Residency by Investment in UAE
Property investors can qualify for UAE Golden Residency by owning real estate worth at least AED 2 million, without needing a work sponsor. For real estate specifically, this currently means a 5-year renewable residency issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP), not the 10-year term used for some other Golden Residency categories.
What Is UAE Golden Residency?
UAE Golden Residency is ICP's long-term residency programme, granting eligible individuals residency for five or ten years, renewable automatically, without a sponsor. It covers several categories: investors, entrepreneurs, outstanding students, specialised talent, and humanitarian pioneers, each with its own duration and requirements.
Golden Residency for Property Investors
ICP groups real estate investors under “Investors in Public Investments or Real Estate,” but the duration differs by type: public investment qualifies for 10 years, real estate investment for 5 years. The minimum qualifying investment for real estate is AED 2 million.
Property Investor Eligibility Requirements
- Minimum capital investment of AED 2 million in real estate
- Ownership can span one or more properties, provided their combined value meets AED 2 million
- The property must be owned without an outstanding loan
- Proof of residence in the UAE, through ownership or a tenancy contract
Documents Required for Property Investors
- A letter from the Land Registration Department confirming ownership of property (or properties) valued at AED 2 million or more, without loans
- Proof of residence in the UAE (property ownership or tenancy contract)
- Standard identity documents requested during the application: passport, Emirates ID, current visa/entry permit
ICP's public guidance doesn't separately address off-plan property. Confirm with ICP and the relevant land department whether an off-plan unit satisfies the ownership requirement at your application stage.
Can Ajman Property Qualify for Golden Residency?
Golden Residency eligibility is a federal ICP matter, not specific to any one emirate; Ajman can support an application if it meets the same AED 2 million ownership requirement as property elsewhere in the UAE. Owning an AED 2 million Ajman property doesn't automatically guarantee approval; the relevant Ajman land authority must still confirm ownership and value as part of ICP's documentation, and you must meet all other eligibility conditions.
How to Apply for UAE Golden Residency
- Confirm eligibility using ICP's official eligibility checker
- Gather the required ownership and residence documents
- Submit your application through ICP's smart services platform
- Provide any additional documents ICP requests during review
- Receive your entry permit and complete residency issuance once approved
Benefits of UAE Golden Residency
- Long-term residency without needing a work sponsor
- Ability to sponsor a spouse and children
- Freedom to live, work, study, and invest in the UAE
- Automatic renewal, provided qualifying conditions continue to be met
Looking for property in Ajman? Ajman Properties can help you explore current properties based on your budget and investment requirements. Confirm Golden Residency eligibility separately with the relevant UAE authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much property must I own to qualify?
You need real estate worth at least AED 2 million, confirmed by a letter from the Land Registration Department. This can be one property or the combined value of multiple properties.
Is the property-investor Golden Residency 5 or 10 years?
Currently 5 years. ICP's Golden Residency guide lists real estate investment at 5 years, distinct from the 10-year term given to public investment of the same AED 2 million.
Can more than one property be used to reach AED 2 million?
Yes. ICP's documentation requirement covers “one or more properties valued at AED 2 million or more,” so combined ownership across multiple properties can qualify.
Can an Ajman property qualify?
Potentially. Golden Residency eligibility is federal, so a qualifying Ajman property is treated the same as one anywhere else in the UAE, provided ownership, value, and all other ICP conditions are confirmed.
Can a mortgaged or off-plan property qualify?
ICP's current documentation requires ownership “without loans,” which suggests mortgaged property may not qualify. ICP doesn't address off-plan property separately in its public guidance, so confirm both scenarios directly with ICP and the relevant land department.
Official Sources
Last updated: September 2026
