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The Dubai property visa is a 2-year residence for people who own a finished home in Dubai. Since DLD changed the rule, a sole owner qualifies at any property value, and the old 750,000 minimum price no longer applies. A co-owner needs a share worth AED 400,000. DLD charges AED 10,212.50 for the investor and states 7 to 10 business days.
If your property is worth AED 2,000,000 or more, look at the 10-year golden visa for property owners first. The cost is close and the visa runs five times longer.
The old 750,000 minimum is gone
Many agency pages, forums and older news stories still say you need a property bought for 750,000 or more, or 50% paid on a mortgage. That was the old rule. DLD's "Request for Investor Visa" page, updated , now reads differently:
- A sole owner can apply "regardless of the property value".
- A co-owner needs a share worth at least AED 400,000.
So a studio in International City owned in your name alone can now count, as long as it is finished and has a title deed. If an agent still quotes a minimum price for a sole owner, ask them to show it on the DLD page.
Which owner visa fits your property
| Your situation | Route | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Finished Dubai property, sole owner, any value | DLD investor residence | 2 years |
| Co-owner with a share of AED 400,000 or more | DLD investor residence | 2 years |
| Age 55+, property of AED 1,000,000 | Retirement visa | 5 years |
| Property of AED 2,000,000 or more | Golden visa (DLD centres) | 10 years |
| Off-plan unit | Not accepted for the 2-year visa | n/a |
Source: DLD investor, retiree and golden visa service pages, checked .
DLD fees for the 2-year visa
| Person | DLD fee |
|---|---|
| Property owner (investor) | AED 10,212.50 |
| Spouse | AED 7,382.25 |
| Child under 18 | AED 6,482.25 |
| Daughter over 18 | AED 7,182.25 |
| Son over 18 (1 year) | AED 7,182.25 |
| Family file opening | AED 318.75 |
Source: DLD Request for Investor Visa, checked . Parents are also listed, on a 1-year permit, with their own fee on the DLD page. Health insurance and the good conduct certificate are paid separately.
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai firms and DLD registration centres publish about AED 7,000 to AED 12,000 for a 2-year property owner visa (published prices of 3 Dubai firms, checked ). Some of those prices include the DLD fees and some do not, so ask what is inside.
The second route: GDRFA's property owner permit
GDRFA also has a service called "Issuing a residence permit for property owners". It is a separate route and its terms are not the same as DLD's.
- The property must be fully built, habitable and fully owned by you. Plots do not count.
- GDRFA asks for a monthly income of at least AED 10,000, or proof of solvency.
- Fee lines: AED 200 residence permit, AED 10 Knowledge, AED 10 Innovation, AED 500 inside the country, AED 20 delivery, and AED 100 more a year when the permit is over two years.
- It goes through the approved real estate investor centres and takes 48 hours. The grace period after expiry is 60 days.
Here the official pages disagree. The GDRFA issue page asks for AED 10,000 a month. The GDRFA renewal page asks for AED 15,000 a month and the property fully owned or at least AED 2,000,000 paid. If you plan to renew on this route, check the renewal page before you commit. The DLD route above has no income line at all.
Documents checklist
- Title deed (e-certificate of title) for a completed Dubai property
- Bank no objection letter if the property is mortgaged, or a developer statement if the developer financed it
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Photo to ICP standard (white background)
- Health insurance
- Dubai Police good conduct certificate addressed to DLD
- For family: attested marriage and birth certificates, plus the family file
Processing time
DLD states 7 to 10 business days. The DLD registration centre that runs this service says 10 to 15 working days and online only. Plan for the longer figure if you have a flight booked. The good conduct certificate and health insurance take their own time, so start them first.
Why owner visa files get refused or stuck
- The property is off-plan or not yet handed over.
- The property is outside Dubai, or in DIFC.
- A co-owner's share is under AED 400,000.
- No bank NOC for a mortgaged unit.
- The good conduct certificate is addressed to someone other than DLD.
- Health insurance missing or expired for one family member.
How it works with us
Send your title deed and passport on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. A visa adviser checks whether you fit the DLD 2-year visa, the golden route or neither, and which papers are missing. You get one total price before paying, with the DLD fees listed apart from our service fee. The team prepares the file, follows up with the registration centre and books your medical and Emirates ID steps. Your family follows once your own permit is issued. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service: DLD and GDRFA decide the application, not us.
If the visa is refused, the government keeps its fees. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing which part of our total, if any, comes back.
Other things to know
- The visa rests on your ownership. If you plan to sell, ask DLD first what happens to your permit and your family's.
- If you leave the UAE for more than 180 days in a row, the residence is cancelled. See re-entry permit.
- Already in Dubai on a visit visa? The status change works as for other residence visas: see change visa status.
- For a full list of visas you can hold without an employer, see self-sponsored visa.
Official sources
- DLD Request for Investor Visa: sole owner and co-owner rule, fees, time.
- DLD Golden Visa for investors: AED 2,000,000 route.
- DLD Golden Visa for retirees: AED 1,000,000 retiree route.
- GDRFA property owner permit: conditions, income, fees, centres.
- GDRFA property owner renewal: renewal income and paid amount.
- u.ae residence visa rules: 180-day absence rule.
Checked . Check the DLD page before you pay.
