Quick Answer
-
The UAE did not approve the reported fixed-fee, lifetime Golden Visa.
-
UAE authorities decide Golden Visa applications through official government channels.
-
ICP has a real nomination service, but nomination does not guarantee residency.
-
Eligible property investors can apply through a separate official route.
-
Check your own eligibility before paying for a property or an application service.
The Rayad Group Golden Visa story raised a simple question for Indian readers: could someone obtain lifetime UAE residency by paying a fixed AED 100,000 fee? The UAE did not approve the reported fixed-fee, lifetime Golden Visa arrangement. The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, known as ICP, rejected reports of that arrangement.
The authority said Golden Visa applications must follow official government procedures. Old reports can still appear beside current visa information in search results. That makes it easy to mix up a rejected claim, a real nomination service, and the property investor route.
This guide explains what happened, what the UAE confirmed, and what eligible applicants can check today. It also covers the property threshold and Dubai Land Department’s published investor fees.
Rayad Group Golden Visa Claims
The disputed reports appeared in July 2025. They described a route for some applicants to obtain lifetime UAE residency for a fixed AED 100,000 payment. Readers should treat that figure as part of the reported claim, not as an official government visa price.
Rayad Group Golden Visa
Searches for this phrase often lead to articles written when the story first circulated. Some describe a nomination process without making clear which part was a reported proposal and which part was an established government service. The distinction matters because the UAE does have Golden Residency categories that involve nominations. Those categories have their own eligibility rules.
The AED 100,000 Golden Visa claim also needs careful wording. It did not create a payment option through which an Indian applicant could buy lifetime residency. It should never appear in a price table as a current government charge. The applicant’s category, documents, and official decision remain central to any genuine application.
Reports In Context
The order of events helps explain the confusion. Reports circulated, ICP issued a public correction, and Rayad Group then gave its response to Khaleej Times. The dates below refer to 2025, not a new policy launched in 2026.
|
Date |
What happened |
What readers should take from it |
|
7 July 2025 |
Reports about a simplified, fixed-fee lifetime arrangement circulated. |
This was a reported claim, not proof of an approved visa route. |
|
8 July 2025 |
ICP rejected reports of lifetime Golden Visas for certain nationalities. |
The UAE directed applicants to official government channels. |
|
9 July 2025 |
Rayad Group sent a clarifying statement to Khaleej Times. |
The company said it would discontinue private Golden Visa advisory services. |
The first and third entries are documented in the reporting that received Rayad Group’s statement. The government’s position comes from the UAE’s official account of ICP’s response. Those are different sources with different roles.
What UAE Authorities Actually Said
ICP’s response addressed the most important issue: who sets the rules and handles applications. It said Golden Visa categories and conditions come from UAE laws and official decisions. It also said no internal or external consultancy was recognised as an authorised party in the application process described by the disputed reports.
ICP Clarification
The authority rejected reports of lifetime Golden Visas being offered to certain nationalities through commercial entities under simplified conditions. It advised people to check its official website or contact its call centre before acting on such an offer. This is the strongest source for the status of the reported UAE lifetime Golden Visa claim. A news headline or a consultant’s description cannot change that status.
The correction does not mean every Golden Visa route disappeared. ICP continues to publish eligibility information for investors, professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and exceptional talent. It means readers must assess a real category under its actual requirements. A company’s involvement in giving advice does not replace a government eligibility decision.
Company Response
Rayad Group later sent a statement directly to Khaleej Times about the confusion. The group acknowledged that comments about its role had contributed to misunderstanding. It said visa decisions belonged to UAE authorities and that it would discontinue private Golden Visa advisory services. This is evidence of the company’s stated response, not a source of UAE visa rules.
For readers, three points should stay separate:
-
The reported offer: A fixed-fee, lifetime arrangement was discussed in July 2025 reports. Do not present it as an application option.
-
The government response: ICP rejected the lifetime-visa reports and directed applicants to official channels.
-
The current routes: Eligible people can still review the Golden Residency categories published by ICP.
That separation also makes the article easier to use. A reader asking whether the Rayad Group Golden Visa offer was real gets an answer immediately. Someone who may qualify under an existing route can then find the correct place to check it.
How Official Nomination Really Works
The word nomination appeared in the disputed reports, but it also appears in genuine government services. ICP provides a Golden Residency nomination application for eligible categories. The existence of that service does not confirm a lifetime visa, a universal fixed price, or approval through Rayad Group.
Nomination Meaning
ICP describes its nomination application as a pre-approval service aimed at qualifying categories. Applicants must provide documents supporting their eligibility, along with the required personal information. The application goes through ICP’s listed service channels. A response to a nomination request is one stage in a process, not a promise that residency has been issued.
This is why ICP Golden Residency nomination should be explained on its own terms. It relates to the category under which a person applies. A talented professional, for example, should check the requirements for that professional category. A property buyer should check the property investor requirements instead of assuming that the same documents or steps apply.
Eligibility Still Matters
ICP’s current Golden Residency guide sets out distinct categories. It describes ten-year residency for real estate investors and lists requirements for several other groups. It also provides conditions for property ownership, professional employment, and other qualifying circumstances. The appropriate route depends on the applicant’s facts and the authority’s assessment.
|
Route or reported claim |
Figure involved |
What the figure means |
|
Reported lifetime arrangement |
AED 100,000 |
Part of the rejected fixed-fee claim. It is not a current government price for lifetime residency. |
|
Real estate investor route |
At least AED 2 million |
Minimum total property value stated in ICP’s current guide, subject to its conditions. |
|
Specialised professional route |
At least AED 30,000 monthly salary |
One requirement ICP lists for the relevant professional category. Other conditions also apply. |
|
Current real estate investor residency |
10 years |
Duration stated by ICP for the qualifying investor category, rather than lifetime residency. |
The figures are not interchangeable. A salary requirement cannot replace the property threshold, and an advertised service price cannot establish immigration eligibility. Applicants should start with their category and read all the conditions attached to it.
Dubai Property Investor Visa Requirements
Property investment is the route most relevant to a Dubai property reader. It is also separate from the disputed Rayad Group Golden Visa reports. Buying a home should begin with the home’s value, ownership terms, costs, and suitability. A possible residency application comes after checking the applicable government conditions.
Property Value
ICP says a real estate investor must own one or more qualifying properties with a total value of at least AED 2 million. Its current guide also addresses eligible off-plan purchases from approved local real estate companies. The buyer must meet the other conditions that apply to their case. An advertisement saying “Golden Visa eligible” does not settle the buyer’s individual application.
For Dubai, the Land Department’s investor service describes a ten-year renewable residence permit tied to a qualifying property purchase. It lists the AED 2 million threshold and requirements for the applicant’s ownership and documents. A buyer considering the Dubai property investor Golden Visa should compare the property’s registered details with that service. They should ask the authority how their own ownership structure will be assessed.
Ownership Evidence
Dubai Land Department lists a passport and an electronic title certificate or title deed among the documents for its investor service. It also has conditions for mortgaged property, including a bank letter. ICP’s wider guide has its own wording on approved financing and qualifying off-plan units. These pages serve related purposes, but their document lists are not identical.
Check who will legally own the property before paying a reservation amount. If several people will share ownership, the value attributable to one applicant can matter. The property’s advertised price alone cannot establish that each co-owner meets an individual threshold. For the broader ownership rules, read Property Expo India’s guide on whether Indians can buy property in Dubai.
Off-Plan Questions
Off-plan property needs an extra check because the buyer may hold provisional registration before receiving a completed unit’s title deed. ICP’s guide discusses qualifying off-plan purchases, while the DLD investor-service page lists a title deed in its required documents. Do not turn either statement into a blanket promise that every newly booked unit qualifies immediately. Ask the relevant authority which evidence it accepts for the exact project and application stage.
Before choosing a property partly for residency, get clear answers to these questions:
-
Whose name will appear on the ownership record? Match the proposed buyer, co-owners, and visa applicant to the documents.
-
What property value will the authority recognise? Check the registered value and the amount attributable to the applicant.
-
What evidence exists today? Ask whether the unit has a title deed, provisional registration, and any documents needed for the specific route.
-
What happens if visa approval does not follow? Review the purchase agreement and make the property decision on its own merits.
The AED 2 million property requirement is a threshold for assessing a route, not a price at which anyone can purchase residency. Buyers should also consider whether they would still want the unit if their visa plans changed. That question helps keep the investment decision grounded in the property itself.
Dubai Investor Visa Application Costs
The amount paid for property and the amount paid for a residency application are separate. So are transaction fees, medical costs, and any optional professional assistance. Keeping them apart prevents the rejected AED 100,000 story from being confused with a genuine government fee schedule.
Published DLD Fees
Dubai Land Department currently publishes the following charges for its ten-year property-investor residency service. These figures describe that particular DLD service. They do not include the property purchase price or every possible cost attached to buying and owning a home.
|
DLD-listed service item |
Published amount |
|
Medical examination |
AED 700 |
|
Emirates ID for ten years |
AED 1,153 |
|
Residence permit confirmation |
AED 2,856.75 |
|
Dubai Land Department fees |
AED 4,020 |
|
Administrative fees |
AED 1,155 |
|
Published applicant total |
AED 9,884.75 |
DLD lists separate fees for family residence permits. The amount applicable to a buyer should be checked again before an application, as charges and individual requirements can change. No one should use this table as a quote for a different Golden Residency category. It is also not evidence that paying the listed fees guarantees approval.
Separate Purchase Costs
A Dubai purchase can involve registration charges, a payment schedule, and ongoing service charges. A buyer based in India must also plan how the property will be funded. These costs depend on the transaction and should be assessed before a visa application becomes the focus. Property Expo India’s guide to buying property in Dubai from India explains the wider purchase budget and Indian remittance considerations.
This article does not convert the DLD fees into rupees. An INR figure would change with the exchange rate and the bank’s conversion charges. Readers making a live budget should request a current banking quote. They should calculate the property transaction and visa application as separate expenses.
How Indians Can Verify
The safest next step is specific to the person applying. Someone assessing a professional route needs different evidence from someone buying a Dubai apartment. The same applies to a buyer of a completed unit and a buyer of an off-plan unit. Start with the correct official category before making a payment based on residency expectations.
Government Channels
ICP publishes the federal Golden Residency categories and application information. Dubai Land Department publishes its property-investor service conditions and charges. A reader can use these pages to identify the documents they may need and the authority responsible for the relevant step. If the wording on two services seems different, ask the authority handling the intended application to clarify the exact case.
ICP also says eligible applicants outside the UAE may receive a multiple-entry permit to complete Golden Residency procedures. DLD’s Dubai investor-service page says an applicant using that service must be inside the UAE. Those statements describe different stages and should not be shortened to “the whole process can be completed from India.”
Before Any Payment
Use a short verification sequence:
-
Identify your route: Write down whether you are applying as a property investor, specialised professional, entrepreneur, or another eligible category.
-
Check the official requirements: Match the published criteria to your documents and proposed property, where relevant.
-
Confirm the fee and channel: Look up the service you will actually use. Do not treat an adviser’s charge as a government fee.
-
Keep the decision separate: Evaluate a property’s price, location, terms, and costs even if residency is one of your goals.
Readers comparing property options in person can use the Hyderabad expo guide to prepare questions about projects and costs. An expo discussion can help narrow a property shortlist. The official authority must still confirm the applicant’s visa status. This distinction should stay clear throughout the buying process.
How We Checked These Facts
This article separates each source by what it can prove. The UAE’s 2025 statement establishes the government’s response to the lifetime-visa reports. Rayad Group’s statement, as received by Khaleej Times, establishes what the company subsequently said. ICP and DLD establish the current categories and Dubai investor-service details checked on 25 September 2026.
That approach also limits what this guide claims. It does not assume that a reported offer became law. It does not use a property listing to decide visa eligibility. It does not promise a residency result from a price threshold alone. Readers should recheck the official service pages when they are ready to apply.
Explore Dubai Property With Clarity
The Rayad Group Golden Visa reports should not determine whether you buy a Dubai property. Start with the property itself: its registered details, full cost, payment terms, and fit with your plans. If residency matters to you, check the appropriate official route for your own circumstances before committing.
To compare current property options, register your interest with Property Expo India and share your budget and buying goal. Ask for written details of any unit you consider. Property Expo India can help you compare properties, while ICP or DLD must assess Golden Visa eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Rayad Group Golden Visa offer approved by the UAE?
No. ICP rejected reports about a lifetime UAE Golden Visa arrangement in July 2025. It directed applicants to official government channels. Rayad Group later acknowledged the public confusion.
Can Indians get a lifetime UAE Golden Visa for AED 100,000?
No official route was established. The AED 100,000 amount came from the disputed 2025 reports. ICP rejected the lifetime visa claims and confirmed that applications must follow official government channels.
Is nomination for a UAE Golden Visa a real process?
Yes. ICP has an official Golden Residency nomination service for eligible applicants. However, nomination does not guarantee approval or allow private companies to issue or guarantee a Golden Visa.
Can Indian buyers apply through Dubai property investment?
Potentially. ICP lists a real estate investor route requiring qualifying property worth at least AED 2 million. Buyers must also meet the applicable ownership, documentation, and application requirements.
Does an AED 2 million property guarantee approval?
No. AED 2 million is a property-value threshold, not a guarantee of residency. Applicants must also meet the applicable ownership, documentation, and other requirements set by the authorities.
Where should I check current fees and requirements?
Check ICP for Golden Residency requirements and DLD for Dubai property-investor services. DLD currently lists AED 9,884.75 for the specific ten-year investor service. Other costs and requirements vary by application.