Dubai Simplifies Visa Rules for Property Buyers to Revive Real Estate Market
Dubai has removed the minimum property value requirement for its two-year property-linked residency visa for individual buyers, a move expected to revive demand in the real estate market amid disruptions from the Iran conflict.
The emirate has eliminated the AED 750,000 (₹1.9 crore) minimum property value requirement for individual buyers but introduced an AED 400,000 (₹1.03 crore) minimum stake per investor for jointly-owned assets, according to an update published on the Cube Center, which is affiliated with the Dubai Land Department.
This change is anticipated to bring in mid-tier professionals to the market, industry experts say. For properties jointly owned by more than one person, each investor must now hold a share worth at least AED 400,000 to be eligible to apply for the residency visa. Previously, each investor in a joint property had to invest a minimum of AED 750,000 to qualify for the two-year visa, with an exception for spouses as joint owners.
While it opens the door for solo buyers of any budget, the new AED 400,000 floor for joint owners ensures the market doesn't turn into a 'visa-pooling' game, said Ritu Kumar Ojha, CEO of Proact Luxury Real Estate, a real estate advisory firm. 'At the same time, the removal of the minimum property value for solo owners is a direct invitation to the global mid-market to take root in Dubai,' Ojha added.
The move also effectively clears the inventory that was previously 'visa-ineligible,' creating a new floor for the secondary market, Ojha noted. People from India and the UK were among the top property buyers in Dubai in 2025, according to industry data. In 2025, Dubai recorded a record AED 547 billion in residential sales across 203,000 transactions. However, since the beginning of the war, Dubai has seen a sharp slump in real estate sale volumes. The emirate recorded 26,960 real estate transactions between February 28 and April 29, an 89% decline from 246,951 recorded in the corresponding period last year, data by Dxb Interact show. This has prompted several developers in the city to come out with better payment plans and offer discounts to push property sales.
The new visa rules are expected to provide a much-needed boost to the real estate sector, which has been struggling due to various geopolitical and economic factors. By lowering the entry barrier, Dubai aims to attract a broader range of investors and professionals, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing its global appeal.
