The Gulf states have built long term residency routes for investors, professionals, retirees and talent. None of them is a citizenship programme, so think of these as renewable residency rather than a passport. This page maps the landscape and points you to each official authority.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
Six Gulf states now run long term residency schemes, each with its own authority, thresholds and renewal terms. They share a common feature, which is residency without a route to naturalisation in most cases. The table sets out the main programmes and who runs them. Confirm every current threshold with the named authority before acting.
The United Arab Emirates runs the Golden Visa, a long term renewable residency with investor, property, talent and professional routes, administered by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.
Saudi Arabia runs Premium Residency through the Premium Residency Center under the Ministry of Interior, offering a one time or an annual fee option alongside category routes for investors, talent and property owners. Qatar offers long term and property linked residency through the Ministry of Interior. Oman offers an investor residency administered with the Royal Oman Police. Bahrain runs the Golden Residency through Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs, with routes for investors, salaried professionals, retirees and talent.
Kuwait has been reported as launching a long term residency route for foreign investors. As newly introduced rules can move quickly, treat the detail as provisional and confirm with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior.
A unified Gulf visa has also been reported as planned across the six states. Read carefully, because that initiative is described as a travel visa for short visits rather than a residency or citizenship route. Do not confuse it with the long term residency schemes above.
Start from your goal. If you want a base for business and travel, compare the investor and professional routes by cost, renewal terms and what each permit lets you do. If you want family inclusion or a retirement base, check which schemes cover dependants and passive income.
Because none of these routes generally lead to citizenship, weigh them as residency rather than a passport. We do not name or recommend firms. Use Get Matched to compare vetted advisors once you have shortlisted a route.
| Programme | Official authority | Indicative position |
|---|---|---|
| UAE Golden Visa | Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security | Long term renewable residency, investor, property, talent and professional routes, confirm thresholds |
| Saudi Arabia Premium Residency | Premium Residency Center, Ministry of Interior | One time or annual fee options plus category routes, confirm current figures |
| Qatar residency | Ministry of Interior | Long term and property linked routes, confirm current figures |
| Oman investor residency | Royal Oman Police | Long term residency for qualifying investment, confirm current figures |
| Bahrain Golden Residency | Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs | Routes for investors, professionals, retirees and talent, confirm current figures |
| Kuwait investor residency | Ministry of Interior | Reported as recently introduced, confirm current rules |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Each Gulf state's national identity, residency or interior authority publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
In most cases no. These are long term renewable residency schemes rather than citizenship by investment. Naturalisation in the Gulf is rare and discretionary. Confirm the position with the relevant national authority.
It is reported that people hold permits in more than one Gulf state at the same time. Rules differ by country, so confirm with each authority before relying on this.
A unified Gulf visa has been reported as planned, but it is described as a short stay travel visa, not a residency or citizenship route. Treat it separately and confirm the current detail with the official sources.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
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Related programmes and comparisons, each dated and sourced to the official authority.