Common minimum for spouse and children
Tenancy contract required
Marriage and birth certificates
| Dependent | Conditions | Typical validity |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Attested marriage certificate, salary threshold, suitable housing | 2–3 years |
| Sons | Generally up to 25, or longer in full-time education with proof | 2–3 years |
| Daughters | Until marriage, no upper age limit while unmarried | 2–3 years |
| Children with disabilities | No age limit, subject to medical documentation | 2–3 years |
| Parents | Higher income threshold, refundable deposit per parent, proof of sole support and separate medical insurance | 1 year, renewable |
| Domestic staff | Separate sponsorship category with its own income requirement | 2 years |
The commonly applied minimum in Dubai is AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation, evidenced by a salary certificate or attested employment contract. Sponsoring parents requires substantially more — frequently around AED 20,000 a month — plus a refundable deposit per parent and proof that you are their sole support.
Yes. A woman in a suitable professional category, typically with a higher income threshold than applies to male sponsors, can sponsor her husband and children. The requirement is assessed on profession and salary rather than gender alone, and approval is discretionary.
Sons can generally be sponsored until age twenty-five, and longer if they are enrolled in full-time higher education, with proof of enrolment at each renewal. Daughters can be sponsored as dependents until they marry. Children with disabilities may be sponsored without an age limit.
Yes. Foreign marriage and birth certificates must be legalised in the issuing country and attested by the UAE embassy there, then attested again by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and legally translated into Arabic. This chain is the slowest part of a family application — start it before you arrive.
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