After buying a new property in Abu Dhabi, Erling Haaland could now unlock the coveted 10-year golden UAE visa via two different routes

ByTech Word News

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester City in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super) Erling Haaland’s new home in Abu Dhabi puts the Manchester City striker in a position where getting a 10-year UAE golden visa could be a straight forward move if he so chooses. Given his status as one of football’s biggest stars, his achievements on the pitch and his links to the Abu Dhabi-backed club, he could also be considered for a Golden Visa through special recognition, rather than relying solely on the property investment route. Although it has not been officially announced that Haaland has been granted a visa, his profile makes him a natural candidate for such an opportunity. However, he has not publicly expressed any intention or ambition to seek residency in the UAE.

Haaland’s new home in Abu Dhabi offers a 10-year visa

Haaland announced his property purchase today via a video shared by the developer, revealing that he and his father, former Manchester City player Alf-Inge Haaland, have bought homes in the Manchester City Ohana project in Abu Dhabi. Created in partnership with real estate company Ohana Residences, the development brings the club’s brand to a luxury waterfront community on Yas Island.“Hello everyone, I’m so happy because I’m joining the Manchester City Ohana project. We’ll be neighbors in Abu Dhabi… I just got a house and so did my father,” Haaland said at the project’s launch event at the Etihad Arena.The project offers townhouses, duplexes and villas with prices starting above AED 3,600,000 ($1.02 million) for an average two-bedroom townhouse. The five-bedroom waterfront villa is expected to go for around $2.91 million, while bespoke properties are said to start at $9.95 million.The project also includes the Manchester City Training Academy, City Lounge and leisure facilities, with more than half of its master plan dedicated to green spaces. Haaland’s exact property and purchase price have not been disclosed, but the reported price range puts his residence above the AED 2 million ($544,500) threshold for investment property in the UAE.The property naturally opens the door to a long-term stay in the UAE and adds another potential advantage to Haaland’s latest investment. Whether the golden visa is part of a package deal or something he decides on his own, his new home in Abu Dhabi adds to his growing ties to the country.

What does the UAE Golden Visa offer beyond the purchase of real estate

The Golden Visa is a long-term residency program in the United Arab Emirates designed to attract investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals and people with exceptional talent. Under the current federal program, eligible applicants can obtain renewable residency for 10 years without requiring a local sponsor, giving them greater independence from the employer-linked arrangements associated with conventional residency permits.The program enables qualified residents to live, work, study and invest in the UAE, while expanding residency opportunities for their families. Its main advantages include:

  • Long-term stay: A renewable 10-year permit provides more continuity than a short-term residence arrangement.
  • Family sponsorship: Holders can obtain residence permits for their spouses, children regardless of age and parents, as well as sponsors of domestic workers according to applicable regulations.
  • Greater independence: Residents do not need an employer or other local sponsor to maintain Golden Visa status.
  • Flexible travel: Holders can stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six-month absence limit that applies to many other residence visas.
  • Entry period for foreign applicants: Eligible out-of-country applicants can obtain a six-month multiple-entry visa that can be extended for a further six months after completing their residency procedures.

The program serves several different categories, including real estate investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and exceptional talent. Each route has its own eligibility rules, meaning applicants don’t necessarily need to buy expensive properties to gain long-term residency.

How Haaland’s property purchase could qualify him

Abu Dhabi’s official property investor guidelines set a minimum qualifying property value of AED 2 million ($544,500), with ownership and investment documentation as part of the application. Applicants can combine eligible properties to reach the threshold, while mortgages through national banks can be accepted as long as the investor’s qualifying capital remains at least AED 2 million ($544,500).The requirements also distinguish between completed properties and off-plan purchases, which is particularly important for a newly launched development such as Manchester City Ohana Residences. For an off-plan property, the applicant must submit a purchase agreement from an approved developer and proof that at least AED 2 million ($544,500) has already been paid for the property.While the development’s homes would qualify buyers for a 10-year golden visa, Haaland’s exact unit, payment terms and application status remain undisclosed, largely because the project is still in development.For Haaland, the property investment route is an obvious starting point after his purchase in Abu Dhabi. However, even without his new home, the UAE has a traditional Golden Visa pathway in place for athletes, meaning his achievements and stature in football could provide him with another route to long-term residency should he so desire.

An athlete’s journey could make a real estate investment pointless

Abu Dhabi’s Golden Visa program includes a 10-year residency category for athletes within a broader provision for exceptional talent. Official criteria focus on exceptional sporting ability and achievement, while the application process requires evidence that supports the applicant’s standing in their field.An athlete applying via the Abu Dhabi published route must provide:

  • Sports summary document achievements and experiences in their discipline.
  • Supporting certificates or letters of experience confirmation of these sporting achievements.
  • Recommendation of the Abu Dhabi Sports Councilwhich is the key formal support in the published process.

Applications submitted through the Abu Dhabi Residents Authority online system are automatically forwarded to the Sports Council for nomination, while applicants can also submit through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.However, Haaland may not have to go through the usual nomination process to make a compelling case. As one of the most feared strikers of his generation and a global football superstar with a larger-than-life profile, his credentials speak for themselves. If he wanted to continue the journey of an athlete, his record would be hard to overlook. To put that into context, Haaland could point to his Champions League triumph, multiple Premier League Golden Boot awards and status among the world’s elite footballers as proof of his sporting achievements.Crucially, the published UAE athlete journey does not require a property investment threshold of AED 2 million ($544,500). Eligible athletes may instead seek residency based on their sports credentials, subject to review and approval by the appropriate authority.

Manchester City’s connection with Abu Dhabi adds another dimension

Haaland’s situation is particularly interesting given Manchester City’s deep-rooted ties to Abu Dhabi. The club’s majority owner, Newton Investment and Development LLC, is wholly owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Since taking over Abu Dhabi in 2008, the City’s relationship with the emirate has grown considerably and the partnership with Ohana Residences has now brought this connection to the property market.Haaland is no ordinary player in this setup. As one of Manchester City’s biggest stars and the face of the club’s namesake development, he occupies a position of huge commercial value. It’s easy to see why his new home could be seen as more than just a property purchase, especially given the UAE’s interest in attracting some of the biggest names in world sport and entertainment. It could even be imagined that a purchase of this nature would be accompanied by a stay arrangement, although no such package has been publicly confirmed in Haaland’s case.Over the years, the UAE has attracted and welcomed prominent athletes, sports figures, actors, scientists and other internationally renowned figures, offering long-term residency opportunities to people whose achievements and expertise match their ambitions. In this context, Haaland should present an exceptionally compelling case. His Champions League success, Premier League Golden Boot award and status as one of the most respected footballers of his generation would make him an exceptional candidate for the country’s sporting career.Whether through his property in Abu Dhabi or the recognition of his sporting achievements, Haaland has a strong basis to explore a long-term stay in the UAE if he so desires. His credentials make a compelling case, although no Golden Visa grant or special arrangement has been publicly announced.