What every entrepreneur in the UAE needs to know in 2026: the key changes and rules

The current changes for entrepreneurs in the UAE in 2026: new requirements for renewing investor visas, the rules on time spent abroad, golden visas based on salary, hiring staff and the Establishment Card.

1. Rules on time spent outside the UAE: do not exceed the limit
One of the most frequent sources of trouble is not knowing the limits on time away from the country. Many residents live between two countries and never track how many days in a row they have spent abroad.

The current limits:

A work visa — a maximum of 179 days in a row outside the UAE
An investor visa — a maximum of 361 days outside the UAE

If you exceed the limit, you will not be let into the country at the airport on your return. Entry stays closed until either your current residence visa is cancelled or a special re-entry permit is issued. Both take from a few hours to a full day — and you spend all of it waiting at the airport.

What to do: keep a record of the days you are away — especially if you travel often or run a business in several countries. If you are planning a long absence, take advice in advance on the type of visa that suits you.

2. Renewing an investor visa: the new requirements in 2026
The requirements for renewing investor visas have been tightened. Simply having an active company is no longer enough — you have to prove that it genuinely trades.

Mainland (the mainland part of the UAE)
A single company is now issued only one investor visa. A second one is possible only if there are genuine invoices and contracts with clients.

To renew an investor visa you will need:

Six months of statements for the company account
Six months of personal bank statements for the visa holder
An office tenancy contract plus electricity bills
Invoices and contracts with counterparties

Free zone (IFZA and other free zones)
New requirements for renewing investor visas in the free zones came into force on 1 January 2026.

To renew you will need:

A tenancy contract in the company’s name
Utility bills in the visa holder’s name
Six months of statements for the company account
A minimum balance on the company account of 50,000 AED (~13,600 USD)

That last point is an entirely new requirement and it has caught many people out. If the company account is all but empty, the visa renewal may be refused.

The conclusion: nominal companies with no real activity are becoming a risky instrument. If your company exists only on paper, it is time either to bring it to life or to consider another basis for your visa.

3. Visas when hiring staff, and freelance visas
Hiring: important restrictions by nationality.
If you hire citizens of Pakistan, India or Bangladesh, the company automatically moves into Labour category 3 — and the cost of arranging visas for all staff rises by 2,266 AED per visa.

In addition, visas are closed for citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Nigeria. The exception for Pakistani citizens: employment is possible only where the role requires a degree and the company has more than 22 employees.

This is worth taking into account when planning your hiring — particularly in IT, construction and services.

Freelance visas: a temporary pause.
The issuing of freelance visas is currently suspended. A freelance licence, however, can still be obtained without restriction — you may work legally and issue invoices, but a residence visa on that basis is not being issued for the time being.
If you need a visa, consider the alternative grounds: registering a company or investing in property.

4. A golden visa based on salary
The ten-year golden visa can be obtained not only through investment but also on the basis of a high salary at a UAE company.

The requirements:

A monthly salary of 30,000 AED or more (~8,200 USD)
More than 2 years of service with the same company in a senior position
A university degree plus an equivalency certificate (recognition of the degree in the UAE)
Statements for your salary account for the last six months

An important detail: if your current two-year visa is about to expire, you must first renew it and only then apply for the golden visa. An application on an expired visa is not possible.

A golden visa based on salary is an excellent option for senior managers and highly paid specialists who are employed and have no plans to start a business of their own.

5. New privileges for golden visa holders
From 2026 golden visa holders receive an extended package of consular protection from the UAE — even without citizenship of the country.

What is now available:

Help if your passport is lost or damaged — an electronic Return Document is issued so that you can travel back to the UAE
A dedicated hotline and emergency support abroad
Help with repatriation in emergencies
Arrangements for the return of the body in the event of death abroad

In effect, golden visa holders now receive a consular service close to what used to be available only to UAE citizens. A weighty argument in favour of the golden visa for anyone who travels a great deal.

6. The Establishment Card and MOHRE: what has changed
The Establishment Card (GDRFA) is the card you need in order to arrange and renew visas for a company’s staff.

An important rule that is now strictly enforced: if an Establishment Card is issued in a particular person’s name and it has expired, the Establishment Cards of other companies registered to that same person cannot be renewed. The licence of the first company has to be renewed first — only then can you move on.

This is critical for anyone who is a director of several companies at once: a single expired card blocks work on all the others.

One more change: the e-signature card has been discontinued. All dealings with the Ministry of Labour now go through the MOHRE app. If you have not switched to it yet, do so in advance to avoid delays.

6. The Establishment Card and MOHRE: what has changed
The Establishment Card (GDRFA) is the card you need in order to arrange and renew visas for a company’s staff.

This is critical for anyone who is a director of several companies at once: a single expired card blocks work on all the others.

Need advice on your own situation?
The requirements change, and keeping track of them on your own is hard — especially when details that look insignificant can cost you your residence status or several thousand dirhams.

Our team works with entrepreneurs in the UAE every day and knows all the current requirements. We will help you work out what you specifically need to do: renew a visa, change its type, arrange hiring correctly or prepare for a golden visa.

Get in touch and we will carry out an initial review of your situation.

16 MARCH