To sponsor a dependent (spouse, child, or parent) for a UAE residence visa in 2026, the sponsor must earn a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation. Sponsors must also hold valid health insurance in their own name before a dependent application is accepted. Sons can be sponsored up to age 25 if unmarried and in education, daughters can be sponsored regardless of age until they marry, and applications go through the ICP smart app (Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates) or GDRFA (Dubai), with typical processing taking two to four weeks.
Read the full guide, including required documents, the mainland vs free zone process, and common mistakes that delay approval, on Yalah Dubai:
