UAE Golden Visa Expands Emergency Support for Expats Overseas

(UNITED ARAB EMIRATES) The UAE has expanded the UAE Golden Visa with new overseas protections that are now officially in effect as of October 14, 2025, giving long-term residents access to emergency support and direct consular services when they face crises abroad. The policy brings Golden Visa holders into closer alignment with the type of help UAE nationals receive from embassies and consulates, and places the program alongside the United States, Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Malta, which already extend similar protections to their long-term residency holders. Legal practitioners in Dubai and Abu Dhabi describe the move as “exceptional” within the region, noting that it strengthens the UAE’s reputation as a hub that not only attracts global talent but also protects it.

Under the change, Golden Visa residents who lose a passport overseas, need help during a natural disaster or conflict, or require urgent travel coordination can request assistance from UAE missions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced a dedicated hotline to speed help in urgent cases, with support ranging from passport assistance and evacuation coordination to repatriation, including coordination for burial in the UAE when needed. For many long-term residents who maintain deep ties to the Emirates but travel widely for work or family, the change answers a long-standing gap in crisis coverage.

Officials say the aim is to give Golden Visa holders practical backup when events abroad spiral beyond their control. Previously, foreign residents often had to rely on their own country’s embassy—if they had one in the location where they were stranded—or on private assistance. Now, long-term UAE residents can also turn to UAE consular services during foreign emergencies, offering a second layer of protection and reassurance.

Who still qualifies — no change to eligibility

The upgrade does not change who can qualify for a UAE Golden Visa. Eligibility remains broad and includes:

• Property investors with at least Dh2 million invested in real estate
• Skilled workers who earn a minimum gross salary of Dh30,000 per month
• Exceptional talent nominees, including artists, athletes, and business leaders (including those currently based abroad)

Standard application costs and documentation remain unchanged:

• Typical fees: Dh5,000 to Dh9,000 (covers medical screening, Emirates ID, and residence processing)
• Required documents: passport valid for at least six months, attested education certificates where required, a no-objection letter from the employer when applicable
• Post-approval steps: medical exams and biometrics

What the new protections provide

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes support in four core areas:

• Passport assistance when travel documents are lost, stolen, or damaged
• Evacuation planning and coordination during major crises
• Repatriation services, including coordination for burial in the UAE if requested by family
• A dedicated hotline to triage emergencies and connect residents to the nearest UAE mission

Important: This is not an insurance policy and does not replace medical coverage or travel planning. It is a state-backed safety net to help manage time-sensitive problems, especially in unfamiliar locations or where the resident’s home-country embassy is absent.

Regional and international context

The 2025 shift aligns the UAE more closely with European golden-visa regimes that have been strengthening safety features. Examples:

• Greece and Portugal have expanded assistance frameworks for long-term residents.
• Italy and Malta offer standard consular support to long-term residents.

Attorneys note that the UAE’s addition of repatriation coordination and a direct hotline makes its program stand out in the region.

Practical benefits for travelers and families

For many Golden Visa residents, the immediate benefit is peace of mind. Typical scenarios where the new protections help:

• A skilled worker meeting the Dh30,000 salary threshold who loses a passport during travel can call the dedicated hotline, get instructions, and coordinate temporary travel documentation with the nearest UAE mission.
• A property investor with Dh2 million in UAE real estate caught in sudden unrest can receive safety updates, assembly point suggestions, and evacuation advice from embassy staff.
• Families dealing with illness or bereavement can use repatriation and burial coordination to ease cross-border logistics during difficult times.

These services matter particularly for artists, athletes, executives, founders, and medical specialists who travel frequently and may have limited local contacts.

How to get help abroad

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends a simple approach for Golden Visa residents needing assistance overseas:

1. Call the dedicated hotline for Golden Visa emergencies to report the situation and receive instructions.
2. Reach out to the nearest UAE embassy or consulate for in-person support on document issues or urgent travel needs.
3. Keep core documents current before travel: a passport with at least six months’ validity, your Emirates ID, and proof that your UAE Golden Visa remains valid.

Officials also encourage residents to check official UAE government pages for travel advisories, mission contacts, and program details. The UAE Government’s Golden Visa page provides eligibility categories, validity rules, and general processing information: UAE Government Golden Visa portal.

Additional practical reminders:

• Applicants still complete standard post-approval steps (medicals and biometrics).
• The range of support can vary by country and specific emergency; keep travel insurance and backup digital copies of documents.
• Faster notification to the embassy or hotline improves response speed.

Impact on advisors, employers and relocation decisions

• Investment advisors say enhanced protections can influence globally mobile families when choosing between residency programs of similar cost.
• Employers and HR teams should brief Golden Visa employees about the hotline, include mission contacts in travel files, and encourage routine pre-trip checks.
• Relocation consultants expect the measure to be especially attractive to applicants who live part-time outside the UAE.

Industries with heavy travel—aviation, logistics, sports, media—stand to reduce downtime and stress when unexpected events occur.

Policy implications and comparisons

• The UAE model continues to offer long-term residence without a direct path to citizenship, but it provides stability, tax advantages, and now emergency support abroad.
• European comparisons: Greece and Portugal have minimum investment routes beginning around €250,000 for some options and offer potential citizenship after several years; Italy and Malta have different thresholds and timelines. The UAE contrasts by focusing on residency benefits and now formal consular protections.

What residents should do now

To ensure smooth access to help abroad, Golden Visa holders should:

• Confirm residency validity and keep property ownership records current (investors).
• Maintain the Dh30,000 salary benchmark and employment documentation (skilled workers).
• Ensure sponsorship/nomination remains valid (exceptional talent nominees).
• Keep passports and Emirates IDs valid — expired documents complicate help abroad.
• Save the hotline and nearest UAE mission contacts in their phone and travel files.
• Keep digital and physical copies of key documents and maintain travel insurance.

Key takeaway: If an emergency occurs, call early. Faster contact means faster solutions; embassy teams can guide you through reporting, documentation, evacuation options, and repatriation where necessary.

The introduction of these protections reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to long-term residents as partners in national development, recognizing that their lives and risks are global. By formalizing consular services for Golden Visa holders overseas, the UAE signals long-term partnership and practical backing for the people it seeks to attract and retain.