| Key Benefits | Live/work/study without sponsor; family sponsorship; property/business ownership in free zones; multiple entry | Property ownership (except holy cities); business setup; family sponsorship; fee exemptions; sponsor-free |
Saudi Arabia provides you with limited-duration and unlimited-duration Premium Residency. The short-term ones are renewed, and the unlimited ones are more or less permanent. The Saudi program does not ensure that one can be away on a long-term basis without losing status, and as such, it suits individuals who have intentions of establishing a long-term base in Saudi Arabia.
Investment Requirements and Sponsorship
The UAE Golden Visa and Saudi Premium Residency initiatives differ in terms of financial benefits. At least AED 2 million (approximately $545k) of property is required by the real estate investors in the UAE. Business investors will also have to deposit AED 2 million or invest in UAE companies. Saudi numbers are higher. The minimum property investment in the Premium Residency is SAR 4 million, whereas the minimum property investment in the investor residency is SAR 7 million in the first two years and the establishment of at least 10 jobs.
| Category | UAE Golden Visa | Saudi Premium Residency |
|---|---|---|
| Investors | Public: AED 2M deposit/fund or AED 250K annual taxes (10 years); Real estate: AED 2M owned property (5 years) | SAR 800K one-time for permanent; real estate owners SAR 4K option; financial solvency |
| Entrepreneurs | AED 500K project value + incubator approval (5 years) | Business setup proof; innovative projects |
| Talents/Professionals | Doctors (MoH approval), scientists (council letter), executives (AED 50K salary, 5 yrs exp), athletes, PhDs (10 years) | Special talents, gifted individuals; executives, engineers |
| Students | High school ≥95% (5 years); university GPA ≥3.8 recent grads (10 years) | Not primary focus; some gifted student paths |
| Other | Humanitarian pioneers (AED 2M support/500 hrs), frontline heroes (10 years) | Age 21+, clean record; family inclusion |
This is accompanied by a one-time payment of SAR 800,000 (approximately 213k) to obtain the permanent residency status, which makes the Saudi model a little more expensive than the UAE model, which is property-based. Both of them allow you to self-sponsor, and an employer is not required to support you. However, families have differences in perks. The UAE Golden Visa is less restrictive, but there is no age restriction on sponsored children and the ability to import an unlimited number of domestic workers. Even in case the main holder dies, the family members will be able to remain until the visa expires.
The Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia allows sponsoring parents, grandparents, siblings, and their children through visit visas. The foreign domestic workers can also be hired. Proprietors have the chance of owning residential, commercial and industrial premises in any part of the Kingdom except in Mecca, Medina and along the border. You receive the right of use for up to 99 years there.
The Permanent residency route is a major difference in the UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency. Saudi Arabia specifically provides a way to permanent residence, and this aspect is mainly for exceptional talent who meet in requirements. The Golden Visa of the UAE is long-term renewable without an official path to an interview for permanent residence and citizenship.
The UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency does not guarantee citizenship at all. The naturalisation process in the UAE is highly discriminatory as it requires evidence that the applicant belongs to one of the founding tribes as early as 1925, making it almost taboo. The regulations are also rather restrictive in Saudi Arabia, yet the Premium Residency provides more long-term settlement opportunities compared to the renewable framework in the UAE.
Local Marketing and Competition
According to experts in the industry, the UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency have transformed the migration process in the region. By 2023, the UAE had already issued more than 150,000 Golden Visas, which positions the country as a developed global talent hub. Dubai has become a hotspot for investor migration companies and multinational corporations due to the Golden Visa market.
The Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia presents new opportunities in accordance with the $3.2 trillion pipeline of the Vision 2030 in the energy, logistics, fintech, entertainment, and tourism sectors.
The Kingdom is providing rare long-term opportunities to early entrants willing to make serious investments with mega-projects such as NEOM.
After all, the choice between the UAE Golden Visa vs Saudi Premium Residency will always be based on what is most important to you. UAE provides you with a track record of infrastructure, global connectivity, multicultural atmosphere, and an established business environment. Saudi Arabia provides long-term residence opportunities, an open market prospect, and is consistent with one of the most progressive economic changes in the region.
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