Golden Visa & Citizenship Programs in the Middle East
The Middle East's investment migration landscape is growing rapidly. The UAE Golden Visa, restructured in 2022, offers 10-year renewable residency for investors committing $2 million or more in property or business. The UAE's zero income tax environment makes it particularly attractive for high-net-worth individuals restructuring their global tax position. Jordan operates both a CBI program (investment from $280,000) and a separate residency pathway, with Jordanian citizenship opening access to regional business opportunities. Egypt's CBI program accepts investments from $250,000, offering citizenship in a strategically positioned market with improving infrastructure.
Countries
7
Programs
12
Program Types
CBI & RBI
From
$133,000
Key Takeaways
- ✓ UAE offers tax-free income with 10-year renewable residency
- ✓ Jordan provides both CBI and RBI pathways
- ✓ Egypt CBI from $250K, one of the most affordable in the region
- ✓ All programs are in active development with evolving requirements
All Middle East Programs at a Glance
Sorted by minimum investment. Click any country to explore in detail.
Explore Each Program
Detailed cards with investment requirements, timelines, and key benefits.
Golden Residency (Real Estate)
$345,000
BHD 130,000+ (~$345,000, BHD/USD peg 2.66) in Bahraini freehold real estate. Reduced from BHD 200,000 in 2025. Grants a 10-year renewable residency permit with work rights and family reunification.
Not officially published
None published
10 years (renewable)
Yes
No direct path (Bahrain does not offer citizenship by investment)
87
- ✓ Lowest-cost Gulf real estate residency route on this site since the 2025 threshold reduction
- ✓ 10-year renewable permit with no published minimum-stay requirement
- ✓ Zero personal income tax
Self-Sponsorship (Investor/Property Owner)
$133,000
Two variants: BHD 100,000+ (~$266,000) in share ownership of a Bahraini enterprise, or BHD 50,000+ (~$133,000) in Bahraini property plus stable income of BHD 500+/month. Administered by the Ministry of Interior's Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs directorate.
Approximately 40 working days
None
2, 5, or 10 years (renewable, fee scales with duration)
Yes
No direct path (Bahrain does not offer citizenship by investment)
87
- ✓ Lowest published entry cost of any Gulf residency program on this site (from ~$133,000)
- ✓ Official ~40 working day processing estimate, among the most specific published in the Gulf
- ✓ Predates the Golden Residency brand; distinct administrative channel
Citizenship by Investment
$250,000
$250K+ real estate or $300K+ government treasury deposit (refundable after 5 years).
6-12 months
None
Citizenship (permanent)
Yes
Direct
53
- ✓ Affordable entry point for CBI
- ✓ Property investment qualifies
- ✓ Treasury deposit is refundable
Citizenship by Investment
$490,000
Framework reformed July 2025; all passive treasury-bond routes eliminated. Five active citizenship routes (thresholds in JOD; approximate USD conversions at 2026 rates): Existing Project retroactive recognition JOD 350K-700K (~USD 490K-990K); New Project with 10-20 Jordanian jobs JOD 500K-700K (~USD 700K-990K); Share Purchase in Jordanian companies JOD 1M (~USD 1.4M, 3-year profit lock-up); Sector-Specific in pharmaceuticals/logistics/priority sectors up to JOD 3M (~USD 4.2M); Employment-Only (no capital floor) with 100-150 Jordanian national hires. Annual cap of 500 approvals across all routes.
3-6 months
None specified
Citizenship (permanent)
Yes
Direct
49
- ✓ July 2025 reform eliminated all passive routes; citizenship now requires active investment or job creation
- ✓ Approximately 49 countries visa-free (Henley 2026, rank 83), chosen for regional business access, not mobility
- ✓ Dual citizenship recognised (no renunciation of existing nationality required)
Investor Residency (Real Estate)
$280,000
JOD 200,000 (~USD 280K) in qualifying real estate from licensed developers. Grants investor residency (not citizenship). Renewable while the property is held.
2-4 months
None specified
Renewable residency (property-linked)
No
Not direct (residency only)
49
- ✓ Real-estate-backed residency at JOD 200K, no citizenship path
- ✓ Distinct from the full CBI routes (which were restructured July 2025)
- ✓ Suitable for applicants wanting regional presence without the full citizenship threshold
Investor Residency: Tier One
$1,300,000
OMR 500,000+ (~$1.3M, OMR/USD peg 2.60) in real estate (typically within an Integrated Tourism Complex), an operating Omani company, or a combination. Relaunched under this structure 31 August 2025 via Invest Oman. Grants a 10-year renewable residency permit.
Reported 3-6 weeks (not an official published SLA)
None published
10 years (renewable)
Yes
No direct path (Oman does not offer citizenship by investment)
85
- ✓ 10-year renewable permit, longest duration among the Gulf entry-tier investor routes on this site
- ✓ Real estate, company investment, or combined routes accepted
- ✓ Zero personal income tax today; 5% tax on residents above OMR 42,000/year from 2028
Investor Residency: Tier Two
$650,000
OMR 250,000+ (~$650,000) in real estate (typically within an Integrated Tourism Complex), an operating Omani company, or a combination. Grants a 5-year renewable residency permit.
Reported 3-6 weeks (not an official published SLA)
None published
5 years (renewable)
Yes
No direct path (Oman does not offer citizenship by investment)
85
- ✓ Lower entry point than Tier One, with the option to scale up on renewal
- ✓ Real estate, company investment, or combined routes accepted
- ✓ Zero personal income tax today; 5% tax on residents above OMR 42,000/year from 2028
Residence Permit (Real Estate Investment)
$200,000
QAR 730,000+ (~$200,000, QAR/USD peg 3.64) in approved freehold real estate within designated investment zones (The Pearl-Qatar, Lusail, West Bay Lagoon, and similar Cabinet-approved areas). Renewable residence permit tied to continued ownership of the qualifying property.
Days to a few weeks once the property purchase is registered
Approximately 90 days/year, continuous or intermittent, to keep the permit renewable
Renewable for as long as the qualifying property is held
Yes
No (Qatar does not offer citizenship by investment)
118
- ✓ Fast-track issuance: residency and title can follow within days of a registered purchase
- ✓ No employer sponsorship required; residency is tied to the property, not a job
- ✓ Access to public healthcare and education for the primary holder and dependants
Permanent Residency (Real Estate Investment)
$1,000,000
QAR 3,650,000+ (~$1,000,000) in approved freehold real estate. Grants a Permanent Residency Card valid for 5 years and renewable, subject to continued compliance. Law No. 10 of 2018 caps total Permanent Residency Card issuance at 100/year (children of Qatari mothers excluded); legal sources differ on whether investor approvals draw from this general cap or a separate allocation.
Several months: reviewed by a Ministry of Interior committee with no published standard timeline
No minimum-presence requirement published for this tier in available legal guidance
5 years (renewable)
Yes
No (Qatar does not offer citizenship by investment)
118
- ✓ Broader rights than the renewable residence permit: business ownership, banking, investment access
- ✓ 5-year Permanent Residency Card, renewable subject to compliance
- ✓ Spouse and children under 18 (up to 25 if in full-time education) included
Premium Residency (Unlimited/Direct Payment)
$213,000
One-time government fee of SAR 800,000 (~$213,000, SAR/USD peg 3.75). No underlying investment required. Grants permanent residency for life with no annual renewal. A limited-duration alternative exists at SAR 100,000/year (~$27,000), renewable annually.
2-6 months
None
Permanent (lifetime, no renewal required)
Yes
No direct path (Saudi Arabia does not offer citizenship by investment)
102
- ✓ No local sponsor (kafeel) required to live, work, or invest in Saudi Arabia
- ✓ Exempt from the expatriate levy charged on standard residence permits and dependants
- ✓ One-time SAR 800,000 fee with no annual renewal for the unlimited route
Premium Residency (Real Estate Owner Route)
$1,070,000
SAR 4,000,000+ (~$1.07M) in mortgage-free Saudi real estate, free of any financing encumbrance. Opened to foreign buyers across most major Saudi cities under the property ownership law that took effect January 2026.
2-6 months
None
Tied to continued property ownership (renewable)
Yes
No direct path (Saudi Arabia does not offer citizenship by investment)
102
- ✓ Foreign freehold ownership across most major Saudi cities since January 2026
- ✓ Property must be mortgage-free and unencumbered at qualifying value
- ✓ No local sponsor required; residency rights independent of employer
Golden Visa
AED2,000,000
Property: AED 2M+ (equity portion, no 50% threshold since Feb 2026 — off-plan and mortgaged accepted). Or: AED 2M+ public investment/deposits. Entrepreneurs: AED 500K+ in approved startup. Expanded categories include content creators, educators, nurses (15+ years), e-sports professionals.
1-3 months
None (can stay outside UAE without visa cancellation)
10 years (renewable)
Yes
No direct path (UAE does not offer CBI)
183
- ✓ Zero personal income tax — no employment, investment, or capital gains tax
- ✓ Off-plan and mortgaged property now qualify (rule change Feb 2026)
- ✓ Can sponsor unlimited family members including adult children
Explore Other Regions
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