Dubai has added a new pathway to its coveted 10-year Golden Visa, granting automatic nomination to individuals who make significant charitable or Waqf (Islamic endowment) contributions. Under a cooperation agreement signed on 22 January between the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai) and the Endowments & Minors Affairs Foundation (Awqaf Dubai), philanthropists who donate at least AED 2 million (≈ US $545,000) to approved humanitarian projects can now secure long-term residency for themselves and their immediate families.
The move broadens the UAE’s existing humanitarian-pioneer category—which already covers frontline medical workers and award-winning NGO staff—by explicitly recognising financial supporters of social initiatives. Awqaf Dubai will vet donation records and forward eligible names to GDRFA for fast-track issuance, dramatically shortening a process that previously required multiple government endorsements.
For global mobility professionals, the new sub-category creates a fresh retention and relocation lever. Multinational companies often rely on Golden Visas to anchor senior executives and investors in the Emirates; the charitable-donor track allows firms to combine CSR budgets with talent-mobility objectives, effectively turning big-ticket donations into a dual benefit for society and staff. Immigration lawyers expect strong uptake from high-net-worth families in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa who already channel funds to UAE-based schools, hospitals and housing schemes.
![UAE opens Golden Visa to charity and Waqf donors in bid to anchor long-term philanthropy]()
To navigate the mechanics of the Golden Visa application—especially this new humanitarian track—donors can enlist the help of VisaHQ. The firm’s UAE desk provides end-to-end support, from verifying Awqaf Dubai receipts to uploading files on GDRFA’s e-channel, saving applicants and HR teams valuable time. See https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ for service details.
Officials frame the initiative as part of Dubai’s ambition to position itself as a "global capital of compassion." Lieutenant-General Mohammed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA-Dubai, said the scheme "encourages sustainable giving while reinforcing the UAE’s values of tolerance and social responsibility." Analysts also see a strategic angle: by binding major donors to a decade-long residency, the UAE locks in both capital and community involvement, supporting its Centennial 2071 socio-economic vision.
Practical guidance for employers: donations must be routed through Awqaf-accredited projects and documented with official receipts. Once a nomination letter is issued, applicants submit a standard Golden Visa file via GDRFA’s e-channel and typically receive approval within 15 working days. Dependants qualify automatically, and visa benefits include self-sponsorship and multi-entry travel flexibility.
The move broadens the UAE’s existing humanitarian-pioneer category—which already covers frontline medical workers and award-winning NGO staff—by explicitly recognising financial supporters of social initiatives. Awqaf Dubai will vet donation records and forward eligible names to GDRFA for fast-track issuance, dramatically shortening a process that previously required multiple government endorsements.
For global mobility professionals, the new sub-category creates a fresh retention and relocation lever. Multinational companies often rely on Golden Visas to anchor senior executives and investors in the Emirates; the charitable-donor track allows firms to combine CSR budgets with talent-mobility objectives, effectively turning big-ticket donations into a dual benefit for society and staff. Immigration lawyers expect strong uptake from high-net-worth families in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa who already channel funds to UAE-based schools, hospitals and housing schemes.
To navigate the mechanics of the Golden Visa application—especially this new humanitarian track—donors can enlist the help of VisaHQ. The firm’s UAE desk provides end-to-end support, from verifying Awqaf Dubai receipts to uploading files on GDRFA’s e-channel, saving applicants and HR teams valuable time. See https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ for service details.
Officials frame the initiative as part of Dubai’s ambition to position itself as a "global capital of compassion." Lieutenant-General Mohammed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA-Dubai, said the scheme "encourages sustainable giving while reinforcing the UAE’s values of tolerance and social responsibility." Analysts also see a strategic angle: by binding major donors to a decade-long residency, the UAE locks in both capital and community involvement, supporting its Centennial 2071 socio-economic vision.
Practical guidance for employers: donations must be routed through Awqaf-accredited projects and documented with official receipts. Once a nomination letter is issued, applicants submit a standard Golden Visa file via GDRFA’s e-channel and typically receive approval within 15 working days. Dependants qualify automatically, and visa benefits include self-sponsorship and multi-entry travel flexibility.
