How to buy a home in Dubai, step by step
From setting your budget to collecting the title deed: every stage of buying a ready home, what you sign and what you pay.
Read the guide
The Golden Visa through property
Who qualifies through property in Dubai, how mortgaged and jointly owned homes count, and what to confirm before you buy with the visa in mind.
The threshold
A property investor in Dubai can apply for a Golden Visa with property worth at least AED 2 million. The value can come from one property or several.
The Dubai Land Department and GDRFA describe it as a ten-year visa that can be renewed. The federal government portal shows a different length for property investors, so confirm the term when you apply.
Mortgaged homes
A home with a mortgage can qualify. The Dubai Land Department asks for a no-objection letter from the lending bank.
Homes owned jointly
If you own a home with someone else, GDRFA counts it only when your own share is worth AED 2 million or more.
Off-plan homes
Neither the Dubai Land Department's page nor GDRFA's addresses off-plan homes. Confirm with GDRFA before relying on an off-plan purchase for the visa.
The two-year investor visa
For property below AED 2 million, the Dubai Land Department's service page lists a two-year investor residence visa. A sole owner qualifies with a property of any value; a joint owner needs a share worth at least AED 400,000. DLD lists the investor fee as AED 10,212.50.
Where to apply
The Dubai Land Department has run the Golden Visa and investor visa services for property owners, and lists the Golden Visa fees for the main applicant as AED 9,884.75. In April 2026 GDRFA Dubai and DLD agreed to move property residency services into GDRFA Dubai's system, so check the current channel, requirements and fees before you apply.
Hamd Properties does not give immigration advice. Decisions on visas rest with the UAE authorities.
Questions buyers ask
How much property do I need for a Golden Visa in Dubai?
Property worth AED 2 million or more, in one property or several.
Does a mortgaged property count?
Yes. The Dubai Land Department asks for a no-objection letter from the lending bank.
Can joint owners combine their shares?
GDRFA counts a jointly owned property only when the applicant's own share is worth AED 2 million or more.
Does an off-plan property qualify?
The official DLD and GDRFA pages do not say. Confirm with GDRFA before you buy.
Can I get a UAE residence visa with property under AED 2 million?
The Dubai Land Department lists a two-year investor residence visa for property owners: a sole owner qualifies with property of any value, and a joint owner needs a share of at least AED 400,000.
How long is the Golden Visa?
The Dubai Land Department and GDRFA describe it as ten years, renewable. Confirm the term when you apply.
Sources
Keep reading
What it costs to buy property in Dubai
Every fee on a ready home, an off-plan home and a mortgage, with the government figures checked against the Dubai Land Department.
Read the guide