Golden Visa as a Growth Catalyst: How Abu Dhabi Is Attracting Global Creators and Entrepreneurs

The UAE Golden Visa is a groundbreaking long-term UAE residency programme that allows individuals to live, work and study in the UAE for up to 10 years.

Part of the UAE’s continuous efforts to attract and retain talents, the Golden Visa is available to professionals from a wide range of sectors.

For creatives, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals in emerging sectors such as healthcare, technology, education, and scientific research, the Golden Visa brings many benefits. It allows them to establish strong roots in the UAE, enjoy stability and safety, and ultimately achieve long-term success, growth and business development.

In this blog, we will take a closer look at the advantages of the Golden Visa, and how it is contributing to the development of Abu Dhabi’s media ecosystem, and boosting the emirate’s talent pool.

Top Golden Visa UAE Benefits for Creators and Entrepreneurs

Wide-ranging eligibility

The categories for the UAE Golden Visa cover a wide range of skills and sectors.

Creative professionals including UAE Golden Visa creators, from the culture or arts sectors can apply for the ‘Outstanding Specialised Talents’ category. This includes those working in performing arts, visual arts, design, gaming and e-sports, media, publishing, film production and various other creative sectors

In Abu Dhabi, creatives are eligible to apply for the Abu Dhabi Creative Visa if they can provide a letter of endorsement from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, examples of their work, proof of awards or recognitions, and various other documents.

Entrepreneurs specialising in technical or future-based projects can also obtain a Golden Visa for a period of five years. However, to be eligible they must provide a letter from a UAE auditor stating that the project value is more than AED 500,000, a letter from the Abu Dhabi authorities declaring that the project is focused on future technologies or future needs and a letter from an accredited business incubator. This makes it an attractive Golden Visa for entrepreneurs who are looking to scale and innovate in the region.

Unmatched stability

The working lives of creatives, freelancers and entrepreneurs are often unpredictable and ever changing. But the UAE Golden Visa provides them with a sense of total stability and a safe and welcoming place to call home.

Another reason why it naturally suits creatives and entrepreneurs is the fact that recipients do not need a local sponsor. Family members can also be included on the visa, and it remains valid even if they travel outside of the UAE for more than six months.

Integrated creative infrastructure

Another benefit of the Golden Visa for creators and entrepreneurs is that it allows them to become part of twofour54, Abu Dhabi's media, entertainment and gaming free zone

twofour54 provides Abu Dhabi-based creators and entrepreneurs with all the support, services and facilities they need in one place. For instance, the tawasol customer support department provides step-by-step help with applying for visas, licenses, permits, health insurance and Emirates Identity Cards. The department ensures that your business or project complies with every local business law and regulation, and it even arranges logistics such as transportation, travel, catering and more.

Those working in TV, film or media can also utilise twofour54’s state-of-the-art production facilities. Found in various locations across the emirate, each studio comes complete with the latest cameras and equipment and a highly qualified crew, making it as easy as possible for creatives to bring their most ambitious ideas to life.

Inspiring working environments

Yas Creative Hub, twofour54's vibrant base in Abu Dhabi, provides facilities for freelancers and businesses of all sizes. Presenting an array of fully serviced offices, coworking spaces, breakout areas and event venues, the cutting-edge facility is home to 800 influential media and entertainment businesses, and thousands of professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.

Obtaining a golden visa allows creatives to become part of this dynamic ecosystem, and to enjoy countless opportunities to connect, collaborate and work alongside thousands of other driven and successful professionals. Members of Abu Dhabi’s creative community are also invited to networking sessions, community events, interactive workshops and other insightful events.

Global collaborations

Creators and entrepreneurs who have an Abu Dhabi golden visa also benefit from the emirate’s many collaborations with prestigious global companies.

For instance, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission has partnered with various globally renowned production houses to bring Hollywood blockbusters and major international films to the emirate. This includes the Dune trilogy, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One.

Thriving business environment

Abu Dhabi is actively working to diversify its economy and develop its non-oil sectors, making it a major hub for business opportunities in UAE. Ranked #1 for business in the Middle East according to the World Bank’s Ease of Business Report, Abu Dhabi’s GDP reached AED 306.3 billion in the second quarter of 2025, representing a 3.8% increase compared with Q2 2024. Q2 2025 also recorded the highest quarterly contribution from the non-oil economy on record.

Offering business-friendly regulations such as 100% foreign ownership in most sectors, 0% personal income tax, 0% corporate tax in Free Zones and 9% on qualifying mainland income, creatives and entrepreneurs are encouraged to innovate, scale their businesses and reach new levels of success.

Global talents

Renowned across the globe as a ‘land of opportunities’ for ambitious professionals, Abu Dhabi continues to attract and retain a young, dynamic and forward-thinking population who are drawn to the emirate’s high quality of life, career opportunities and its safety and security.

In fact, Abu Dhabi was ranked the 9th best city for expats to live and work by the InterNations Expat City Ranking 2024 city report.

Allowing business owners, entrepreneurs and creators to recruit their teams from a large and diverse pool of world-class talents, the UAE Golden Visa is helping to ensure that the emirate's population of driven creative professionals continues to grow.

For more information about the UAE golden visa, please contact tawasol@twofour54.com.