Retiring in Dubai (55+)

The retirement visa

• Minimum age 55 and at least 15 years of work, in the UAE or elsewhere.
• Plus one option: property worth at least AED 1 million and savings of at least AED 1 million, or annual income of at least AED 180,000. For Dubai, the government portal u.ae gives AED 240,000 a year.
• Sources differ on whether property alone is enough and whether savings must be held with a UAE bank. In general, the authority's figure applies; confirm it with GDRFA Dubai.
• Valid for 5 years, renewable.

Health insurance in retirement

Health insurance is mandatory for residents of Dubai. As a retiree you arrange it yourself. Premiums rise steeply with age, and only an insurer's quote gives a reliable figure. Get concrete quotes before you decide and build the amount into your budget.

Your pension from the UK or the USA

• UK State Pension: paid abroad through the International Pension Centre, but it does not rise each year in the UAE because the UAE is not on the list of countries with annual increases. The DWP sends life certificates; tell them you are moving.
• UK tax: where your UK pension is taxed depends on your residence and the UK–UAE tax treaty; with the treaty it is taxed only once.
• US Social Security: can generally be paid abroad; as a US citizen you keep reporting it with your worldwide income. There is no US–UAE tax treaty.
• Medicare generally does not pay outside the US.

Your pension from Germany

The German statutory pension is generally paid to the UAE as well; tell the Renten Service at least two months before you move. With residence in the UAE, it generally stays subject to limited tax liability in Germany, handled by the Finanzamt Neubrandenburg, because there is no Germany–UAE tax treaty. Confirm your case.

How the app helps

The app has a dedicated "Retirement and pension" chapter with notes for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. Premium plans your route to the retirement visa step by step, with documents, deadlines and the responsible offices.

Step by step in the app

Start for free: your starting point, the fit test and the introduction and contents of every guide are free.

The details on this topic are in Premium (How do I relocate fully on my own?): €999 for 12 months of access, then €80/month and cancellable monthly. After the first term the contract renews automatically and can be cancelled monthly.

Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play

Choose your package

Information and planning to do it yourself. Not legal, tax or migration advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I retire in Dubai?

Yes. From age 55, with at least 15 years of work and enough assets or income, you can apply for the 5-year retirement visa. Health insurance is mandatory and you arrange it yourself.

How much money do I need for the Dubai retirement visa?

According to u.ae: property and savings of at least AED 1 million each, or annual income from AED 180,000; for Dubai, u.ae gives AED 240,000 a year. Sources differ in details, so confirm with GDRFA Dubai.

Will my UK State Pension increase if I retire in Dubai?

No. The UAE is not on the list of countries where the State Pension increases each year, so it stays at the rate when you left or started claiming.

Do I need health insurance as a retiree in Dubai?

Yes, it is mandatory in Dubai. As a retiree you take it out yourself, and premiums depend heavily on age.

Sources

Retrieved on 14 and 15 October 2026. Official bodies first; market data and benchmarks are labelled as such.

1. u.ae: Residence visa for the retired
2. ISAHD (Dubai Health Insurance): FAQ
3. GOV.UK: State Pension if you retire abroad
4. GOV.UK: Countries where the State Pension increases each year
5. GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates tax treaties
6. SSA: Payments outside the US
7. IRS: US citizens and resident aliens abroad
8. Medicare: If you are outside the US
9. DRV: Rente im Ausland
10. Finanzamt Neubrandenburg: Rente im Ausland

More guides

• UAE visa routes at a glanceWork visa, own company, Green Visa, Golden Visa, family, retirement, remote work and study: the 10 routes to residence in Dubai with main requirement and validity.Read more
• What does it cost to live in Dubai?Rent, school, health insurance, car and everyday life: typical costs of a month in Dubai for singles, couples and families in euros with AED amounts and sources.Read more
• Moving to Dubai from the UKWhat to sort out when you move from the UK to Dubai: HMRC and form P85, Statutory Residence Test, UK–UAE tax treaty, State Pension, NHS, voting and documents.Read more
• Moving to Dubai from the USAWhat Americans should know before moving to Dubai: citizenship-based taxation, FEIE, FBAR and FATCA, no US–UAE tax treaty, state domicile, Medicare, Social Security and documents.Read more
• All guidesRead more

This page provides general information and is not legal, tax or migration advice. Rules, amounts and fees can change; the office named is authoritative. Euro amounts use the guide rate €1 = AED 4.00.