From Ronaldo to Ronaldinho: How 10 football stars earned UAE Golden Visas

The UAE has spent years attracting some of football’s biggest names, but its Golden Visa programme offers more than a convenient way for global stars to visit the Emirates. Since the government expanded eligibility to exceptional sporting talent in 2020, footballers have used their connections with the country in different ways, from establishing businesses and investing in local football to building media ventures and developing opportunities for young players.

Here are 10 footballers who received the coveted residency, and what their relationships with the UAE have looked like beyond the initial announcements.

What is the , and why did footballers become eligible?

The UAE introduced its Golden Residency programme in 2019 under an initiative announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the country’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Dubai’s ruler. Initially associated with investors, entrepreneurs and specialised professionals, the programme offered eligible foreign nationals a longer-term alternative to conventional residence permits tied to employment or local sponsorship.A significant expansion followed in 2020, when the UAE Cabinet extended the 10-year residency pathway to exceptional sporting talent. The Dubai Sports Council helped bring prominent international athletes into the programme, with Cristiano Ronaldo and several other football stars forming part of the first sporting cohort.The change reflected an ambition extending beyond attracting famous visitors. Under the UAE’s economic diversification strategy, including the longer-term objectives associated with We the UAE 2031 and Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, global talent can help strengthen industries beyond oil, including technology, tourism, healthcare, education and professional sport.

Footballers offer a particularly visible connection between those ambitions and the wider public. Their international audiences can bring attention to local sporting facilities, youth development programmes, commercial partnerships and investment opportunities, while some recipients have gone on to establish more direct professional or business ties with the country.

What does the Golden Visa offer, and who can qualify?

The Golden Visa is a renewable, long-term residency permit that allows eligible foreign nationals to live, work, study and invest in the UAE without requiring an employer or another local sponsor to maintain their residency.

Depending on the applicable category and eligibility conditions, the permit can last five or 10 years.Its main benefits include:

Following the expansion, the programme now covers several categories, including property investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, skilled professionals, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and exceptional talents in sport, culture and the arts. Each pathway has its own criteria and application or nomination process, so receiving the visa does not necessarily require buying property or taking up employment with a UAE-based organisation.For footballers, the expanded sporting category created a route to long-term residency based on exceptional achievement and talent, rather than requiring them to leave their existing clubs and move to the Emirates.

Ten footballers who received the UAE Golden Visa

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (February 2020)

Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo received his 10-year UAE Golden Visa in February 2020 while playing for Juventus, becoming one of the most prominent beneficiaries of the newly expanded sporting category.

The recognition followed his sixth Best Men's Player accolade at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards on 29 December 2019, reflecting both his international standing and his established relationship with the Emirate.His placement in the inaugural sporting cohort demonstrated that an athlete could maintain an active career abroad while holding long-term UAE residency. Ronaldo subsequently signed with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in January 2023, extending his commitment through June 2027, while frequently visiting Dubai for personal and professional obligations.

To anchor this long-term connection to the region, Ronaldo expanded his international real estate portfolio by acquiring a €25 million plot of land on Jumeirah Bay Island—a highly exclusive, seahorse-shaped enclave widely known as "Billionaire Island".

The acquisition was made to construct a custom waterfront mega-mansion, providing a permanent family base in the UAE just a short distance from his football commitments in Riyadh.

His relationship with the Emirates also features a prominent personal dimension, highlighted by a well-documented friendship with the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Ronaldo has repeatedly spoken warmly of the city, stating during an appearance at Expo 2020 Dubai on 28 January 2022: “I thank all my fans... I love Dubai, its culture and its people, and I visit Dubai every year, and I am very happy to be here.

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2. Didier Drogba (November 2020)

Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba received his Golden Visa in November 2020, when Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, director of Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, welcomed him at the department’s headquarters to present the residency card.The recognition came after a decorated career that included four English Premier League titles and a Champions League crown with Chelsea. Drogba was also presented with the Medal of First Line of Defence in appreciation of his support for the Dubai Sports Council’s Be Fit, Be Safe campaign, which encouraged residents to prioritise physical wellbeing during the pandemic.

His connection with Dubai extended beyond football, with the former striker exploring opportunities involving commercial property, sports academies and the wider sports sector. He has also participated in international business events, including AIBC Eurasia, bringing his sporting profile into discussions around emerging technology, blockchain and investment.

3. Ronaldinho (May 2021)

Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho, whose full name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, received his 10-year Golden Visa in May 2021 through Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

Major General Mohammed Al Marri and his deputy, Major General Obaid Muhair bin Surour, were present when the former Barcelona and AC Milan playmaker received the residency.

Ronaldinho’s relationship with the UAE has included ambitions around youth football and wider sporting partnerships. He signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi-based Palms Sports, establishing a framework intended to combine elite athletic development with academic opportunities for young Emirati athletes.He has also laid the groundwork for a Ronaldinho Football Academy in Dubai, with the proposed project centred on structured coaching and the Brazilian approach to attacking football commonly associated with Joga Bonito. His wider appearances across the region have included sports events, corporate gatherings and digital-technology exhibitions, where his global profile attracts audiences beyond traditional football supporters.Ronaldinho has regularly visited and trained in Dubai since his youth, making the city a familiar base for his regional engagements. His Golden Visa provides long-term residency flexibility while he explores sporting, commercial and cultural opportunities across the Emirates.

4. Paul Pogba (February 2020)

French midfielder and World Cup winner Paul Pogba was among the elite sporting figures granted a UAE Golden Visa in February 2020. At the time, the former Manchester United star had already established a strong connection with Dubai, regularly utilizing the city's sports infrastructure for off-season conditioning and warm-weather training.Dubai’s high-performance training centres have been central to Pogba’s conditioning and rehabilitation, particularly at Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex and Transform Altitude Performance Center. He has also supported local fitness campaigns with the Dubai Sports Council and mentored young players at community events.

His regional interests have since expanded beyond football into traditional Gulf sports culture.

In late 2025, Pogba became a significant shareholder and global ambassador for Al Haboob, the world’s first professional camel racing team. The Saudi-founded organization competes heavily across the UAE and the wider Gulf region, aiming to modernize the sport by introducing advanced sports science, data tracking, and robotic jockey technology.

Pogba’s involvement is intended to help elevate camel racing to a global audience, bridging the gap between historical heritage and modern professional sports management.

5. Romelu Lukaku (February 2020)

Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku was another big name from that initial wave of sports stars to secure a UAE Golden Visa in February 2020, right while he was dominating Serie A with Inter Milan. The long-term residency was a massive nod to his status as one of Europe’s top forwards, giving him a permanent tie to the Emirates without having to uproot his club career.Lukaku’s Dubai connection grew at the 14th Dubai International Sports Conference, where he joined João Félix and Mikael Silvestre to discuss football technology.

He also spoke about coping with online racism, urging young players to use social media positively. The event ended with a viral moment when a UAE royal presented him with a golden plaque that misspelled his name as “Romello”.

When he isn’t speaking at summits, Lukaku uses Dubai as his ultimate reset button. He’s a regular at the world-class Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex during league winter breaks, using the warm weather and high-tech facilities to keep his conditioning at an elite level.

His routine fits perfectly into Dubai's push to become the global capital for off-season athletic recovery.

6. Luís Figo (February 2020)

Former Portugal international Luís Figo, the 2000 Ballon d’Or winner who played for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, received his Golden Visa as part of the February 2020 sporting initiative. The residency recognised his career at the highest level while giving him a long-term base for professional and commercial activities across the region.Figo has maintained links with Dubai through brand partnerships and sporting events, including collaborations with Mastercard Middle East and Africa during Expo 2020 Dubai. His appearances included fan meet-and-greet sessions and promotional activities featuring the UEFA Champions League trophy.

He also participated in a Guinness World Record initiative involving the highest-altitude football match played on a parabolic flight, a campaign coordinated through Dubai.

Alongside those commercial engagements, Figo supported the Dubai Sports Council’s Be Fit, Be Safe campaign during the pandemic, encouraging residents to remain physically active while public spaces were restricted.His post-playing career has increasingly involved ambassadorial work and international business events, making the Golden Visa a useful foundation for maintaining commitments across Europe and the Middle East.

7. Roberto Carlos (February 2020)

Brazilian World Cup winner and former Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos received his Golden Visa in February 2020, joining a group of football legends recognised for their sporting achievements and connections with the Emirates. His relationship with Dubai has included exhibition matches, community fitness initiatives and youth football development.In August 2026, Carlos became a co-owner and shareholder of Dubai-based Fursan Hispania FC, alongside former footballers Michel Salgado and Fernando Hierro.

The club’s youth development ambitions offer him a more direct role in the local game, using international football connections and technical experience to help develop young players and create pathways towards professional opportunities in Europe.

Carlos has also supported the Real Madrid Foundation’s work in the UAE through a partnership with ISD Sports City, helping launch an educational football programme at the ISD La Liga Academy campus.

The initiative provides training for more than 1,000 young footballers.His work also includes youth clinics and appearances promoting Real Madrid World at Dubai Parks and Resorts, extending his involvement from football development into the UAE’s sports tourism sector.

8. Miralem Pjanić (February 2020)

Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanić received his Golden Visa in February 2020 while playing for Juventus, becoming one of the active European footballers included in the programme’s first sporting cohort.

His subsequent career gave him a particularly direct connection with the Emirates when he left Barcelona in September 2022 to join Sharjah FC.Unlike recipients whose UAE relationships have centred mainly on visits and commercial appearances, Pjanić played in the UAE Pro League for two seasons between 2022 and 2024. His experience at Juventus and Barcelona brought elite European experience into the domestic competition, and he helped Sharjah win the UAE President’s Cup and the UAE League Cup.

During his time in the country, Pjanić also had opportunities to mentor younger domestic players, sharing experience from years competing at the highest levels of European football. Following his UAE spell and later playing career, he maintained ties with Dubai and became involved with Mundial Football Academy, a venture focused on identifying and training grassroots talent using high-performance football methods.

9. Rio Ferdinand (2021)

Former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand transitioned to a permanent life in the UAE in August 2025, relocating his family to a £6.5 million mansion in Dubai's luxury Al Barari community. This move followed his departure from his prominent UK punditry role at TNT Sports in May 2025. While he enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the region, this relocation marked the formal establishment of Dubai as the central base for his media work, business interests, and 10-year UAE Golden Visa residency framework.

Ferdinand has since actively scaled his digital media platform, Rio Presents, while anchoring himself in the UAE’s expanding creator economy. He was featured as a prominent fireside speaker at Dubai’s 1 Billion Followers Summit, where he discussed the future of digital media and how modern creators can build sustainable international audiences independently of traditional television.Beyond media, his regional business activities extend into real estate through strategic partnerships with prominent firms like LEOS Developments.

In the sports and tourism sector, he co-operates Football Escapes, a premium holiday football coaching concept that organizes youth camps led by UEFA-licensed former professionals at luxury resorts.Ferdinand and his wife, Kate, also engage with the local community through public wellness initiatives, including fitness events hosted at Jumeirah Beach near the Burj Al Arab.

10. Patrice Evra (2021)

Former Manchester United champion and French national team captain Patrice Evra was awarded his UAE Golden Visa back in 2021 under the exceptional-talent framework.

. Since then, he has fully leaned into the local lifestyle, famously calling Dubai his "home sweet home" and basing himself out of a luxury penthouse on the Palm Jumeirah.Instead of just enjoying retirement, Evra has used his long-term visa to pivot into a serious second career as a Dubai-based entrepreneur. He has set up several companies in the UAE covering everything from beauty and fitness to deep tech. In fact, while speaking at regional business events like the Invest in Sharjah forum and Token2049 Dubai, he pointed out just how much of a game-changer the region's geography is for a global business.

He noted that with nearly two-thirds of the world’s population sitting within an eight-hour flight, running a global empire from Dubai feels a world away from his old days managing companies in the UK, where he felt entirely isolated from fast-growing markets like Asia.

Lately, Evra has been bridging the gap between real estate and sports technology. He officially partnered with UAE developer Major Developments as a core project partner for Colibri Views, a massive new high-rise project at RAK Central in Ras Al Khaimah.

Evra actually designed the crown jewel of the tower himself: the UAE's very first rooftop Footbot simulator. It’s an AI-driven, high-tech football arena packed with smart motion sensors and performance tracking to help residents train like elite pros.On top of the commercial tech, he is also focused on grassroots football through his Dubai-based project, Love This Game FC. The whole idea is to scout and train young local talent in the UAE, giving them a real pathway to score professional trials over in Europe and the UK.