The UAE no longer has a minimum investment threshold for obtaining a residence visa. Zlata Erlach, head of the Austrian office of Immigrant Invest, explained the changes.
How to obtain Dubai residence by purchasing real estate
Dubai has simplified the rules for obtaining a 2-year residence visa for property owners. Previously, the minimum property value requirement was AED 750,000, or about $204,000.
The Dubai Land Department has not issued an official press release yet. The announcement appeared on April 29th, 2026, on the DLD Cube Centre website, an affiliated organisation of the department[1] Source: new UAE residence conditions, CUBE
Applicant requirements
A sole property owner can apply for a residence visa by purchasing any property.
Several property owners must confirm ownership of a share worth at least AED 400,000, or $109,000. Only real estate purchased in Dubai qualifies for UAE residence.
List of documents
To obtain a 2-year UAE residence visa, the applicant provides the following documents:
- Certificate of ownership for real estate in Dubai.
- No-objection certificate from the bank if the property is mortgaged.
- Payment statement from the developer if the property was purchased in installments.
- Passport copy valid for at least 6 months.
- Valid Emirates ID, if applicable.
- Digital photo of the applicant that meets the requirements[2]
Source: UAE government requirements, UAE government
. - Health insurance from any insurance company in the UAE.
- A certificate from the Dubai Police addressed to the Dubai Land Department.
Dubai residents can obtain a police certificate in the Dubai Police mobile app. Non-residents need to visit the Port Rashid police station in person.
Zlata Erlach,
Head of the Austrian office
Applicants from Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan provide a national ID regardless of whether they have an Emirates ID. The applicant’s name in the passport must match exactly the name in all documents submitted for residence.
Overview of the UAE real estate market
In January 2026, total real estate sales in the UAE reached $14.6 billion. A total of 16,000 transactions were concluded. The average transaction value was $899,000.
In the first quarter of 2026, the total value of transactions increased by 21.2% compared with the same period of the previous year, while the number of transactions rose by 4.35%[3] Source: 2026 real estate purchase statistics, khaleejtimes
Benefits of the UAE 2-year visa
To obtain Dubai residence, investors can now buy real estate of any value or use a property they already own. The main benefits of the UAE residence visa include:
- The investor’s spouse and children can obtain Dubai residence together with the investor.
- The visa is issued for 2 years and can be renewed an unlimited number of times.
- The UAE has no taxes on income, capital gains, inheritance, real estate, or gifts.
- Moving to the UAE is not required. It is enough to visit the country once or twice a year to maintain the status.
