<p>The UAE Golden Visa is a <strong>10-year renewable residency permit</strong> available to property investors who meet a minimum threshold set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP). As of April 2026, that threshold is <strong>AED 2,000,000</strong> in completed or off-plan real estate.</p>
<p>It is the most direct path to long-term UAE residency without corporate sponsorship. Here is how it works.</p>
<h3>The Threshold: AED 2 Million</h3>
<p>The magic number is <strong>AED 2,000,000</strong>. Properties valued at or above this amount qualify automatically. This can be:</p>
<p>- A single property (villa, apartment, townhouse)</p>
<p>- Multiple properties totaling AED 2M+</p>
<p>- Off-plan units purchased from approved developers</p>
<p>The property must be registered with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) or the equivalent authority in the emirate where it is located (RAK DLD for Ras Al Khaimah, ADRE for Abu Dhabi).</p>
{{{"type":"stats","title":"Golden Visa at a Glance","subtitle":"2026 Framework","stats":[{"value":"2M","suffix":"","label":"Minimum Investment (AED)","source":"UAE ICP"},{"value":"10","suffix":"yrs","label":"Residency Duration","source":"UAE ICP"},{"value":"3-6","suffix":"wks","label":"Processing Time","source":"UAE ICP"},{"value":"100","suffix":"%","label":"Foreign Ownership Allowed","source":"UAE Law"},{"value":"0","suffix":"%","label":"Property Tax","source":"UAE Tax"},{"value":"∞","suffix":"","label":"Renewals Permitted","source":"UAE ICP"}]}}}
<h3>Which Properties Qualify</h3>
<p>Not all AED 2M+ properties are eligible. The UAE government maintains a <strong>whitelist of approved developers</strong> whose projects qualify for Golden Visa purposes. The list includes:</p>
<p>- <strong>Emaar Properties</strong> (Dubai)</p>
<p>- <strong>Nakheel</strong> (Dubai)</p>
<p>- <strong>Meraas</strong> (Dubai)</p>
<p>- <strong>Aldar</strong> (Abu Dhabi)</p>
<p>- <strong>RAK Properties</strong> (Ras Al Khaimah)</p>
<p>- <strong>Miral</strong> (Abu Dhabi)</p>
<strong>Excluded developers</strong> include DAMAC, Azizi, Sobha, and Samana—projects by these developers do not qualify for Golden Visa, regardless of purchase price, due to delivery track record or regulatory compliance issues.