For UAE Golden Visas, Dh2m property buys remain most popular choice

Dubai: Acquiring a UAE Golden Visa through a property investment of Dh2 million or more continues to be the most popular choice for those seeking a 10-year residency option.

Property market sources say that in the first two months of 2025, sizeable interest remains for offplan purchases at or above Dh2 million – but with generous incentives such as lower down payment requirements and easy instalment plans.

Buyers for whom getting a Golden Visa is a priority ‘typically prefer a project that’s just been launched in Dubai as long as the Dh2 million threshold is met’, said an estate agent. “Since the requirement from the authorities for a 50% payment to be made to start processing a Golden Visa has been removed, the interest from buyers has seen no drop.

“Developers will continue to target buyers specifically looking to a Golden Visa residency. 2025 will continue to see more of that.” (It was January 2024 that Dubai allowed golden visa issuances without investors having to meet the 50% on Dh2 million down payment requirement. As long as the overall property they bought was a minimum Dh2 million, they qualified.)   

The UAE now allows multiple options for a longer residency status, including those meant for professionals getting a certain basic salary, those making business investments, and even a category specifically for university graduates.

But a property investment remains the most favoured – “There is an increase in transactions compared to last year,” said Libbie Burtinshaw, Head of Operations at Sovereign PPG.  

“With more international attention on the 10-year UAE residency through property investment, many of the newcomers are exploring this route to obtain UAE visas.

“We have seen more interest in the Golden Visa program under property in Abu Dhabi too, where the authorities have streamlined the application process. But the minimum payment of Dh2 million is required.”

Developers and estate agents believe that the visa program will continue to drive sales this year. “The best part is the residency program finds acceptance among all age groups,” said a developer source. “Whether it’s a 30-something newcomer to the UAE with long term plans or a 50-year old existing resident who is looking at ways to extend his stay in the country to pursue other plans.”

Apart from visas linked to property buys, skilled professionals, retirees and top university graduates tend to be the other categories from whom ‘we have received enquiries’, said Libbie.  

For a university graduate application, there must be a recommendation letter from the university or an accredited graduation certificate or an accredited academic record stating that the student’s cumulative GPA score is not less than 3.8.

They should hold a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s, or PhD from a university accredited by the Ministry of Education in the UAE.

“The university must be classified as A or B according to the accredited universities classification list by the Ministry of Education,” said Libbie. “There had been confusion on this point, where applicants have not been referring exclusively to the top university list from which the applicant needs to have graduated from. “The GPA must not be less than 3.5 for A classified universities or 3.8 for B classified universities.”