When Dubai launched its retirement visa in 2020, we told readers to wait and watch before committing, since the scheme was brand new and the renewal terms genuinely unclear. It’s no longer a wait-and-watch situation. The programme has run for several years now, terms have settled, and thousands of retirees have actually gone through it.
Here’s where it stands today, and an honest look at whether it makes sense for you.
Read – Planning to Retire in India – 5 Easy Steps
âš¡ Quick Answer
The UAE Retirement Visa is a renewable 5-year residence permit for applicants 55 and above, meeting one of three financial thresholds: AED 1 million in savings, AED 1 million in property (the property threshold has come down from an earlier AED 2 million), or an annual income of roughly AED 240,000 (about AED 20,000/month). Valid UAE health insurance is mandatory, and there’s no access to government benefits. Verify the exact current thresholds directly with GDRFA or a licensed visa agent before applying, since these figures do shift.
Why It Exists
Indians make up the largest expat group in the UAE, roughly a quarter of the population, and the retirement visa was designed to retain that purchasing power rather than lose long-term residents once their employment visa ends. Expats can typically work up to 60, sometimes 65, and this scheme gives them a formal path to stay on afterward.
What Genuinely Draws NRIs to Dubai
Proximity to India
Most Indian cities are a 3-4 hour flight away, genuinely easy for frequent trips home.
Established community
Decades of Indian presence mean festivals, food, and worship options across every religion, genuinely well developed.
Safety and cleanliness
Low crime rate and consistently high standards of public hygiene and order.
Zero income tax
Translates directly into higher disposable income and savings capacity while resident.
Check – Best Places to Retire in India
The Genuine Trade-Offs
âš Weigh These Honestly Before Committing
- Cost of living remains genuinely high; this suits the financially comfortable more than the average retiree stretching a modest corpus.
- Health insurance for those over 55 is expensive, and so is UAE healthcare itself, budget for both realistically.
- The desert climate means brutal summer heat and humidity, worth experiencing across a full season before committing long-term.
- Compared to programmes in Portugal, Malaysia, or similar countries offering a path to permanent residency with fewer restrictions, Dubai’s visa remains a renewable temporary residence permit, not a route to permanence.
Must Read – NRIs Should Think About Their 401k Plan Before Moving Back To India
“Retirement isn’t literally about not working. It’s the flexibility that comes from not needing to, and the freedom to do what you want, when you want.”
Who This Genuinely Suits
NRIs already established in the UAE, with children studying or working there, or those who specifically value proximity to India over a lower cost of living elsewhere, tend to find this visa genuinely worthwhile. If your priority is stretching a moderate retirement corpus as far as possible, or securing permanent residency rather than a renewable temporary one, other destinations may serve you better.
Weighing Dubai against retiring in India?
We help NRIs compare the real cost, tax, and lifestyle trade-offs across both, against their actual corpus.
A visa is just a permit. Whether it fits your actual retirement still comes down to your own numbers and priorities.
💬 Your Turn
Are you considering the UAE retirement visa, or planning to retire elsewhere outside India? Share your thinking below.
My father is 63yrs old. If after getting the retirement visa, if incase his former UAE employer (private engineering company) calls him back can he cancel the retirement visa to avail the employer visa? And reapply the retirement visa later once his contract ends?
I am 65 years of age, a NRI and will retire.
In case I plan to shift to Dubai on retirement visa:
Monthly income of USD5,500 and a saving of USD272,000 is not a big issue.
My questions are:
1. Can one survive at monthly income of USD 5,500? Does this include house rent etc.?
2. What is Medical Insurance cost?
3. No income tax in Dubai, is understood, but if I retire and stay in Dubai, my income will be taxed in India. Is this true? Will I still be considered as NRI?
Hi Rakesh,
1) Living expenses varies from person to person thus it will be difficult to say if this amount will be substantial or not.
2) It will depend on the coverage a person is opting for.
3) Yes, you will be considered as NRI and it will taxed as per the DTAA.
$23-$25k p.a. towards rent with free chiller in premium apartment
$15-$20k p.a. for all other expenses
$5k for medical insurance < age 60 – if you have pre-existing conditions then depending on the condition the premium will ne higher than $5k p.a.
Your total including one annual air travel for couple will be less than %50k p.a.
I am 62 yrs old doctor and just retired frm MOH saudi arabia after serving for 33 yrs..wants to retire in safe and crime free country,ready to invest US $ 250,000 pls give your choices with all pros and cons
Dear Masood,
I will suggest you get in touch with any Residency & Citizenship by investment advisory. You may check that information on the internet.
“Dubai is the best city in the world”
This is a statement from nationals of advanced economies in Europe.
– Over 100 nationalities live in peace and harmony. UAE is actively working to promote religious harmony. There are 45 Churches. Dubai Hindu temple is currently informal and does not have a temple design. Many Indian communities, including Buddhist & Jain listen to visiting religious preachers in private halls and homes. Vipassana Centre conducts 10 day residential courses monthly. A major Swaminarayan temple is under construction in Abu Dhabi. (As may be known the Abrahamic religions arose out of opposition to worship of idols and images as the Divine is supposed to be formless.)
– Knowledge of Arabic is totally unnecessary. Knowledge of Malayalam is beneficial because all office boys in Government departments are Malayali. They are very helpful and can help if if you ever need any help. The Malayali are very enterprising and can understand Arabic (besides Hindi). That is how they communicate with their Arab managers.
– A very high level of efficiency in government services.
– High levels of politeness and courtesy when dealing with patrolling police. Police will try and speak in Urdu/Hindi besides English.
– Citizens of UAE are very civilised and courteous
– Highest levels of safety for person and property.
– All residents are very civil in their behaviour. Unruly behaviour is not tolerated. Fighting is almost never seen. People behave themselves.
– Infastructure of Dubai is at par with the best modern cities including modern cities of China. Infrastructure of Dubai is very new, in comparison say to infrastructure of USA which is very old.
– Cost of living in Dubai compares very favourably with that of advanced economies like UK and Western Europe. 2 BHK accomodation with free aircon chiller included is available to rent @ $ 23-25k now. Rentals are expected to remain low for several years given cheap oil, a slow economy and surplus accomodation, both ready to let and under construction. Other costs of living would be in the region of $ 15-20k max. In addition consider medical insurance. For a couple below age 60 this would be $ 5k per couple per annum. Obviously as you age the premiums would increase.
Absence of tax is a saving which helps more the higher the bracket one is in.
If you enjoy reasonably good health then you are bound to find plenty of Indian social groups since 35% plus population is from India and 50% if one includes neighbours from Indian sub-continent.
Obviously the bigger your budget the more you can spend on activities like Golf, Yachting, Desert Safari etc etc
Else there are plenty of beautiful and free public parks & beaches.
The weather is great 24 x 7 during the 7 months from October-April
For 3 months of May, Jun, July we can enjoy exercising outdoors before 9am and after 6pm
For 2 peak summer months of Jul-Aug it is best to enjoy walks inside one of the many shopping malls.
Dear Rau,
Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Having lived in the Gulf for over 20 years, it is important to point out that the Sharia system of law applies and that all legal proceedings are in Arabic. The locals are always shown much more leniency and therefore justice is not always ensured.
Hi Ash – thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for this article. Good information.
Would you please keep us posted if there are any updates on this visa?
Thanks for appreciating Suguna.
If I will get some additional information – I will add it here.