Can I sponsor my parents on a UAE residence visa?

Yes. UAE residents can sponsor their parents subject to income, accommodation, and insurance conditions:

Income threshold (federal rule)

• Minimum monthly salary of approximately AED 20,000, or AED 19,000 plus housing allowance/employer-provided accommodation.
• Some emirates and free zones publish their own thresholds; verify through the sponsoring entity (ICP/GDRFA/free zone).

Both parents required

• The default rule is to sponsor both parents together, not just one. To sponsor only one parent, you typically need to demonstrate that the other parent is deceased or that there is a humanitarian justification (with documentation).
• For widowed/divorced parents, supporting documents (death certificate, divorce decree) attested for use in the UAE are required.

Health insurance

• Mandatory and at the sponsor's cost. Insurance for older parents can be expensive — budget realistically.
• Dubai sponsors must use a DHA-approved policy.

Accommodation

• The sponsor must show suitable accommodation: a tenancy contract or title deed in the sponsor's name, with a number of rooms appropriate to the household.

Validity

• Parents' visas are typically issued for one year (renewable annually) under the standard scheme. The five-year multi-entry parent visa is a separate scheme with different conditions.

For edge cases — non-standard family structures, parents already on visit visas, or step-parents — consult a UAE-licensed immigration lawyer.