Key takeaways
- A shareholder on a UAE partner or investor visa can work in their own company, because the visa is granted on the strength of the shareholding and the u.ae portal says Green visa holders can "live, work or run a business" in the UAE.
- The Green residence route for investors and partners in Dubai, run by GDRFA Dubai, requires a paid-in share of at least AED 1,000,000 (as of 23 October 2026); free zone partner visas can carry much lower capital tests set by each free zone authority.
- A partner or investor visa covers work in the company that supports your residence; it doesn't give unrestricted permission to take a job with another UAE company, and the u.ae portal says working for more than one employer needs Ministry approval.
- The u.ae portal says working in the UAE without a valid MoHRE work permit is illegal, but its list of 13 permit types names no owner category, so whether an owner-manager needs a separate permit should be confirmed in writing with the licensing authority.
- GDRFA Dubai's Green residence permit for an investor or partner lasts up to 5 years and lists AED 740 in government fees before its yearly increase (AED 200 permit, AED 10 Knowledge Dirham, AED 10 Innovation Dirham, AED 500 inside-country fee, AED 20 delivery).
Can a shareholder on a partner or investor visa work in their own company?
Yes. A partner or investor visa exists because you hold shares or a partnership interest in a licensed company, and nothing in the official guidance we checked stops that shareholder from working in the business they own.
The u.ae portal describes the Green visa, which covers investors and business partners, as one that lets holders "live, work or run a business in the UAE". Free zone authorities say much the same: RAKEZ states that an investor or partner can generally manage and operate their business, subject to the company's licence, approved activities and applicable regulations, and notes that the role recorded for you also matters. Meydan Free Zone says a shareholder or partner is legally permitted to work and manage their business.
So the practical test is whether the work you do matches your recorded role and the activities on the licence. A shareholder who is named manager on the licence and does the company's licensed work is on solid ground; a shareholder doing unlicensed activities is not, and the visa doesn't change that.
What's the difference between a partner visa and an investor visa?
Government sources treat them as one category, while some free zones split the two by ownership share. The UAE portal and GDRFA Dubai both group "investor/partner" together; Meydan Free Zone uses "investor" for a sole or majority shareholder and "partner" for someone who shares ownership with others.
| Source | How it uses the terms | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| u.ae (Green visa page) | Lists "investors and business partners" as one eligible group | 23 October 2026 |
| GDRFA Dubai | One service: "Green visa issuance (investor/partner)" | 23 October 2026 |
| Meydan Free Zone | Investor means sole or majority shareholder; partner means shared ownership | 23 October 2026 |
Because the labels differ, ask your licensing authority which one it will put on your application rather than assuming.
Do you need a separate work permit as an owner?
It depends on the licensing authority, and we couldn't confirm a single federal answer from a government source. The u.ae portal says it is illegal to work in the UAE without a valid work permit issued by MoHRE, but the 13 permit types it lists (recruitment from abroad, transfer, part-time, freelance, Golden visa holder and others) don't include an owner or investor category.
Free zone work permits and residence visas are issued by the free zone authority, according to the u.ae portal, which names Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 as the federal law that also applies in free zones. So for a free zone company, put the question to the free zone authority; for a mainland company, put it to the licensing department and the immigration authority that will issue your residence. Ask for the answer in writing before you start drawing a salary or signing contracts as an employee.
Can you work for another company or freelance on a partner or investor visa?
Not automatically. The residence is tied to your shareholding, so work outside that company needs its own authorisation. RAKEZ states that an investor visa from your own company doesn't give unrestricted permission to take employment with another UAE company, and that unrelated freelance work isn't covered by it either.
The u.ae portal lists two permits that matter here. A part-time permit covers fewer hours or days than a full-time job, and working for more than one employer requires Ministry approval. A freelance permit covers individuals working independently, including foreign nationals on self-sponsored visas. Check that the new work also fits your own licence, and confirm with your authority that taking the permit doesn't affect your investor or partner status.
What does a partner or investor visa cost and how long does it last?
Costs and capital tests depend on the route, so the table shows the three we could verify from official or free zone sources.
| Route | Share or capital test | Validity | Government fees listed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDRFA Dubai Green residence (investor/partner) | Paid-in share of at least AED 1,000,000 | Up to 5 years, renewable | AED 200 permit, AED 10, AED 10, AED 500 inside-country fee, AED 20 delivery | GDRFA Dubai |
| DMCC partner/investor visa | Share certificate for a minimum of 50 shares; total share capital of AED 50,000 | 3 years | Not published | DMCC |
| Golden visa (investor category) | Minimum capital of AED 2 million (one listed route) | 5 or 10 years, depending on route | Not published | u.ae |
Accurate as of 23 October 2026. The DMCC page carries no date, so confirm its figures with DMCC before relying on them. GDRFA Dubai also notes that the permit fee increases by AED 100 each year when the residency is longer than two years, and it gives a 180-day grace period to stay after expiry or cancellation.
AED 1,000,000: minimum paid-in share for an investor or partner applying for the Green visa through GDRFA Dubai. Source: GDRFA Dubai, "Green visa issuance (investor/partner)", checked 23 October 2026.
How do you apply for the investor or partner residence visa?
For a Dubai mainland company the application runs through GDRFA Dubai, and for a free zone company it runs through the free zone authority. GDRFA Dubai gives an expected completion time of 48 hours.
- Confirm your name, share and role appear on the trade licence and in the partnership agreement, memorandum of association or investment contract.
- Identify the issuing authority: the free zone authority for a free zone company, GDRFA Dubai for the Dubai Green route.
- Prepare a personal photo, a passport valid for at least 6 months, the partnership or investment contract and the trade licence.
- Apply on the GDRFA Dubai website or smart app with UAE Pass, or at a Customer Happiness Centre or Amer Service Centre.
- Pay the listed fees; if you are outside the UAE, the business entry visa lets you stay 60 days from entry while residency is processed.
Renewals follow the same terms as the original issue, and each renewal date becomes one more deadline to track. If you'd rather not track these dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists them for your company.
What most guides don't tell you
- The AED 1,000,000 test belongs to the Green route. Guides often quote it as the rule for every partner visa. GDRFA Dubai sets it for the Green investor/partner service, while free zones set their own tests, such as the AED 50,000 DMCC publishes.
- The visa follows the documents. GDRFA Dubai asks for the partnership or investment contract and the trade licence, so a share transfer or licence amendment changes the paperwork your residence rests on. Sort the visa position before you sign a sale or bring in a partner.
- Time abroad has an investor exception, but check its limits. The u.ae portal lists investors holding valid residence visas as an exception to the rule that a residence visa lapses after more than 180 days outside the UAE. It doesn't define which investor visas count, so confirm yours with the issuing authority before a long absence.
- Ask whether your own visa uses up the visa allowance. The u.ae portal says the number of visas a free zone business can get depends on its package. We couldn't verify whether an owner's visa counts against that allowance, so ask before you plan hires.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Visa renewals, licence renewals and tax filings each have their own date, and they rarely line up. The free UAE compliance calendar is a free calendar of your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a visa for myself as the owner of a free zone company? The u.ae portal says you apply for work permits and residence visas through the relevant free zone authority, and the number of visas depends on your package. Owners normally use the partner or investor route, which each free zone ties to its own share capital test (DMCC, for example, publishes AED 50,000).
How do I renew employee visas in bulk? The u.ae portal says free zone visas are handled by the free zone authority, so the route depends on whether your licence is free zone or mainland. We couldn't verify a government bulk renewal service, so ask your licensing authority or PRO whether it accepts batch applications.
What is a labour card and is it still used? The u.ae visa cancellation guidance still refers to cancelling the labour contract and labour card, while its current work permits page describes 13 types of MoHRE work permit. We couldn't verify from a government source how the two terms map today, so check which one your transaction uses.
Do I need health insurance for my employees in Dubai? Yes: dubai.ae says employers in Dubai, including those in free zones, must provide health insurance to their employees under Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013, and sponsors must also cover dependents. The page doesn't set separate rules for investors, and costs depend on the benefits you choose.
About Qawi · Qawi is a corporate services firm licensed in the Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) free zone, handling company formation, visas and PRO, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax for UAE businesses. Guides are researched from FTA, Ministry of Finance and free zone sources. Qawi on LinkedIn
Sources
- u.ae: Green visa
- u.ae: Golden visa
- u.ae: General provisions for the residence visa
- u.ae: Work permits
- u.ae: Recruiting in free zones
- GDRFA Dubai: Green visa issuance (investor/partner)
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuing a green residence permit (partner investor)
- Dubai.ae: Health insurance (Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013)
- RAKEZ: Can I work on an investor visa in Dubai?
- Meydan Free Zone: Partner and investor visa guide
- DMCC: The 4 types of Dubai free zone visas
Last checked: 23 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.