Abu Dhabi has fixed the annual amount that foreign business owners must earn each year to qualify for the United Arab Emirates' 10-year Golden Visa, according to a report by Legit.ng.

The announcement targets entrepreneurs who run companies in the emirate and want long-term residency. It shifts the Golden Visa from a status granted mainly to investors and salaried executives toward a benchmark that a business must meet every single year.

What does the new rule change?

Under the published guidance, foreign owners of businesses registered in Abu Dhabi must demonstrate a minimum yearly earnings figure to stay eligible for the 10-year Golden Visa. The emirate stated the exact amount that applicants must reach annually.

The change affects:

• Foreign nationals who own companies operating in Abu Dhabi;
• Entrepreneurs applying for the Golden Visa through the business-owner route;
• Current Golden Visa holders on that route whose earnings fall below the stated yearly threshold when they renew.

The Golden Visa itself remains a 10-year renewable residence permit. The new earnings requirement adds an income test to the eligibility file rather than replacing existing criteria.

Who does it affect and which steps change?

Applicants now must show that their business generates at least the stated amount per year. The verification step sits inside the standard Golden Visa application process, so candidates should expect immigration officers to request financial records that prove the annual earnings level.

Owners whose businesses earn less than the threshold will not qualify through this route. They may still pursue other Golden Visa categories, such as investor or specialised-talent streams, if they meet those criteria instead.

The measure gives Abu Dhabi a concrete financial filter. In plain words: run a business that earns the stated yearly amount, and the 10-year visa track stays open; fall short, and that route closes.

Why does the income threshold matter?

The UAE launched the Golden Visa programme to attract entrepreneurs, investors and skilled professionals with long-term residency that does not require a national sponsor. The 10-year permit covers the holder and, in most categories, immediate family members.

Abu Dhabi's decision to publish a specific yearly earnings figure for business owners signals a move toward measurable, revenue-based screening. Prospective applicants can now calculate in advance whether their company clears the bar before they file.

Applicants should verify the exact stated amount and current documentation requirements through official Abu Dhabi and UAE federal immigration channels, as thresholds and procedures can change.

The bottom line: Abu Dhabi now ties the business-owner Golden Visa to a fixed annual earnings figure, and every applicant must prove it each year.