Cristiano Ronaldo secured UAE Golden Visa in 2020 as elite athlete
Football
Cristiano Ronaldo received a UAE Golden Visa in 2020 under the UAE’s Golden Visa programme.
He qualified as an elite athlete without needing to invest in Dubai property or establish a business, receiving the visa years before moving to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr. The programme’s long-term residency benefits explain how he can continue living and playing in Saudi Arabia while maintaining ties with the neighbouring Emirates.