Qatar Joins Saudi Arabia, UAE, and More in Expanding Long-Term Residency Opportunities with a Ten-Year Golden Visa for Entrepreneurs and Senior Executives

On 1st February Qatar launched a ten-year Golden Visa aimed at entrepreneurs and senior executives as part of a broader push to diversify its economy and attract international talent. The programme, renewable for up to a decade, creates two distinct pathways — an Entrepreneur Residency and an Executive Residency — and sits alongside an expanded “Fund of Funds” venture capital initiative, into which the country plans to inject an additional $2 billion to back innovation in sectors including technology, healthcare and real estate.

"cost-of-living benefits that can reduce expenses by up to 20%, according to Invest Qatar,"

Program details and eligibility

• Entrepreneur Residency: Applicants must secure endorsement from a Qatari incubator and demonstrate a minimum bank balance of QAR 36,500 (roughly $10,020) held over the past three months. Approved entrepreneurs receive mentorship, help with regulatory matters such as work permits and licensing, access to healthcare and cost-of-living benefits.
• Executive Residency: Senior managers earning at least QAR 80,000 (about $21,945) per month are eligible, while top executives — listed examples include CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, chairmen and COOs — qualify with a minimum monthly salary of QAR 50,000 (around $13,715). Applicants must have held their executive role for at least five years and be nominated by their employer; the employer must be listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange or licensed by the Qatar Central Bank.
• Residency by real estate investment: Investors can obtain residency depending on property value. Permanent residency with benefits such as healthcare and education requires purchasing property worth at least QAR 3,650,000 (approximately $1 million), while a residency permit without the same benefits is available for properties valued at a minimum of QAR 730,000 (about $200,000).

The entrepreneur pathway is structured to lower operational friction for start-ups and small companies entering the Qatari market by pairing applicants with incubators and offering targeted support. For senior executives, the Golden Visa aims to retain and attract established leaders: successful applicants will be able to sponsor domestic workers and establish businesses in Qatar, privileges designed to deepen their professional and personal ties to the country.

The timing of the new residency rules is notable. Qatar’s announcement follows similar long-term residency moves by regional competitors: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have rolled out five-year entrepreneur permits, and Greece has recently introduced its own five-year Golden Visa for investors. Qatar’s ten-year term and its complementary $2 billion boost to the “Fund of Funds” are intended to make the country more competitive for talent and capital.

Outlook: By coupling long-term residency with increased venture funding, Qatar is signalling a concerted effort to shift economic weight toward technology, healthcare and real estate investment and to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons. The combination of mentorship, regulatory assistance and direct financial pathways aims to position the country as a destination for both founders seeking market entry and senior executives evaluating longer-term relocation or regional headquarters options.