Buying & Legal

How Do I Get the Golden Visa?

Buy property worth AED 2M or more (single or aggregate ownership) to qualify for the UAE Golden Visa — a 10-year self-renewing residency that allows you to sponsor family without salary requirements, with no minimum stay obligations.

Key investment metrics

The numbers that matter most for this question — at a glance.

Yield5–9%
Property Tax0%
Entry BudgetAED 2M+
Holding Period10 yrs visa

Why Dubai Works

  • 10-year residency, self-renewing as long as property is owned
  • Sponsor spouse, children and parents with no minimum salary requirement
  • Cash or mortgage-bought properties qualify — full title required at issuance
  • Aggregate multiple properties to reach the AED 2M threshold

Comparison

Visa TierProperty ValueValidityFamily Sponsorship
Investor (3-yr)AED 750K+3 yearsYes (limited)
Golden (10-yr)AED 2M+10 yearsSpouse, children, parents
Long-term (5-yr)AED 1M cash + GP5 yearsYes (limited)

Who Should Invest

  • Buyers wanting long-term UAE residency without employer sponsorship
  • Families relocating to the UAE for school, lifestyle or tax reasons
  • Investors wanting to sponsor dependents or domestic staff under their visa

Risks to Watch

  • Visa is tied to ownership — selling the property typically ends the visa
  • Mortgage-financed portion of value may not count fully toward the threshold

Strategy

FAQ

Is off-plan eligible?

Generally no — the Golden Visa requires an issued title deed. Off-plan units only qualify once handover completes and DLD issues the title, although some recent rule changes allow off-plan with developer NOC in specific circumstances.

How long does the application take?

After purchase and title issuance, the Golden Visa application typically takes 2–4 weeks via ICA or GDRFA Dubai. Pre-approval can sometimes be obtained before completion to coordinate residency with closing.

Can I keep the visa if I sell?

No — the Golden Visa is tied to the qualifying property. Selling the asset typically ends the visa. Some buyers therefore aggregate 2–3 properties so they can rotate one out without losing the AED 2M aggregate threshold.