UAE Golden Visa Leads as GCC Investment Race Heats Up

Post by: Layla Badr

The UAE’s property-linked Golden Visa program, where you invest at least Dh2 million in property to get a long-term visa, is still the top pick — even though other Gulf countries are now offering similar programs.

This program is becoming even more important after last week’s global market shake-up, which was caused by new tariffs announced by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Because of this, many investors around the world are now looking for safe and stable places to put their money.

Right now, investors want to put their money in something that doesn’t go up and down in price too much. They want assets that can stay strong even when the market is unstable. A real estate expert from Dubai said that unlike 2008, people are not buying property just to sell it quickly for profit. Now, serious buyers are making long-term investments. And this Golden Visa program is exactly what many of them are looking for. That’s why, even with competition from other countries, the UAE’s program remains the most attractive.

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“Depending on where you buy, this is one of the best ways to invest Dh2 million,” said a top real estate CEO.

Property Prices Are Stable Now

One more reason the UAE Golden Visa program is popular is because property prices have become more stable. During 2022 to early 2024, property prices — especially for off-plan homes (homes not yet built) — increased a lot. But now, those sharp rises are gone. In fact, prices have slightly dropped in some areas, making it easier for new investors to enter the market.

Ready-To-Move Homes Are in Demand

Experts say that new buyers can really boost the demand for homes that are ready to move in — especially those that cost more than Dh2 million. This is the minimum amount needed to qualify for the UAE’s Golden Visa. Thanks to new rules, buyers don’t even need to pay the full Dh2 million right away. They can still apply for the 10-year residency.

“We are seeing many Golden Visa applicants choosing to invest in homes costing more than Dh2 million,” said Libbie Burtinshaw, Head of Operations at Sovereign PPG, a consultancy firm.

She explained that homes in suburban areas of Dubai — other than small studio or one-bedroom apartments — usually cost more than Dh2 million. So, buying a home and getting a Golden Visa together has become a practical choice for many investors.

According to her, it takes around 7 to 10 working days to process a property-based Golden Visa.

What About Other Gulf Countries?

Other Gulf countries are also launching their own long-term visa programs. For example, Saudi Arabia now allows foreigners to buy property — but the minimum investment needed is SR4 million (about Dh3.9 million).

Experts say Saudi property prices could double in the next 5–7 years, especially in cities like Riyadh and Jeddah. They also expect a big rise in foreign buyers — from just a few percent now to around 50% in the future.

But still, the SR4 million investment is too high for many people — even for rich individuals. Most investors still see Saudi Arabia as just one part of a bigger global property portfolio, not the main place to invest.

Property Taxes Rising in the West

Another reason the Gulf countries are becoming more popular is because many Western countries are raising property taxes. Spain has even stopped its Golden Visa program altogether. On top of that, some countries are thinking about taxing the super-rich.

Because of this, the UAE is getting more and more attention from investors. “In terms of enquiries and visa processing, the UAE is far ahead of other regions,” said Libbie. “It has more options for long-term residency, and more people want to live and work here.”

Other GCC Countries Trying to Catch Up

Almost every country in the Gulf now offers some type of long-term visa. But most of them have higher investment amounts and tougher rules, which makes their programs harder to join compared to the UAE’s.

Libbie said that many of these countries are now trying to improve their programs so they can attract more foreign investors, just like the UAE has successfully done.

Developers Now Eyeing Saudi Arabia

Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, the government and private developers are launching big projects — including famous ones like the Trump Tower. More developers are getting interested in working there.

“We are helping three Russian developers who want to enter the Saudi market,” said Vasily Fetisov, Managing Partner at Housebook, a real estate consultancy.

Two of those companies already have experience working in the UAE and other international markets. The third company is active in places like Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan and now wants to explore Saudi Arabia.

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