Buying Guide · Abu Dhabi
Buying Property for the Golden Visa in Abu Dhabi
The threshold, how it is measured, and the mistakes that cost buyers the visa.
The Golden Visa is the reason many overseas buyers look at Abu Dhabi property, and it is also the source of the most avoidable mistakes. Buyers assume a project qualifies because it is luxurious, or that the headline price is what counts. The rules are simpler than that, and stricter.
Projects
Off-Plan · BrandedJumeirah Residences Al Maryah Island
Al Maryah Island · Emirates Developments
Price on request
1 to 5 BR · Apartments, penthouses
View project →
Off-Plan · BrandedW Residences Al Maryah Island
Al Maryah Island · Taraf
Price on request
1 to 4 BR · Apartments
View project →Nobu Residences
Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island · Aldar Properties
Price on request
1 to 3 BR · Apartments, penthouses
View project →
Off-Plan · BrandedMandarin Oriental Residences
Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island · Aldar Properties
Price on request
1 to 4 BR · Apartments, penthouses
View project →
Off-PlanReem Hills
Reem Hills, Al Reem Island · Modon
From AED 1.5 million (one bedroom apartment)
1 BR · Villas, townhouses, apartments
View project →The rule
A property purchase of AED 2,000,000 or more qualifies the buyer and immediate family for the 10-year UAE Golden Visa. The threshold is measured on the property, so a home priced just under it does not qualify, however good the project. The authorities can change how the rule is applied, so confirm it at the time you buy.
Where qualifying homes are common
Branded and larger-format projects sit at higher price points: Jumeirah Residences, W Residences, Nobu Residences, Mandarin Oriental Residences and Four Seasons Private Residences. On Al Reem Island, Modon states that properties of AED 2 million or more at Reem Hills qualify. Smaller units elsewhere may fall below the threshold.
Off-plan and ready
Both can qualify, but off-plan property brings extra questions about how much of the price must be paid and how the authority treats a home that is not yet finished. Ask your advisor for the current position, and do not rely on a brochure.
Mistakes to avoid
Assuming a project qualifies from its brand, counting fees or furniture toward the AED 2,000,000, buying a unit priced slightly under the threshold and expecting a discount to help, and forgetting that a mortgaged property may be treated differently. Ask for the exact price in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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