Owning property worth AED 2 million or more in Dubai can qualify you for a 10-year Golden Visa: a renewable residence visa that needs no employer or local sponsor. This guide explains who qualifies, what the visa gives you and how the application runs. The rules are set by the UAE authorities and change from time to time; this reflects the position as of September 2026, and we confirm your eligibility before you commit to a purchase.
Who qualifies
| Visa | Property value | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa | AED 2,000,000 or more | 10 years, renewable |
| Property investor visa | AED 750,000 or more | 2 years, renewable |
- The value is the one on record. The authorities look at the value shown by the Dubai Land Department, not at an asking price.
- More than one property can count. Several properties can usually be added together to reach AED 2 million.
- A mortgage does not rule you out. Mortgaged property is accepted, with a letter from the bank.
- Off-plan can qualify. Property bought off-plan from an approved developer can be used, so you do not always have to wait for handover.
- Buying jointly. When a property is shared, each owner’s share normally has to reach the threshold. Spouses who own together are treated as one in most cases. Tell us how you plan to hold the property and we will check before you sign.
What the Golden Visa gives you
- Residence in the UAE for ten years, renewable for as long as you keep the property.
- No sponsor: the visa is yours, not tied to a job or a company.
- The right to sponsor your spouse and children, and to employ domestic staff.
- You can stay outside the UAE for longer than six months without the visa lapsing.
- An Emirates ID, which you need to open bank accounts, sign tenancy contracts and get a driving licence.
The visa gives residence, not citizenship, and does not by itself make you a tax resident: that depends on how much time you spend in the country and on the rules of your home country.
How the application runs
- Title deed. The purchase is registered and the title deed (or the off-plan registration) is issued in your name.
- Application. The file is submitted with your passport, photographs, the title deed and, where there is a mortgage, the bank’s letter.
- Medical test and biometrics. A short medical test and fingerprinting for the Emirates ID, both done in Dubai.
- Visa issued. The visa is issued electronically. The whole process usually takes a few weeks from the day the title deed is issued.
Government, medical and Emirates ID fees come to several thousand dirhams per applicant. We give you the current figure with your cost sheet.
Homes that reach the threshold
AED 2 million buys a one- or two-bedroom apartment in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina or Dubai Creek Harbour, and a larger home in Business Bay or Jumeirah Village Circle. See homes for sale and off-plan launches, or read what a purchase costs on top of the price.
Buying with the visa in mind? Tell us your budget and who will be on the title deed, and we will confirm which homes qualify before you view.
Published September 28, 2026 · updated September 28, 2026 · Savos Realty, RERA office 41486