Qatar announced a new residency programme on 1 February 2026, offering entrepreneurs and senior executives a ten-year residence permit. The Prime Minister of Qatar personally confirmed the programme, indicating the seriousness with which the country is taking this step. Simultaneously, the country is doubling its venture capital fund from USD 1 billion to USD 3 billion. Qatar is thus making a significant financial push to attract international talent and investors and become less dependent on gas revenues.
This announcement fits into a broader pattern in the Gulf region. The UAE launched their Golden Visa programme back in 2019, Saudi Arabia has the Premium Residency programme, and now Qatar is joining the competition for the same pool of global talent and capital. The rivalry between these three countries is intensifying, which is ultimately good news for entrepreneurs and investors considering establishing themselves in the region.
What We Do and Do Not Know About the Programme
The details revealed so far are still quite limited. We know it is a ten-year residence permit, specifically aimed at entrepreneurs and senior executives. Additionally, the Qatar Investment Authority is expanding its venture capital Fund of Funds by USD 2 billion, from USD 1 billion to USD 3 billion. The stated goal is to attract venture capital firms and diversify the economy away from dependence on gas revenues.
However, many questions remain unanswered. Nothing has been announced yet regarding minimum investment or salary requirements. It is unclear whether the programme includes family sponsorship, which would allow your spouse and children to also obtain a residence permit. Nothing has been said about property ownership rights either, and there is no timeline for when applications can be submitted.
Those missing details are crucial. For the Golden Visa in the UAE, we know exactly what the requirements are: a property investment of at least AED 2 million (approximately EUR 500,000 or GBP 430,000), or meeting criteria as a professional, student, or creative talent. The programme includes family members and grants full property ownership rights. Qatar will need to offer comparable or better terms to be truly competitive.
What This Means for the UAE and Dubai
For people currently living in the UAE or considering moving there, this development is indirectly positive as well. More competition between the Gulf states means each country must try extra hard to remain attractive. The UAE has already expanded its Golden Visa programme several times in recent years. It started as a programme for investors but now also includes professionals, students, and people in creative professions.
Pressure from Qatar and Saudi Arabia will likely lead the UAE to expand the programme even further. This could mean lowering the entry requirements, qualifying more professional categories, or adding additional benefits. This trend has been visible in recent years and will only accelerate due to increasing competition.
For entrepreneurs and founders, the expansion of the Qatar venture capital fund to USD 3 billion might be the most interesting part of the announcement. That is a serious amount for the region and signals that Qatar is willing to invest heavily in startups and growth companies. For founders seeking funding, the Gulf region as a whole is becoming increasingly attractive as a result.
At the same time, the UAE currently still holds a significant lead. Dubai and Abu Dhabi already have an established ecosystem for entrepreneurs, with free zones, infrastructure, networks, and a proven track record. Qatar is essentially starting from scratch in building such an ecosystem. Money alone is not enough, you also need the right environment, culture, and support to attract and retain entrepreneurs.
The coming months will be interesting. Only once Qatar announces the full details of its programme can we truly compare it with what the UAE and Saudi Arabia offer. Until then, the Golden Visa in the UAE remains the most well-known and most developed option for those wishing to settle in the Gulf region. But the competition is growing, and that keeps everyone on their toes.
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