Can you get a UAE Golden Visa by buying off-plan property?

Yes. Property worth AED 2 million or more qualifies you for the 10-year UAE Golden Visa, and off-plan purchases from approved developers count — you do not need to wait for handover. The visa is renewable for as long as you hold the asset, covers your spouse and children, and has no minimum-stay requirement to keep it valid. The details around mortgages, joint ownership and timing are where applications succeed or stall, so structure the purchase with the visa in mind from day one.

Matin Karevan

Private Client Real Estate Advisor, Dubai & Abu Dhabi · Updated July 2026

The thresholds that matter

For serious buyers the 10-year route is the only one worth structuring around. The AED 2M threshold refers to the property's value as registered with the Dubai Land Department — one asset or, in many cases, a portfolio combination reaching the threshold.

The off-plan specifics

Three points decide most off-plan applications:

• Registered value is what counts. Eligibility is assessed on the DLD-registered purchase value (your Oqood), not on marketing price or future valuation. An AED 2.1M unit clears the bar; an AED 1.95M unit does not, however good the project.
• Developer standing matters. The off-plan route runs through purchases from approved local developers — a Tier-1 name removes friction from the file. One more reason developer selection is the core decision.
• Payment conditions have been progressively relaxed in recent years, but the applicable rules at your application date govern — this is the single most volatile detail in the whole process, and the one to re-confirm rather than assume.

Mortgaged and joint purchases

Mortgaged property can qualify. Applications with bank financing typically require a letter or NOC from the lender confirming the position; the cleanest files keep owner equity clearly at or above the threshold.

Spouses can combine ownership. Jointly owned property between married couples can reach the AED 2M threshold together, with an attested marriage certificate in the file. Ownership shares with business partners are assessed on your individual share — your slice alone must clear AED 2M.

What the visa actually gives you

• 10-year renewable residence with no sponsor or employer required.
• Family sponsorship — spouse and children on visas tied to yours.
• No minimum-stay rule — unlike standard residence visas, the Golden Visa does not lapse if you stay outside the UAE for extended periods. For overseas investors holding Dubai assets, this is the feature that matters most.
• Continuity — renewable for as long as you hold qualifying property. Sell below the threshold and the basis for renewal goes with it.

The process, compressed

1. Buy at AED 2M+ and register with the DLD (Oqood for off-plan).
2. Obtain the DLD's confirmation of qualifying ownership.
3. Apply through the official channels (GDRFA / ICP), with medical test and Emirates ID biometrics done in the UAE.
4. Approvals typically run days to a few weeks on a clean file.

The common stall points: property registered fractionally under threshold, missing lender letters on mortgaged files, and unattested marriage certificates on joint applications. All three are avoidable at purchase, none are easily fixable after it.