Visit visa to explore investment opportunities: who it's for and how to apply

How it works, step by step

1. 1

   Check that you fit the eligibility profile

   To apply for the visit visa to explore investment opportunities, the foreigner must be financially solvent, talent, or a holder of a high qualification, and a professional in the prospective business in his home country. You also have to fulfil the prescribed financial guarantee. The amount of that guarantee is not published in the source text we work from, so confirm the current figure on the ICP or GDRFA Dubai website before you plan anything around it.

2. 2

   Decide how long you need

   This is a single-entry visa. You can apply for a validity of either 60, 90 or 120 days — pick the one that realistically covers the meetings, site visits and paperwork you have in mind, because it is one entry, not multiple.

3. 3

   Collect the documents

   The documents required to apply for a visit visa are: a coloured photo, a copy of the applicant's passport, and an attested copy of the qualifications certificate. On passport validity, the source gives the minimum as at least 6 months, and elsewhere as at least 6 months — check which applies to your case on the authority's website. Note that the qualifications certificate has to be attested, which usually takes longer than people expect, so start with that one.

   Documents:Coloured photoPassport copyAttested qualifications certificate
4. 4

   Apply through the authority

   Applications go through ICP (icp.gov.ae) or, for Dubai, GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae). Because no sponsor or host is required, you file on your own behalf. Fees and processing times are not stated in the official text quoted here — take the current amounts from the authority's own channels rather than from any third party.

5. 5

   Plan what you'll actually do while you're here

   The visa exists so you can explore business and investment opportunities in the UAE. Line up the viewings, developer meetings and advisor calls before you land, since a single entry with a fixed validity does not leave much room for a second trip.

Fees and timelines may change — verify with the official source.

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