A Dubai golden visa through property: who qualifies, how the process works, and how long it took me

Who qualifies

According to the Dubai Land Department (DLD):

• The purchase value of the property is at least AED 2 million at the time of purchase. It can be one or more properties, wholly owned in the applicant's name.
• A mortgaged property also qualifies, with a bank letter showing the amount paid and that the bank does not object.
• The applicant must be inside the UAE when applying.
• You can sponsor your spouse, children and parents.

What the visa gives you

• A 10-year residence, renewable if the conditions are still met.
• No sponsor. You do not need an employer or anyone else to sponsor you.
• Time abroad. You can stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six months without losing your residence.

The documents

According to the DLD, these are the basic documents for the property owner:

• Passport.
• Title deed for the property.
• Personal photo.
• Emirates ID and current residence visa, if you have them.

Family members need additional documents, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificates and health insurance. The full list and the fees are on the DLD service page.

The official process

According to the DLD, you go to a service centre, submit the documents and pay, have a medical test at the centre, and the residence permit is sent by email. The DLD states a processing time of 7 to 10 working days.

How it went for me

I did it in 2025, through a document clearing company in Dubai:

1. January: an official valuation of the property.
2. After the valuation: pre-approval. From that point you need to stay inside the UAE until the process is complete.
3. End of March: the medical test, and basic health insurance.
4. Beginning of April: the visa was issued, for 10 years, as a self-sponsored property owner.
5. After that: the Emirates ID registration form, fingerprints at a service centre, and the card arrived by courier.

All the steps that required me to be there took about two and a half weeks in Dubai. Once I had residence, I could also exchange my driving licence (see the guide to a Dubai driving licence).

Worth knowing

• These are Dubai's rules. Other emirates have different authorities and rules.
• The golden visa is a UAE residence visa. It does not change your reporting obligations in your country of residence (see "Do I need to report the property in my country of residence?").