Dubai has simplified its «golden visa» rules

Dubai authorities have updated the conditions for a two-year residency visa for real estate investors.

What’s changed:

— For sole owners — the minimum property value threshold of AED 750,000 has been scrapped. Any property now qualifies.

— For jointly owned properties — each co-owner’s share must be at least AED 400,000 (~USD 109,000).

— The 10-year Golden Visa conditions remain unchanged: a property worth at least AED 2 million is still required.

This is a significant signal for the market: smaller apartments and more affordable properties, previously overlooked as a residency tool, are now effectively becoming one. We expect demand to pick up in the lower segment.

As we’ve reported, the UAE real estate market is not in great shape right now. The ValuStrat price index fell 5.9% in March 2026 — the first decline since 2020 — amid regional instability that has weighed on demand. In response, Dubai approved a AED 1 billion business support package and eased a number of fees.