Property and the UAE Golden Visa

The core requirement

The property investor Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residency granted where you own property in the UAE with a value of at least AED 2 million, evidenced by the title deed. It can be a single property or, in practice, a combination that meets the threshold — the rules on combining have been relaxed over time, so confirm the current position before you rely on it.

Mortgaged properties can qualify, and off-plan purchases from approved developers have been accepted in various cases. Because eligibility criteria are updated periodically, treat any published summary — including this one — as a starting point and verify with the DLD or a licensed agent before buying specifically for the visa.

What the visa gives you

Ten years of renewable residency without a national sponsor, the ability to sponsor your spouse, children and domestic staff, and no requirement to remain continuously in the UAE to keep it valid. You will still need the usual medical, Emirates ID and insurance steps.

Buying for the visa without buying badly

The AED 2 million threshold pushes people into whatever unit clears it, which is how investors end up with a high-service-charge tower producing a thin net yield. The visa is a benefit, not a return.

Underwrite the property on its own merits first — rent, service charge, net yield, cash-on-cash — and treat the residency as a bonus on a purchase that already makes sense. Two well-chosen units that together clear the threshold often out-earn one compromise unit.