Dubai has revised the requirements for the two-year investor visa for property owners, making access much easier. The previous minimum investment threshold of AED 750,000 for sole owners has been completely removed, meaning that in principle any owner of a property in Dubai is eligible for the visa, provided the unit is solely owned. In the case of jointly owned properties, each co-owner must now hold a share of at least AED 400,000 in order to be able to apply for their own investor visa.
The basic application process remains unchanged: The prerequisite is proof of ownership of a property in Dubai as well as fulfillment of the usual visa and identification requirements. In certain cases, especially for financed, not yet fully paid or not yet completed properties, additional confirmations from the bank or the developer may be required.
The adjustment to the visa rules came just a few weeks after the first direct attacks on the UAE in the wake of the Iran conflict. Even if no official connection was communicated, the easing can be understood as a signal that Dubai wants to further strengthen its attractiveness for international investors despite the geopolitical uncertainties and attract long-term capital to the location.
From Terra Nova's perspective, this step underlines the UAE's long-term strategy of attracting qualified specialists, entrepreneurs and investors to the location. The combination of attractive tax conditions, a high level of security and an uncomplicated right of residence remains a key locational advantage over many other international real estate markets.