Dubai / UAE 180 days (simple question)

[bigbite100]

hey guys,

if you have a dubai freezone company and emirates ID, you have to come every 180 days to Dubai to keep your Visa alive. Is it necessary to come to Dubai (since your company is registered there) or is it okay to come to any city in the UAE ? for example abu dhabi?

 

[M4S]

My understanding is UAE not necessarily Dubai. @Fred can probably shed more light but I believe it is just being in the UAE

 

[Ahmed Abdelgalil]

According to what I know, the residency is what necessitates your presence in the UAE once every 6 months and for a period of not less than 24 hours inside the country, and here is what is meant by the UAE, not the Emirate of Dubai, so you can come to any emirate and enter from it, provided that you stay for 24 hours inside the UAE, so that the residency continues in flow

 

[manukahoney]

As far as I know, you can fly to Abu-Dhabi, sleep in the hotel close to airport and fly back next morning, no need to spend 24h+. Some say you can do it the same day (in and out, 20 minutes adventure), but generally the stay counts when you spend a night in the country.

 

[Jbb1]

I got verbal confirmation from immigration that investors can stay outside up to 365 days without any penalty.

 

[JustAnotherNomad]

Any emirate is fine. Which emirate your visa is from doesn't matter. Many people have visas from RAK or Fujeirah and live in Dubai. They never ever set foot into the emirate their visa is from.
And yes, for Golden Visa holders for example, you can be away for up to a year and your visa won't be canceled.

 

[Moonlighter]

verbal confirmation

That's worth nothing.

It depends on your nationality and which type of visa you hold, i.e. golden visa holders only have to visit once yearly.

I suggest to spend 90 days in UAE to establish tax residency to establish substance, otherwise the paper residency is not worth much.

 

[bigbite100]

thank you for the helpful replies.

another question - do I need to checkin with my Emirates ID at the airport for it to make the entry "count within the 180 days" or is passport entry enough?

 

[JustAnotherNomad]

You typically just use the Smart Gates, where your face is scanned. Otherwise you use your passport. I'm not sue if you can enter with an Emirates ID only - but in any case, it doesn't matter, it's all tied together, your biometric data, your passport (or even multiple passports), your Emirates ID. You will be able to see all the entries and exits in the official mobile app as well.

 

[Moonlighter]

You still need to scan your passport

 

[JustAnotherNomad]

No, you don't. Biometrics all the way. I think you may have to scan it when you leave, but not when you enter. Or maybe it's the other way around? Anyway, you don't always have to scan it, maybe your biometrics aren't good? Try without the passport next time, you'll be amazed. ;-)

 

[zzzzzz]

Register and then use biometrics.
GDRFA video

 

[Au999]

Yep arrived back in Dubai last night and all I did was look in the green light machine and the doors opened... Easiest arrivals procedure in the world!

 

[PiersBlack]

Is there any recent report of people arriving in Dubai beyond the 180 days limit? Is your visa really cancelled automatically after 180 days abroad or is there some flexibility?

 

[Jbb1]

Is there any recent report of people arriving in Dubai beyond the 180 days limit? Is your visa really cancelled automatically after 180 days abroad or is there some flexibility?

I only travel once a year and 0 problems so far.

 

[zzzzzz]

I only travel once a year and 0 problems so far.

What type of visa do you have?

 

[Jbb1]

What type of visa do you have?

Investor

 

[jafo]

Investor

What were the requirements?