Dubai offers ‘golden visa’ to Filipino investors
Moneyed Filipinos looking to invest in overseas property can now secure a 10-year residency in Dubai, following the launch of the emirate’s “golden visa” program in the Philippines.
Under the program, Filipinos who invest at least 2 million United Arab Emirates (UAE) dirhams—about P32 million—in an eligible Dubai property can obtain a 10-year UAE residency, with no minimum stay requirement.
This program does not grant UAE citizenship, and the 10-year residency represents the maximum term. After the period, investors must reinvest in a Dubai property to renew their status.
“The Dubai Golden Visa offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing investors to structure their residency around specific objectives, whether that’s asset diversification, supporting cross-border businesses, long-term wealth planning, or family relocation,” said Vicky Luis, founder and president of Golden Visa Centrale, which launched the program on Monday.
Luis said the residency card can be processed in as little as two weeks, subject to approval.
Golden Visa Centrale rolled out the program in partnership with real estate firm Arish Capital Partners.
Investment options
One of the investment options on offer is a luxury property at Palm Jumeirah, the 600-hectare artificial island in Dubai known for its high-end residential developments.
Under the structure, a villa valued at 40 million UAE dirhams (about P641 million) will be jointly owned by at least 20 investors, each contributing the minimum 2 million UAE dirhams to qualify for the golden visa.
Each investor will hold a title to the property. At the end of the 10-year investment period, Luis said investors were projected to earn “almost double-digit returns,” with estimated capital appreciation of 900,000 UAE dirhams and forecast rental income of 940,000 UAE dirhams per investor.
Golden Visa Centrale and Arish Capital Partners will also handle the leasing and property management during the investment term.
Luis added that the property would be bought back from investors at the end of the 10-year period.
Perks
According to Luis, the program primarily targets high-net-worth individuals and their families, noting strong demand from expatriates who have already taken advantage of the golden visa scheme in other markets.
Another key market, she said, includes businesses seeking to expand internationally.
Dubai does not impose taxes on capital gains, income or inheritance, while companies earning above $800,000 are subject to a 9-percent corporate tax.
“As Dubai’s economy continues on a strong growth trajectory, Filipinos now have a chance to combine financial growth with lifestyle advantages,” Luis said.
Golden visa programs are gaining momentum globally, with more than 309,000 applications issued as of mid-2025.
The Philippine launch comes amid optimistic expectations for trade and business ties between the Philippines and the UAE, following the signing of a free trade agreement earlier this month—the first such deal between Manila and a Middle Eastern country.
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