October 2026
Why two owners of a AED 2 million home don't both get a Golden Visa, and 4 more surprises
1. Two owners, one threshold each
The threshold applies to each person, not to the property. Dubai's residency department (GDRFA) requires every co-owner's share to be worth at least AED 2 million (about US$545,000). Split a AED 2 million home 50/50 and neither owner qualifies. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) goes further and asks for full ownership in the applicant's name. Many couples handle this by having one partner hold the property and sponsor the other as a spouse.
2. Leave for a year, and it's still yours
Spend more than six months outside the UAE on a normal residence visa and it lapses. The Golden Visa has no such limit. UAE Cabinet regulations from April 2022 removed any cap on how long a holder can stay away, so you can live in New York, Zurich or Tokyo and keep your residence in Dubai.
3. A mortgage counts only for what you've paid off
You can qualify with a property bought on a loan from an approved local bank. What counts is the part already paid, not the price. DLD asks for a bank letter showing at least AED 2 million (about US$545,000) paid. Buy a AED 3 million home with AED 1 million down and you don't qualify until you've paid another AED 1 million (about US$272,000).
4. Your adult children can come too
Holders can sponsor a spouse, parents and children regardless of age, according to the federal residency authority (ICP). DLD asks for confirmation that sons and daughters over 18 are unmarried. Domestic staff can also be sponsored, and the 2022 announcement put no cap on their number.
5. The property is held while the visa is
GDRFA places a lien on the property to keep ownership in place for as long as the residence is valid. No official page we found says what happens to the visa if you sell, so ask DLD before you list.
6. Read the five together
The five rules answer different questions. Co-ownership decides who can apply. Time abroad decides whether you must live in Dubai. The mortgage rule decides when a financed home counts. Sponsorship decides who can come with you. The lien decides what happens to the title while the residence is valid. None of them is a reason to buy. A residence rule can sit beside a purchase. It does not decide one. If two people are buying together, settle whose name is on the title before anyone talks about a visa.
Sources: ICP, DLD, GDRFA Dubai and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, checked 15 October 2026. The term is 10 years on the ICP guide and DLD, but some official pages still show 5. This reflects Moonlanding Group's opinion and is general information only, not legal, financial or immigration advice.
This article reflects Moonlanding Group’s opinion and is for general information only. It is not financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Figures come from the sources named and may change. Consult a qualified professional before making any decision.
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