How much property do you need for a UAE investor visa?

Property-based residence is assessed on the value recorded on the Title Deed. The threshold, the permit length and what counts vary by emirate and by case — the widely quoted AED 750,000 figure is not something this page guarantees. Check before you register, because registration fees are not refundable.

Last updated: 2026-11-02 · Reviewed against official UAE government sources · Rules change often — always confirm with ICP or GDRFA before acting.

Before anything else: can a foreigner buy that property at all? Foreign ownership is limited to designated freehold areas, and a property outside them does not become eligible by costing more. Confirm the zoning with the Dubai Land Department before you commit — registration fees are not refunded if the file fails.

The two property tiers

Figures below are the thresholds commonly cited for each tier. Treat them as the shape of the system, not as a guarantee: the qualifying amount, how it is measured (recorded deed value or valuation) and the permit length are set by the issuing authority and differ by emirate and case.

	Investor visa	Golden Visa (property route)
Property value	AED 750,000+	AED 2,000,000+
Duration	2–3 years, renewable	10 years, renewable
Off-plan / mortgaged	Can qualify under conditions that change — confirm with DLD before purchasing

Ownership must appear on the Title Deed. Mortgaged and off-plan properties can qualify under conditions that change periodically — verify current documentation rules with the Dubai Land Department before purchasing for visa purposes.

Verify these four things before you register

Freehold zoning — that the property is in an area open to foreign ownership (DLD).
The current threshold and how it is measured — recorded deed value or valuation.
Mortgage, off-plan and joint-ownership conditions — these have changed more than once.
Which authority issues your permit — GDRFA in Dubai, ICP elsewhere.

The two tiers differ in threshold and in permit length (see the table above). Which one suits your situation is a question for a licensed advisor or the issuing authority — this page is not investment advice. For the higher tier, see the Golden Visa guide.

Field notes — mistakes people actually make. Recurring issues reported in expat communities and case write-ups (individual cases vary):

Relying on the purchase price when the recorded deed or valuation figure is what gets assessed against the threshold.
Buying under two names and discovering each share falls below the qualifying line.
Assuming the visa auto-renews while the property is listed for sale — disposing of the property ends the basis.

Verify at the source

Rules change without notice. These official pages decide your case — check them before acting on anything above:

Frequently asked questions

Does off-plan property count for a UAE investor visa?

Off-plan can qualify under conditions tied to the developer, payment progress and current DLD rules — and these conditions have changed more than once. Confirm directly with the Dubai Land Department before buying off-plan for visa purposes.

Can two people combine ownership of one property for visas?

Joint ownership cases (including spouses) are assessed on each owner's recorded share against the threshold. Verify your scenario with DLD or GDRFA before structuring the purchase.

Sources & verification. Each page lists the official pages its figures come from, and carries the date we last reviewed it (2026-11-02). Where we could not confirm a figure against a primary government source, the page says so instead of asserting it. against UAE government portals (u.ae, ICP) and current legal-advisory publications. This site is an independent guide by Growtoday Holdings FZE, Dubai — not a government website and not legal advice. Requirements vary by emirate, nationality and case; confirm with ICP/GDRFA or a licensed advisor before making decisions.

Not sure where to verify this?

The AI assistant points you to which office decides and what to confirm, from this guide's content — it does not rule on individual eligibility.

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