The property routes to a ten-year residency, and their real thresholds

The threshold is equity, not price

The property route to a ten-year residency turns on AED 2 million of value in your name, and the word that matters is equity. A property bought for that figure with half of it still owed to a bank does not clear the threshold on its own — what counts is the registered value less the outstanding finance.

Off-plan and mortgaged cases

Off-plan purchases can qualify where the developer is approved and the payments made to date meet the threshold, evidenced by the developer's own statement rather than the sale price alone. Mortgaged properties can qualify with a no-objection letter from the bank confirming the outstanding balance.

Multiple properties can be combined to reach the figure, which is the route most investors actually take. They must all be registered to the same applicant.

The paperwork the application turns on

Title deed, valuation certificate from the land department, passport, Emirates ID where you hold one, and a medical and insurance step at the end. The valuation is the piece applications most often stall on, because it is issued by the department rather than by your agent and it has its own queue.

Budget several weeks rather than several days, and start the valuation first.