Obtaining a residence visa in Dubai, UAE, for property and real estate purchase — Service

Page contents 

1. Specifics of obtaining a residence permit using real estate purchases in Dubai, UAE
2. How to obtain a residence permit through real estate acquisition?
3. Preferences for Golden Visa Holders
4. How to obtain a Golden Visa in the UAE
5. FAQ

There are several ways to obtain a residence visa in Dubai, UAE, for example, for business registration and real estate acquisition.

The residency visa that the UAE received for real estate acquisitions is an attractive option for a number of reasons. First, you solve the problem of your housing during your stay in the United Arab Emirates. Second, the acquired property can be leased at the time it is vacant and generate a certain profit. Besides rental income, real estate in the UAE is an excellent long-term investment.

Therefore, if you have sufficient funds and do not plan to register a company in the UAE, obtaining a residence visa through investment in real estate may be one of the available ways to obtain residency status. However, you should consider some important facts.

Specifics of obtaining a residence permit using real estate purchases in Dubai, UAE

The procedure of obtaining a residence visa in the UAE using apartment acquisition is comparatively simple but requires knowledge of some specificities. As of 2025, there are two main property investment visa options in the UAE:

• Two-year visa: Requires a minimum property investment of AED 750,000.
• Ten-year Golden Visa: Requires a property investment of at least AED 2 million.

If the immovable property is bought by a husband and wife, the price of such a flat must be not less than 750,000 dirhams; in other cases, the share of each co-owner must not be less than 750,000 dirhams.

• There is no age limit for submitting an application, but the applicant must meet current immigration requirements, including having valid health insurance; additional checks may be made at the discretion of the immigration authorities.
• Off-plan properties may be considered for the Golden Visa application process, subject to the applicable requirements of the Land Department of the relevant emirate (including the minimum value and the stage of completion of the property); the final decision is made by the competent authorities. Purchasing an apartment under construction does not make you eligible to obtain a residence permit in the UAE until the completion of construction is finalized and building commissioning is finalized.
• After the purchase of property and obtaining a residence visa, a flat can be rented, but you should consider several details that need to be checked and considered.
• Real estate must be designed for use as a residential property. Commercial property does not entitle you to obtain a residence visa in the UAE.

Important! The duration of the visa depends on the investment amount:

• Two-year visa: For investments of at least AED 750,000.
• Ten-year Golden Visa: For investments of at least AED 2 million.

How to obtain a residence permit through real estate acquisition?

The process of obtaining a visa for property purchase acquisition in Dubai is not difficult. However, if you want everything to run smoothly, you should know what documents to fill in, how to do it, where to submit them, etc.

You will get rid of all problems and get answers to all your questions if you get in touch with our company. Your personal presence will be required only once while signing the necessary documents. Our experienced professionals will take care of the rest. You will receive a residence permit in the UAE in the shortest possible time, at the best price, and with a high probability of success.

Fill in the online request or contact us by phone, and very soon, the UAE residence visa will be stamped in your passport, as well as the UAE Emirates ID card will be in your wallet.

Preferences for Golden Visa Holders

A real estate owner with a mortgage can qualify for the UAE Golden Visa, provided the following conditions are met:

• The investor must have personally paid no less than AED 1 million of the property value.
• The minimum total value of the property must be more than AED 2 million.
• The property should be from an acceptable developer, while the mortgage bank should supply a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

The Dubai Land Department, along with other government authorities, collaborates with banks and developers to ensure these criteria are met.

Golden Visa holders in the UAE are allowed to sponsor their family members under conditions different from those of regular residency visa holders.

Golden Visa holders can sponsor their spouses; children (no age limit for unmarried daughters; sons can be sponsored until age 25 and even after if they have disabilities or if they are studying); and domestic help (maids, drivers, etc.) if applicable.

Family members get a visa valid for the same term as the principal Golden Visa owner (10 years). To apply for family sponsorship, a Golden Visa holder needs to submit marriage and birth certificates to demonstrate the relationship; sufficient funds; and accommodation in the UAE; and pass regular medical examinations (obligatory for adults).

The UAE Golden Visa has several advantages over a regular resident visa:

• Valid for 10 years (instead of 2). That is, if you plan to stay in the country for a long time, you will not have to renew your documents often.
• For Golden Visa holders, there is no requirement to stay in the country for at least 180 days (you can stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months).
• Sponsorship. The Golden Visa holder acts as a sponsor and can transport their staff (for example, a housekeeper) and family members. At the same time, a visa for dependents is issued faster than a regular resident visa.
• Golden Visa holders can participate in the ESAAD program (access to discounts from 4,000+ international partners).
• Prestige. Having a Golden Visa increases the trust of banks, government agencies, schools, and other institutions.

How to obtain a Golden Visa in the UAE

Obtaining a UAE Golden Visa when purchasing real estate using mortgage financing is possible subject to compliance with established requirements regarding the minimum value of the property and the amount of funds actually contributed. The following are the requirements for obtaining a Golden Visa through the purchase of property with a mortgage.

• Minimum property value: Property value not less than AED 2,000,000.00 (about US$545,000).*
• Mortgage of an approved bank. The property can be mortgaged as long as the lending institution giving the mortgage is sanctioned by the government of the UAE. A minimum purchased property value of AED 2 million is required. For instance, if the value of the property is AED 3M, and you have already paid over AED 2M, you are eligible.
• Property type. The building should be a residential one (not off-plan) in a designated area for foreign ownership—a freehold area.
• Documents from the bank. You should receive the bank letter in which you are notified about your share in the property (for example, that 2m AED is already paid). You may also need a letter from the builder (if the sale was direct).
• Registered in the Dubai Land Department or any other concerned emirate authority. This also applies to the Dubai Land Department and/or DARI.

Important! Off-plan properties are only eligible if Oqood + ≥50% completion and total value of AED 2 million are met. In addition, the property must be residential (not a warehouse, not a production facility, etc.). Non-residential premises do not qualify for a visa.

Required documents are as follows:

• Passport (should be valid for at least 6 months);
• Title Deed;
• NOC from a bank (in case of a mortgage);
• Health insurance (mandatory);
• Applicant’s photo for documents;
• Medical examination results;
• Emirates ID (issued after receiving the visa).

As for the cost of Golden Visa processing (per person), here are the approximate values:

Our experts will give you all the necessary support in this matter so that in the shortest time possible, you can achieve the desired outcome. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to reside permanently in the UAE to maintain my real estate investor visa?

For a standard investor residence visa (2 years), there is a requirement that I must not be absent from the country for more than 6 consecutive months; otherwise, the visa may be cancelled. This restriction does not apply to Golden Visa holders; they are permitted to stay outside the UAE for more than 6 consecutive months.

Can I sell my property after receiving my visa?

No, the property needs to be owned by the investor until visa expiry and meet the minimum investment level. The visa is automatically cancelled upon the sale of the property and can be canceled.

Is opening a bank account in the UAE required to apply for a real estate visa?

Opening an account is not a mandatory by law prerequisite to applying for a visa, but in practice, many of the transactions involved with real estate purchases, including paying government fees and showing proof that money comes from a legitimate source, will depend on banks and can only be conducted through this type of bank account.

Can family members be included in the application along with the main applicant?

Yes, the spouse and children can be included after the primary investor visa is approved. This will include evidence of relationship (e.g., marriage/birth certificates—notarized, legalized, and translated), health insurance, and financial eligibility.