Dubai has scrapped the minimum property value (MPV) requirement of 750,000 dirhams for individual investors seeking a two-year residency visa, according to reports from Business Standard. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) has set a 400,000 Emirati dirham floor price per person for joint buyers, making property investment more accessible to a broader range of investors. As reported by CBRE's Abhinav Joshi, this move is expected to attract first-time international investors, mid-income professionals, and younger Indian buyers who previously felt excluded from the property visa system.
The policy change is expected to increase demand for studios and one-bedroom apartments in mid-market areas of Dubai, with areas like Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), International City, and Arjan likely to see the most traction, according to market watchers cited by Business Standard. According to Ritu Kant Ojha, CEO of Proact Luxury Real Estate, someone previously looking at a 450,000 dirham studio in JVC was excluded from the visa programme, but now that exact property gets them a two-year residency. The move particularly benefits Indian tech and finance professionals who currently rent in Dubai and can now own an appreciating asset.
Indians are among the top foreign buyers in Dubai, making up 22% of residential deals in 2025, as reported by Business Standard. The new scheme is expected to benefit Indian professionals already working in the UAE who have found themselves priced out of the property market. Property ownership remains unaffected by the expiry of the visa, with rental yields of 6 to 9% available to investors. Market experts expect Indian interest in Dubai to remain strong due to its global connectivity, rental yield, tax efficiency, residency options, and dollar-linked diversification.
The policy change comes at a time when the Dubai market has been facing geopolitical jitters due to the West Asia conflict beginning February 28, according to Business Standard. The conflict has dented Dubai's luxury market momentum, with slower bookings and selective buying from high net-worth individuals. While there has been no mass exit from trophy assets such as Palm Jumeirah, there have been discounted resales attributed to liquidity strains. However, Sam Chopra, president and country head at eXp Realty India, expects Dubai to come back in full play over the next 12-to-18 months, with stronger investor confidence and healthy returns becoming visible by early 2027.
To prevent misuse of the system, restrictions remain for joint property owners with floor prices capped at a minimum of 400,000 Emirati dirhams per co-owner, as reported by Business Standard. According to Joshi from CBRE, this may be a deliberate regulatory safeguard against visa-pooling where multiple investors attempt to gain residency through a single low-value asset. Ojha noted that other emirates like Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah will likely have to adjust their real estate visa rules to stay competitive and attract foreign capital following Dubai's lead.
