Golden Visa: the upfront-payment requirement is gone

A February 2026 policy circular from the Dubai Land Department and GDRFA removed the requirement to have paid AED 1 million (or 50% of a property's value) upfront in order to qualify for the 10-year Golden Visa through property.

Qualification is now based on the property's total DLD-certified value — AED 2 million and above — rather than equity already paid in. That's a meaningful shift for how investors structure a purchase around visa eligibility.

In practice, it means off-plan units, mortgaged properties, and combined title deeds can now qualify for the Golden Visa, provided the total value clears the AED 2 million threshold. Where financing is involved, a bank No Objection Certificate is required alongside the DLD valuation.

For investors who were previously priced out of the Golden Visa route because they didn't want to tie up AED 1 million in cash upfront, this rule change opens the door to qualifying through a smaller initial outlay on a higher-value, financed property.