UAE Golden Visa Statistics: How Many Have Been Issued?

There is no single publicly available official figure showing the exact number of current UAE Golden Visa holders across all seven emirates. Public reporting is split between federal and emirate-level authorities, and the clearest public issuance figures currently come from Dubai.

For Dubai, verified figures show 47,150 Golden Visas issued in 2021, 79,617 in 2022, 158,000 in 2023, and approximately 66,000 in the first half of 2026. These are issuance figures, not a confirmed count of unique current Golden Visa holders across the UAE.

How Many Golden Visa Holders Are in the UAE?

The exact nationwide total is not publicly available as one consolidated official number. A figure published by Dubai GDRFA covers Dubai and should not be presented as the total for Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates.

This distinction matters because the search question asks for the whole UAE, while most of the strongest public statistics are Dubai-specific.

Latest UAE Golden Visa Statistics

Dubai Golden Visa Statistics by Year

Dubai provides some of the clearest public Golden Visa issuance data. Verified public figures show:

• 2021: 47,150 Golden Visas issued.
• 2022: 79,617 Golden Visas issued.
• 2023: 158,000 Golden Visas issued.
• First half of 2026: approximately 66,000 Golden Visas issued.

For 2024 and 2025, this page does not insert an annual Golden Visa total unless the figure can be verified directly. GDRFA publishes annual open-data reports, but we do not fill missing Golden Visa figures with estimates.

What Do the Dubai Numbers Show?

Golden Visa issuance in Dubai increased sharply between 2021 and 2023. Issuance rose by about 69% from 2021 to 2022, then by about 98% from 2022 to 2023.

GDRFA then reported approximately 66,000 Golden Visas in the first six months of 2026. That is a half-year figure, not a final 2026 annual total.

Why Is There No Single UAE-Wide Golden Visa Total?

Golden Visa statistics are published through different authorities and for different periods. This makes a single headline total difficult to verify.

• Different authorities: Dubai GDRFA publishes Dubai figures, while federal immigration services are handled through ICP and emirate-specific channels.
• Different periods: some figures cover a full year, others several years or only six months.
• Different groups: some announcements count all Golden Visas, while others refer only to families, a profession or a specific category.
• Different metrics: visas issued are not necessarily the same as unique current valid holders.

Golden Visas Issued vs Number of Current Holders

These are not necessarily the same number. “Golden Visas issued” measures visa issuances during a stated period. “Current Golden Visa holders” would require a live count of unique people whose Golden Residency is valid on a specific date.

Renewals, dependants, cancellations, expired visas and category-specific family permits can make a simple cumulative total misleading. This page therefore keeps each figure tied to the scope in which it was reported.

What About the 167,000 Golden Visas Issued to Families?

In 2026, GDRFA Dubai reported that more than 167,000 Golden Visas had been issued to families of specialised talents over the period from 2021 through the first quarter of 2026.

This is useful evidence of the scale of family sponsorship, but it is not a nationwide total of all Golden Visa holders and should not be added to annual issuance figures as if the datasets were identical.

For the rules on bringing family members under a Golden Visa, see our UAE Golden Visa family sponsorship guide.

How Many Golden Visas Were Issued in Dubai in 2026?

GDRFA Dubai reported approximately 66,000 Golden Visas issued from January through June 2026.

This should not be presented as the full-year 2026 figure until an annual total is published.

Which Golden Visa Categories Are Included?

Golden Visa issuance can cover multiple eligibility categories, including investors, skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, frontline workers and other approved categories.

Statistics do not establish personal eligibility. If you want to know which route may apply to you, start with our UAE Golden Visa requirements guide.

How We Treat Golden Visa Statistics

This page avoids a common problem with Golden Visa statistics: mixing figures from different emirates, periods and visa groups into one number.

If an exact annual or nationwide figure cannot be verified, we state that directly instead of estimating it.

UAE Golden Visa Statistics FAQs

How many Golden Visa holders are in the UAE in 2026?

There is no single public official figure giving the exact number of current Golden Visa holders across the entire UAE. Dubai has published separate issuance data, including about 66,000 Golden Visas in the first half of 2026.

How many Golden Visas did Dubai issue in 2023?

Dubai GDRFA reported 158,000 Golden Visas issued in 2023, nearly double the 79,617 issued in 2022.

How many Golden Visas did Dubai issue in 2022?

GDRFA Dubai reported 79,617 Golden Visas issued in 2022, compared with 47,150 in 2021.

Does Dubai’s Golden Visa total represent the whole UAE?

No. Dubai GDRFA figures cover Dubai and should not be treated as a complete total for all seven emirates.

Are Golden Visa issuance figures the same as current holders?

No. Issuance statistics count visas issued during a period. A current-holder figure would need to count unique valid Golden Visa holders at a specific point in time.

Need to Check Your Own Golden Visa Eligibility?

Golden Visa statistics show how quickly the programme has grown, but they do not tell you whether your own profile qualifies. Golden Portal UAE can review your eligibility route, supporting documents and next steps.