The United Arab Emirates has unveiled a new ‘Waqf Donor Golden Visa’, giving 10-year, renewable residency to individuals who donate at least AED 2 million (≈ US $545,000) to an officially-certified endowment or humanitarian project. Announced on 23 October 2025 by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs–Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) and Awqaf Dubai, the scheme extends the country’s increasingly diverse Golden Visa portfolio to the social-impact sphere.
Under the programme, applicants must (1) make the qualifying donation, (2) hold a recognised university degree and (3) obtain a nomination from Awqaf Dubai or another authorised humanitarian body. A joint GDRFA-Awqaf committee will then verify the donation and issue the residence permit without the need for a local sponsor. Holders may sponsor spouses, children and parents, retain the visa even after six months abroad and enjoy the right to live, work and study anywhere in the UAE.
Officials say the move aligns immigration incentives with measurable development outcomes, reviving the Islamic tradition of waqf (perpetual charitable endowment) while supporting national goals on social welfare, education and health. It also bolsters Dubai’s bid to become a global hub for strategic philanthropy by giving major donors physical access, business rights and family stability in the Emirates.
For employers and global mobility managers, the programme creates a new, sponsor-free pathway for senior executives, HNWIs and family-office principals who combine business interests with philanthropy. HR teams should review compensation structures and charitable-giving policies to assess whether corporate donations could support executives’ eligibility. Immigration advisers note that documentation must be perfectly aligned—passport details, donation certificates and nomination letters must match across all platforms to avoid delays.
Practical tip: interested applicants should engage Awqaf Dubai early to confirm eligible projects, complete the donation, secure the nomination and then file through the GDRFA Smart Services portal. Processing times are expected to improve as the joint committee standardises procedures in the coming months.
Under the programme, applicants must (1) make the qualifying donation, (2) hold a recognised university degree and (3) obtain a nomination from Awqaf Dubai or another authorised humanitarian body. A joint GDRFA-Awqaf committee will then verify the donation and issue the residence permit without the need for a local sponsor. Holders may sponsor spouses, children and parents, retain the visa even after six months abroad and enjoy the right to live, work and study anywhere in the UAE.
Officials say the move aligns immigration incentives with measurable development outcomes, reviving the Islamic tradition of waqf (perpetual charitable endowment) while supporting national goals on social welfare, education and health. It also bolsters Dubai’s bid to become a global hub for strategic philanthropy by giving major donors physical access, business rights and family stability in the Emirates.
For employers and global mobility managers, the programme creates a new, sponsor-free pathway for senior executives, HNWIs and family-office principals who combine business interests with philanthropy. HR teams should review compensation structures and charitable-giving policies to assess whether corporate donations could support executives’ eligibility. Immigration advisers note that documentation must be perfectly aligned—passport details, donation certificates and nomination letters must match across all platforms to avoid delays.
Practical tip: interested applicants should engage Awqaf Dubai early to confirm eligible projects, complete the donation, secure the nomination and then file through the GDRFA Smart Services portal. Processing times are expected to improve as the joint committee standardises procedures in the coming months.
