One of the biggest demand levers of 2026 is a rule change most buyers still haven’t fully registered. Dubai has rewritten the property-to-residency rulebook — and it’s squarely in favour of off-plan buyers.
What changed
In February 2026, the 50% equity requirement was removed for the 10-year Golden Visa property route. Previously you effectively needed to have paid down half the value; now mortgaged and off-plan units qualify from the moment they’re registered with the DLD, regardless of how much you’ve paid. The AED 2 million threshold can also be aggregated across multiple properties. Separately, in April 2026 the two-year investor visa dropped its AED 750,000 minimum for sole owners.
Why this is huge for off-plan
It means you can buy an off-plan property on a payment plan today — putting down a fraction of the value — and secure 10-year UAE residency for yourself and your family at registration, rather than waiting years to pay it down. Residency is now attached to a far larger, and far more accessible, slice of the market.
Thinking about which off-plan purchase qualifies you for the Golden Visa? Talk to our team — we’ll walk you through the current requirements. (Always confirm the latest specifics with ICP/GDRFA before you commit.)
Sources: DLD and UAE government updates via market advisers, 2026. Presented by OffPlans.com.
