Earlier this month Dubai government announced that over 55s are now able to apply for a visa to enable them to retire in the city.

The Retire in Dubai programme has been hailed an “overnight success” and in response, the application process has been simplified further.

To qualify you must be at least 55 years old and but you can now start your application without a medical insurance plan. During the process, a medical test will be conducted, and after that you can choose which plan to buy to suit you.

Retire in Dubai has also shared a breakdown of costs, covering the cost of the visa, the medical exam and Emirates ID.

The overall total is Dhs2,214.25, with a retirement visa costing Dhs888.75, medical exam Dhs753 and Emirates ID Dhs572.50.

To join the Retire in Dubai programme, the applicant must meet one of the following financial criteria:

• To own a property in the country that is not mortgaged and is worth no less than Dhs2 million.

• To have a bank deposit in the UAE of no less than Dhs1 million.

• To provide proof that they have a monthly income of no less than Dhs20,000 or of an equivalent other currency.

• To combine points 1 and 2 so that the sum of the bank deposit and market price of the property value is no less than Dhs2 million.

• You can renew the visa as long as you continue to meet the financial requirements, and the five-year renewable retirement residency visa is available to the person, spouse and their children.

You must have the correct documentation for the above, be it property title deed, letter from the bank or bank statements.

To apply you must have the following:

• Passport copy of applicant, spouse and children (if applicable)

• Marriage certificate copy (if sponsoring the spouse)

• Current copy of visa (If applicant is a resident of UAE)

• Copy of Emirates IDs of applicant (if applicant is a current resident in UAE)

• Eligibility evidence copy (as explained above)

• Current home address (Building number, street number, area, city, country)

• Mobile number and email address on which you wish to be contacted on.

See here for more about the January 2021 updates to the requirements for a Retire in Dubai visa. Or for more information contact Steven: steven@estateagentindubai.com