The United Arab Emirates has expanded its Golden Visa programme to include five new categories of professionals, following a policy update announced in May 2025. The move is part of the country’s strategy to attract skilled talent and support key sectors of its economy.

Introduced in 2019, the Golden Visa offers 10-year residency to individuals who contribute to national development. The recent expansion adds professionals in healthcare, education, digital media, e-sports, and maritime industries.

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Here are 5 new groups that can now apply for the UAE’s 10-year golden visa

Nurses with long-term service

On 12 May 2025, Dubai Health announced that nurses with over 15 years of service are now eligible for the Golden Visa. The announcement, made on International Nurses Day, was directed by Sheikh Hamdan. Dubai Health Authority data shows that the city receives around 3.7 million medical tourists each year, underlining the importance of healthcare workers in the UAE’s medical sector.

Teachers and educators

Private school teachers, principals, and university academic staff in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah now qualify for the visa. The scheme is managed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai and RAK DOK in Ras Al Khaimah. Educators can sponsor family members, and the scheme aims to build on the UAE’s education system, which ranks 10th globally, according to UNESCO.

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Content creators

The “creative residency” visa track was launched during the 1 Billion Followers Summit. It targets filmmakers and social media influencers and is managed by Creators HQ. No employer sponsorship is needed. Dubai’s Department of Economic Development reports that the city’s media industry generates $2 billion annually, highlighting the sector’s growing role in the economy.

E-sports and gaming professionals

Individuals aged over 25 working in gaming and e-sports are now eligible for the visa. Applicants must be accredited by Dubai Culture under the DPG33 initiative. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has also introduced a similar route. According to Statista, the UAE’s gaming market is currently worth $1.8 billion.

Read also: 10 countries offering golden visas and attracting wealthy investors

Luxury yacht owners

Owners of yachts longer than 40 metres and senior figures in the yacht industry are now eligible for the visa through Abu Dhabi’s “Golden Quay” programme. The visa includes family sponsorship. AD Ports estimates that the emirate’s luxury maritime tourism industry is valued at $1.2 billion.

Chisom Michael is a data analyst (audience engagement) and writer at BusinessDay, with diverse experience in the media industry. He holds a BSc in Industrial Physics from Imo State University and an MEng in Computer Science and Technology from Liaoning Univerisity of Technology China. He specialises in listicle writing, profiles and leveraging his skills in audience engagement analysis and data-driven insights to create compelling content that resonates with readers.

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