Dubai has expanded the UAE’s flagship Golden Visa programme with a new pathway aimed squarely at high-impact philanthropists. Announced on 7 December by the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA) in partnership with Awqaf Dubai, the ‘Charity Donor Golden Visa’ grants a renewable ten-year residency to individuals—local or foreign—whose financial endowments support humanitarian or community projects inside the Emirates.
While Cabinet Resolution 65 of 2022 already allowed long-term residence for exceptional contributors, the new track institutionalises philanthropy by creating a joint GDRFA-Awqaf committee to vet nominations, verify impact metrics and monitor ongoing compliance. Donations must align with national priorities such as education, public health or social welfare, and evidence of sustained rather than one-off giving is required. Dependants receive equivalent residence rights, including the ability to work without a local sponsor.
![Dubai Launches ‘Charity Donor Golden Visa’ Offering 10-Year Residency to Major Philanthropists]()
For multinational companies the scheme offers a fresh retention lever for senior executives who channel corporate-social-responsibility budgets through UAE-based charities. Mobility managers can now fold Golden-Visa eligibility into global assignment packages, shortening lead times compared with investor visas and reducing sponsorship costs. Private-wealth advisers also expect interest from GCC family offices and global foundations seeking Middle-East hubs.
HR guidance: prepare a detailed donation dossier, secure letters of support from recognised charities, and allow four to six weeks for processing during the pilot period. Importantly, Golden-Visa holders may stay outside the UAE for more than six months without losing status—useful for travelling executives.
The initiative underscores Dubai’s ambitions to brand itself not only as a tax-friendly business centre but also as a global philanthropy hub—mirroring programmes such as the UK’s ‘Philanthropy Tier 1 Investor’ route and Singapore’s charity donor residence scheme.
While Cabinet Resolution 65 of 2022 already allowed long-term residence for exceptional contributors, the new track institutionalises philanthropy by creating a joint GDRFA-Awqaf committee to vet nominations, verify impact metrics and monitor ongoing compliance. Donations must align with national priorities such as education, public health or social welfare, and evidence of sustained rather than one-off giving is required. Dependants receive equivalent residence rights, including the ability to work without a local sponsor.
For multinational companies the scheme offers a fresh retention lever for senior executives who channel corporate-social-responsibility budgets through UAE-based charities. Mobility managers can now fold Golden-Visa eligibility into global assignment packages, shortening lead times compared with investor visas and reducing sponsorship costs. Private-wealth advisers also expect interest from GCC family offices and global foundations seeking Middle-East hubs.
HR guidance: prepare a detailed donation dossier, secure letters of support from recognised charities, and allow four to six weeks for processing during the pilot period. Importantly, Golden-Visa holders may stay outside the UAE for more than six months without losing status—useful for travelling executives.
The initiative underscores Dubai’s ambitions to brand itself not only as a tax-friendly business centre but also as a global philanthropy hub—mirroring programmes such as the UK’s ‘Philanthropy Tier 1 Investor’ route and Singapore’s charity donor residence scheme.
