Foreign buyers holding a single property in Dubai no longer face any price threshold when seeking a two-year residency visa tied to real estate, following a revision to the eligibility rules administered through the Dubai Land Department’s Cube Centre.
The update, which took effect at the close of April 2026, scraps the AED 750,000 valuation that property owners previously had to meet before they could qualify for the permit. That figure had served as a fixed gateway into residency through real estate, and its removal widens the pool of buyers who can secure the visa regardless of what they paid for their unit.
Different conditions apply where a property is held by more than one person. In joint ownership arrangements, each registered owner must hold a stake worth at least AED 400,000 to be considered eligible in their own right.
Eligibility is confined to real estate situated within the emirate, and applicants must present a title deed issued specifically by Dubai. Where the property carries a mortgage, the submission must include either a debt letter or a no-objection letter from the lender; if the purchase is financed directly through the developer, a statement of payments from that developer is required instead.
Several personal documents round out the application. These include a passport valid for more than six months, a personal photograph conforming to Emirates ID standards, and a previous Emirates ID card where one exists. Applicants must also provide health insurance — either comprehensive or standard cover from a UAE-based insurer, or an approved international policy — along with a good conduct certificate from Dubai Police addressed to the DLD.
That certificate is obtained through the Dubai Police smart application for those already residing in the country. Applicants based outside the UAE must instead visit the Rashid Port Police Station to secure it.
Once every requirement is met and the relevant approvals are granted, the file typically moves through processing within 10 to 15 working days.
On the cost side, the figures vary by transaction type. Renewing the permit runs to roughly AED 8,215, and a fresh two-year visa is priced at about AED 10,545, while cancellation carries the lightest charge at AED 1,239.
