The UAE Golden Visa through Abu Dhabi property
What the AED 2 million property route actually requires, how it works on an off-plan purchase, and who you can bring with you.
Buying a UAE property with a value of AED 2 million or more can qualify the owner for a 10 year renewable Golden Visa. The property must be registered in your name and the value confirmed by the emirate's land department valuation. Off-plan purchases can qualify where the required value has been paid to a developer with an approved escrow arrangement. The visa covers the holder's spouse and children, and it is a residency permit, not citizenship.
- Threshold
- AED 2,000,000 property value
- Validity
- 10 years, renewable
- Family
- Spouse and children included
- Mortgage
- Allowed, subject to bank and authority conditions
What qualifies
The route is value-based, not developer-based. A single property, or in some cases a combination of properties, reaching AED 2 million in registered value is the test. The valuation used is the one recognised by the land department, not the marketing price.
- Property must be registered in the applicant's own name.
- Off-plan is accepted where the qualifying amount is paid and held in escrow.
- Mortgaged property can qualify subject to the lender and authority conditions.
- Joint ownership between spouses is commonly accepted where each share meets the rules in force.
Which Modon homes clear the threshold
Most of the Abu Dhabi catalogue sits at or above AED 2 million. Apartments at Nawayef Park Views start from about AED 2 million and Bashayer from about AED 2.1 million, so they clear it at entry level. Villas at Nawayef Village and Reem Hills start around AED 4.1 million, and mansions at Nawayef East from about AED 6.6 million. Tara Park and Muheira start below the threshold, so a larger unit is needed there.
What the visa does and does not do
The Golden Visa gives long-term residency without a local employer sponsor, the right to sponsor family and domestic staff, and the ability to stay outside the UAE for extended periods without the visa lapsing. It is not citizenship, it does not remove tax obligations in your home country, and it lapses if the qualifying property is sold and not replaced.
The process in practice
Once the property is registered, the title deed and valuation are submitted with your passport, photo, medical test and Emirates ID application. Most applicants use a processing agent; the developer or broker usually coordinates the property-side paperwork.
Common questions
- Can I get a Golden Visa on an off-plan property in Abu Dhabi?
- Yes, where the qualifying value has been paid to the developer and the funds sit in an approved escrow account. The exact evidence required is confirmed at application; a completed, registered property is the simplest route.
- Does the AED 2 million have to be one property?
- A single property meeting the value is the cleanest case. Combining properties to reach the threshold is accepted in some circumstances, so confirm the current rule before buying with that plan.
- Do I have to live in the UAE to keep the visa?
- No. Unlike a standard residence visa, the Golden Visa does not lapse because of extended time spent outside the UAE.
- Does a Golden Visa mean I pay UAE tax?
- The UAE levies no personal income tax and no property tax on residential ownership. Your home country may still tax worldwide income or gains, so take local advice.