New Dubai: how it’s now easier to get a long-term visa and stay in the emirate
Dubai continues to strengthen its position as one of the most attractive places to live and work. In 2025–2026, the emirate introduced several important visa changes that simplify relocation, extending your stay, and obtaining residency.
Here are the most important updates you should know:
1. Property owner visa requirements eased (2 years)
The most notable change is the removal of the minimum threshold of AED 750,000 for sole property owners. Now, to obtain a two-year visa, it’s enough to be the sole owner of any property in Dubai — there is no longer a minimum value requirement.
For joint ownership, the minimum share per investor has been reduced to AED 400,000. This significantly expands access to residency through real estate.
2. Golden Visa now includes consular protection abroad
Holders of the 10-year Golden Visa now have access to UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular services abroad — previously, such support was only available to UAE citizens. The service was launched in 2025 and has been described as “unprecedented.”
3. New Golden Visa categories
In 2025–2026, the list of eligible Golden Visa recipients has expanded to include:
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Waqf (Islamic endowment) donors
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Influencers and gaming industry professionals
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Teachers and nurses (in recognition of international awareness days)
4. New visa categories for specialists
In September 2025, four new short-term visa categories were introduced for:
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Artificial intelligence specialists
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Entertainment and events industry professionals
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Cruise ship personnel
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Leisure yacht crews
Changes were also made to humanitarian visas, visas for residents’ friends, and truck drivers.
5. Launch of the 10-year Blue Visa
In 2025, the Blue Visa was officially introduced — a 10-year residency visa for individuals who have made a significant contribution to environmental protection. Eligible applicants include:
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Activists and researchers
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Winners of international environmental awards
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Representatives of companies and organizations supporting sustainability
6. Unified GCC tourist visa in development
A new “GCC Grand Tours” visa will soon be launched — a unified tourist visa covering all six Gulf countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman). It will function similarly to a Schengen visa for the region.
7. Salama AI platform for visa renewals
A new smart platform called Salama, launched by GDRFA, allows users to renew visas online in just minutes. The platform also assists with sponsorship cancellations and answers user inquiries.
8. Visa renewal now linked to unpaid fines
When renewing a residency visa, the system automatically checks for unpaid Dubai Police fines. Outstanding fines do not block renewal, but the system will prompt payment — either immediately or in interest-free installments. The same rule applies when canceling residency.
Want to obtain a residency visa through real estate in Dubai?
The Stay Property team is ready to assist at every stage — from selecting properties that meet the new visa requirements to full transaction support. A Stay Property manager is available via online chat on the website — simply leave your contact details in a message.