The update, issued by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) through its Cube platform, replaces the earlier Dh750,000 threshold for individual buyers with a more flexible ownership-based approach.
No minimum for sole ownership
Under the new rules, applicants who fully own a property can qualify for the two-year investor visa regardless of the asset’s value, provided ownership is clearly registered.
“If you are the sole owner of a property in Dubai, you can apply for the 2-year residence visa with no minimum property value requirement,” the DLD Cube website updated.
The shift opens the scheme to lower-budget investors and smaller property purchases that previously fell below the minimum requirement.
New joint ownership threshold
For jointly owned properties, authorities have set a Dh400,000 minimum stake per investor. The rule applies even in equal ownership splits, effectively requiring each partner’s share to meet the threshold independently.
“If the property is jointly owned, each owner must hold a minimum share of Dh400,000 to be eligible,” the DLD Cube website further detailed.
The change is expected to influence how investors structure joint property purchases, particularly where multiple buyers combine funds to meet residency criteria.
By setting a Dh400,000 minimum share per investor for jointly owned properties, each applicant must hold a stake above that level to qualify. Without such a floor, investors could divide ownership into smaller portions to meet residency requirements at lower individual cost. The threshold prevents that, ensuring each applicant maintains a minimum level of investment exposure.
Justin is a personal finance author and seasoned business journalist with over a decade of experience. He makes it his mission to break down complex financial topics and make them clear, relatable, and relevant—helping everyday readers navigate today’s economy with confidence.
Before returning to his Middle Eastern roots, where he was born and raised, Justin worked as a Business Correspondent at Reuters, reporting on equities and economic trends across both the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions.