GCC Golden Visa Comparison — UAE vs Saudi vs Qatar vs Bahrain vs Oman
All six GCC countries now run a residency-by-investment ("golden visa") program, but the entry price varies enormously — from around $200,000 to well over $1,000,000. Enter your investment budget and this calculator shows which Gulf countries' programs you'd qualify for, cheapest first.
Kuwait's real estate route has no fixed published minimum (decided case by case) and its business route requires roughly $16.3M — both excluded from the ranked list above. USD conversions are approximate and move with exchange rates — always confirm the exact local-currency threshold and current terms with the relevant Gulf immigration authority before committing funds.
Investment thresholds reflect the most recently published figures per country as of July 2026; USD conversions are approximate. Programs, minimums and eligibility rules change — always verify directly with the relevant country's official immigration or golden-visa authority before acting.
How to use this tool
- Enter your total available investment budget in US dollars.
- Press Compare to see all 6 GCC countries ranked from cheapest to most expensive, with a checkmark on the ones your budget qualifies for.
- Note the residency length and type (temporary, 10-year, or permanent) alongside the price — a cheaper program isn't always the better long-term deal.
- Always verify the current exact threshold in local currency with the country's official immigration authority before committing funds.
Frequently asked questions
Which Gulf country has the cheapest golden visa?
Qatar's temporary residency route is currently the cheapest entry point at around QAR 730,000 (~$200,000) in qualifying real estate, followed closely by Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency at SAR 800,000 (~$213,000) — though Saudi's is a one-time government fee, not a property purchase, and grants permanent status.
Why does Qatar have two different thresholds?
Qatar runs a tiered system: roughly $200,000 in real estate gets renewable temporary residency, while investing about $1,000,000 (QAR 3,650,000) qualifies for permanent residency — though Qatar caps permanent residency approvals at around 100 per year, making that tier considerably more competitive.
Why isn't Kuwait in the ranked comparison?
Kuwait doesn't publish a fixed minimum for its real estate residency route — it's assessed case by case — so it can't be fairly ranked alongside the other five fixed-threshold programs. Its business-investment route does have a hard floor, but at roughly $16.3 million it serves a completely different tier of investor.
Does a golden visa lead to citizenship?
Generally no — GCC golden visas grant long-term residency rights (living, working, sponsoring family), not a path to citizenship, which remains extremely restrictive across the Gulf regardless of investment level. Treat these programs purely as residency options, not naturalisation routes.