UAE Golden Visa, tax residency and banking
Where you are resident decides where you are taxed, which banks will take you on and how your estate is treated. In the UAE that rests on 3 things:
- the right to live here, usually through the UAE Golden Visa or another residence visa
- recognition as a UAE tax resident
- personal and company bank accounts
They depend on each other. A tax residency certificate turns on the days you spend in the UAE, and banks treat residents and non-residents differently. [3][5]
The UAE Golden Visa
The Golden Visa is long-term residence for investors, business owners and other eligible groups. The main investor routes are: [1][2]
- property worth at least AED 2 million
- at least AED 2 million invested in a company, a fund or a bank deposit
- a UAE small or medium business in an approved field with annual revenue of at least AED 1 million, or businesses you founded that sold for at least AED 7 million in total
Holders can sponsor their spouse, their children regardless of age, and their parents. [1]
The federal immigration authority describes the visa as 10 years and renewable. The federal government portal shows 5 years for some routes. Confirm the term for your route when you apply. [1][2] The UAE Golden Visa: routes, requirements and family →
The UAE tax residency certificate
A residence visa gives you the right to live in the UAE. A tax residency certificate from the Federal Tax Authority shows you are tax resident here, which matters for tax treaties. An individual qualifies on any one of three tests: [3][4]
- 183 days or more in the UAE in a 12-month period
- 90 days or more, as a UAE or GCC national or a UAE residence permit holder, with a permanent home or a job or business here
- your usual home and the centre of your financial and personal interests are in the UAE
The UAE tax residency certificate (guide coming soon)
Bank accounts
Banks ask for detailed evidence of your identity, where your money comes from and the purpose of the account. Approval can take from three weeks to six months. In a 2020 study, UAE start-ups took an average of 63 days to open a bank account. [5][6] We help clients assemble that evidence in full before they apply to the bank they choose. The decision on any account rests with the bank. Opening a bank account in the UAE (guide coming soon)
How we help
What we do:
- We fit residence, tax status and banking into one plan, alongside the company or structure they rest on and the rules of the country you're leaving.
- We form and administer the UAE company where one is needed.
- We prepare the evidence each application needs, in full, before it is made.
What others do:
- The UAE authorities decide visa and tax residency applications.
- Banks decide account applications.
Marlborough Gulf does not give investment, pension or insurance advice. Regulated services are provided by licensed firms, who contract with you directly.
Sources
- ICP, Golden Residency Guide, updated 10 Sep 2026. https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-golden-residency/
- u.ae, Golden visa, updated 28 Jul 2026. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/residence-visas/golden-visa
- Federal Tax Authority, Issuance of Tax Certificates for Tax Residency, updated 22 Oct 2026. https://tax.gov.ae/en/services/issuance.of.tax.certificates.aspx
- CMS, "New Guide on Tax Residence and Tax Residency Certificates Application Procedure – Natural Persons", 21 Nov 2024. https://cms.law/en/are/legal-updates/new-guide-on-tax-residence-and-tax-residency-certificates-application-procedure-natural-persons
- Gulf News, "How non-residents can open a bank account in the UAE", updated 29 Jan 2025. https://gulfnews.com/living-in-uae/banking/how-non-residents-can-open-a-bank-account-in-the-uae-a-complete-guide-1.500024837
- The National, "UAE start-ups take an average of 63 days opening a bank account", 24 Jun 2020. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/banking/uae-start-ups-take-an-average-of-63-days-opening-a-bank-account-hub71-report-shows-1.1038651