Can You Get a Dubai Residence Visa by Buying Property?

Yes. Buying property in Dubai can qualify you for a UAE residence visa, and an investment of AED 2 million or more can qualify for the ten year Golden Visa. You buy first and apply afterwards. No visa is needed to purchase.

The visa follows the property, not the other way round. Figures current as of September 2026.

What does each threshold get you?

Investment	Visa	Notes
AED 2 million and above	Ten year Golden Visa	Renewable, covers spouse and children
Below that threshold	Shorter term property owner visa	Renewable, subject to the criteria in force
No property at all	You can still buy	Ownership has no residency requirement

Do I need residency to buy in the first place?

No, and this is the point people get backwards. Freehold purchase in designated areas is open to non residents, with no minimum spend and no visa requirement. You can buy on a visit visa, or remotely by granting power of attorney. Residency is a benefit that may follow, not a condition.

Does off-plan count?

It can, subject to the rules in force at the time and usually to a proportion of the value being paid. Because the criteria change, treat any figure you read as a starting point and confirm the current position before you buy specifically for the visa. Buying a property you would want anyway, and treating the visa as a bonus, is the safer order of decisions.

What does the visa actually give you?

The right to live in the UAE, sponsor immediate family, open bank accounts more easily and come and go without a sponsor tied to an employer. It does not make you a UAE tax resident automatically, and it does not change your tax position at home, which depends on where you actually live.

See the full picture in buying property in Dubai as a foreigner, browse off-plan projects, or ask us what qualifies today.

Frequently asked questions

How much property do I need to buy for a Dubai Golden Visa?+

AED 2 million or more in property value can qualify for the ten year Golden Visa, subject to the criteria in force at the time of application. Below that threshold, shorter renewable property owner visas exist.

Do I need a visa before I can buy property in Dubai?+

No. Purchase in designated freehold areas is open to non residents with no minimum spend. You can buy on a visit visa or remotely through power of attorney. Residency can follow the purchase.

Does the visa cover my family?+

The ten year Golden Visa allows you to sponsor your spouse and children. Requirements for dependants are set separately, so confirm the current position when you apply.

Does buying off-plan qualify for a residence visa?+

It can, usually subject to a proportion of the value being paid and to the rules in force at the time. Because those rules change, confirm before buying specifically for visa purposes.

Does a Dubai residence visa change my tax position?+

Not automatically. Holding a visa is not the same as being tax resident, and your home country will usually tax you based on where you actually live. Take advice in your own jurisdiction.