Golden Visas issued during the full calendar year
Golden Visa Data & Insights
UAE Golden Visa statistics for 2026.
How many Golden Visas have been issued? Explore verified Dubai issuance figures, historical growth, and what the published numbers do and do not tell us about Golden Visa holders across the UAE.
Dubai figures are not a UAE-wide total. Figures for January to June 2026 cover only six months.
DUBAI · GOLDEN VISA ISSUANCEH1 2026
≈66,000
Golden Visas granted, January–June 2026
GDRFA Dubai reported around 66,000 issuances in the first six months of 2026. This is not a full-year figure or a UAE-wide holder count.
158,000Dubai, full year 2023
79,617Dubai, full year 2022
Approximately 69% higher than 2021
Approximately 98% higher than 2022
First, an important distinction
How many Golden Visa holders are in the UAE?
A single, consolidated, publicly verifiable figure for the number of current Golden Visa holders across all seven emirates is not available in the sources reviewed for this guide. Dubai's issuance figures should not be labelled as a national total.
There is no verified nationwide current-holder total shown here.
We can report how many Golden Visas Dubai issued in specific periods. That is different from the number of unique people holding a valid Golden Visa across the UAE today. Emirates may publish data for different periods and applicant groups.
The published series
Dubai Golden Visas issued by year
For the three full years with directly verified figures, Dubai's Golden Visa issuance rose from 47,150 in 2021 to approximately 158,000 in 2023. The chart includes full-year data only, so the first half of 2026 is reported separately.
Full-year Golden Visa issuance
Dubai · number of visas issued · 2021–2023
The bar lengths use 2023 as the maximum. Source: GDRFA Dubai and reporting of its 2023 announcement.
What the data shows
Growth in reported Golden Visa issuance, not the current holder population.
2022 vs 2021+69%
79,617 issued, compared with 47,150 in 2021.
2023 vs 2022+98%
158,000 issued, compared with 79,617 in 2022.
- Annual issuance nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023.
- These numbers represent Dubai, not the whole country.
- They should not be summed to estimate unique current holders.
What about 2024 and 2025? We have not added annual Golden Visa totals for those years because comparable, independently verified figures were not established from the sources reviewed. A missing figure is not zero and should not be interpolated.
Latest confirmed six-month reporting
Dubai Golden Visa statistics for 2026
GDRFA Dubai reported approximately 66,000 Golden Visas granted from January through June 2026. Some reports cite the more precise figure of 66,078, while others round this to 66,000. We display the rounded figure consistently.
| Period and location | Published figure | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai, 2021 Full year | 47,150 | Golden Visas issued in 2021. |
| Dubai, 2022 Full year | 79,617 | Golden Visas issued in 2022. |
| Dubai, 2023 Full year | 158,000 | Golden Visas issued in 2023. |
| Dubai, Jan–Jun 2026 Half year | ≈66,000 | Only January–June; not a full-year 2026 result. |
| UAE, current holders All emirates | Not verified | No consolidated nationwide current-holder total established here. |
Historical figures refer to Golden Visas issued during each period. They do not measure the stock of valid Golden Visa holders at a particular date.
Read the numbers correctly
Four distinctions that matter
Visa statistics can look contradictory when different places, people and periods are mixed together. These are the comparisons to avoid.
01 / GEOGRAPHY
Dubai is not the whole UAE
GDRFA Dubai reports figures for Dubai. Do not present them as a combined total for Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain.
02 / TIME PERIOD
Six months is not twelve months
The 2026 figure covers January through June only. Doubling it would create an estimate, not an officially reported full-year result.
03 / METRIC
Issued visas are not current holders
Issuance data tracks permits granted over a period. The count of people holding valid Golden Residency on one date can differ because of renewals, cancellations and other changes.
04 / SCOPE
Family permits are a separate category
A family-specific announcement does not represent all Golden Visa categories. Adding overlapping or differently scoped statistics can lead to misleading totals.
167,000+Family Golden Visas reported
In May 2026, Dubai authorities reported more than 167,000 Golden Visas granted to families of specialised talents, covering 2021 through the first quarter of 2026. This is a category-specific multi-year figure, not the total number of Golden Visas held across the UAE. See our family sponsorship guide for eligibility details.
Golden Visa categories
Who can qualify for the UAE Golden Visa?
Published figures may include visas granted across multiple pathways. If you're exploring your own eligibility, use the category guides below rather than relying on aggregate statistics.
Methodology and transparency
How we verify these Golden Visa statistics
We use dated public announcements and keep each figure attached to the issuing authority, geographic area and reporting period. Each number can be traced to a dated public source.
2021 and 2022: GDRFA Dubai
GDRFA's January 11, 2023 statement reported 47,150 visas in 2021 and 79,617 in 2022.
View GDRFA announcement ↗2023: GDRFA figure reported in 2024
Gulf News reported the director general's 158,000 figure on May 21, 2024.
View published report ↗January–June 2026: GDRFA Dubai
July 15, 2026 reporting placed first-half Golden Visa issuance at approximately 66,000.
View H1 2026 report ↗Families: 2021 to Q1 2026
May 15, 2026 reporting cited more than 167,000 family Golden Visas for specialised talents.
View family statistics ↗If comparable, more recent annual or nationwide official figures are published, this page should be updated rather than extrapolating from earlier data.
Frequently asked questions
UAE Golden Visa statistics FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about Golden Visa issuance, growth and current holders.
How many Golden Visa holders are in the UAE in 2026?
A single, consolidated, publicly verified figure for the number of current holders across all seven emirates was not established from the sources reviewed. Dubai has published separate figures for Golden Visas issued.
How many Golden Visas did Dubai issue in 2023?
GDRFA Dubai reported 158,000 Golden Visas issued in the full year 2023, compared with 79,617 in 2022.
How many Golden Visas were issued in Dubai in 2022?
GDRFA Dubai reported 79,617 Golden Visas issued in 2022, compared with 47,150 in 2021.
How many Golden Visas did Dubai issue in 2026?
About 66,000 Golden Visas were issued from January through June 2026. This is a six-month figure and should not be treated as a full-year total.
Why are the 2024 and 2025 annual figures missing?
This guide does not fill annual gaps with estimates. Comparable full-year Golden Visa issuance figures for 2024 and 2025 were not independently verified from the materials reviewed here.
Are issued Golden Visas the same as current Golden Visa holders?
No. Issuance data counts visas granted within a period. Current valid holders would require a separate, time-specific count of people whose Golden Residency remains active.
Are the numbers for Dubai or the whole UAE?
The 2021, 2022, 2023 and first-half 2026 figures on this page refer specifically to Dubai, not the entire UAE.
Which Golden Visa categories are included in the figures?
Dubai's reported issuance covers multiple Golden Visa categories, including investors, professional talent, entrepreneurs, scientists and other eligible groups. The sources reviewed do not provide a consistent breakdown across all years.
How many family Golden Visas were issued in Dubai?
Authorities reported more than 167,000 Golden Visas granted to families of specialised talents between 2021 and the first quarter of 2026. This is a category-specific, multi-year figure.
Can Golden Portal UAE help with my application?
Yes. Golden Portal UAE provides independent eligibility reviews, document preparation and application support. Aggregate statistics do not establish personal eligibility, so our team can help you review the requirements for your category.
Your application, our support
We can manage your Golden Visa application.
From reviewing your eligibility and document evidence to preparing the next application steps, Golden Portal UAE helps you approach your Golden Visa file with a clear plan.