Huge Dubai visa update increases demand for property as major rule gets scrapped
The move is being hailed by industry analysts as a strategic demand-side intervention.
Dubai has seen an increase in real estate enquiries after the emirate removed the Dh750,000 threshold for sole property owners, massively lowering the barrier to entry for international investors and residents.
“We have seen a gradual increase in enquiries for properties below AED 750,000, particularly from overseas buyers seeking residency through property ownership and residents purchasing their first home,” said Farooq Syed, CEO of Springfield Properties.
In a major policy shift aimed at moving the real estate market forward and further increasing the emirate’s appeal to global investors, Dubai has officially removed the minimum property value requirement for its two-year investor residency visa.
Previously, applicants seeking a two-year residency permit tied to property ownership were required to hold real estate valued at a minimum of AED 750,000.
However, under the updated regulations, implemented by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) through its Cube platform, sole owners of a completed freehold property can now apply for the visa regardless of the property’s market value.
If you buy a property with a partner, friend or business partner, each person’s share must be worth at least AED 400,000.
Eliminating the AED 750,000 floor
By eliminating the AED 750,000 floor, the government has opened the pathway to buyers of smaller residential units, including studios and apartments in emerging communities that were previously excluded.
Syed said studios continue to attract the strongest demand, as they offer the widest choice within this price segment.
Syed said there has been sustained demand across affordable communities including Dubailand, Marjan, Dubai Production City and International City, where buyers continue to find well priced homes that come with lifestyle amenities and strong long-term value.
Rohit Bachani, co-founder of Merlin Real Estate, echoed the trend, saying interest has increased for studios and one-bedroom units in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), Jumeirah Village Triangle (JVT), Dubai South, Arjan, Dubai Silicon Oasis, International City, Dubailand, and Nshama Townsquare.
Bachani said: “These units were effectively visa-invisible before; now every completed, fully-owned unit qualifies.”
International investors
He said the pickup is being driven by first-time and overseas buyers from India, the UK and Southeast Asia looking for “a soft-landing residency footprint” before committing to the higher-value Golden Visa.
Bachani added: “I’d be honest that this is a demand and sentiment catalyst more than a price event: the broader market is still cooling, so this supports volume and absorption at the lower rungs rather than igniting speculation. That’s a healthy outcome.”
Both said the removal of the AED 750,000 threshold for sole property owners under the two-year property investor visa increases access to Dubai’s property market.
Properties below AED 750,000 accounted for roughly a quarter of all ready-home transactions in the first quarter of 2026.
Syed added: “By removing the minimum investment threshold for sole property owners, buyers now have greater flexibility to choose a property that aligns with their budget and long-term objectives rather than structuring their purchase around a visa requirement.”
Bachani described the impact so far as being “primarily about confidence and access rather than an overnight price spike.”
