Ajman, Dubai, RAK residence visa for property owners  

Dubai property owner residence visa

This is the old Dubai residence visa for property owners information, and is no longer valid (left here for reference only). See the new UAE property visa information, effective 01 June 2009.

If you own property in Dubai, Ajman, or Ras Al Khaimah then you are probably entitled to apply for a UAE residency visa, valid for up to 3 years. There are some conditions and restrictions though.

Residency visas were put on hold or suspended in around mid-2008 for most/all Dubai and Ajman property purchases - check with the master developer or the relevant government authority (RERA in Dubai), don't take the word of the real estate agent or property developer as some have been issuing misleading advertisements about the residence visa eligibility. Ras Al Khaimah property purchases may still allow application for a residency visa.

• The residency visa is only available to the first named owner of the property (consider which name to put first if it's a joint purchase).
• The residency visa is not available until after the property is completed and the owner has obtained the title deeds.
• You can only apply for a residency visa under this scheme if you don't have any other way of obtaining a residency visa.
• There will be a charge (about 5000 dhs in January 2008) for the residency visa application. For that, the master developer (Emaar, Nakheel in Dubai for example) makes the application on your behalf. That's not something you have a choice about.
• Owning a property does not guarantee successful application for a UAE residency visa. The immigration department in the relevant emirates decides that, not the property developer.
• The residency visa only entitles you to live in the UAE, not to work - you still need to apply for a UAE labour card or work permit for employment (normally your employer would do this if you had a job).
• Expat residents can still be deported for the normal deportation reasons.
• In mid-2008 there was a report that residence visas in Dubai could be applied for before completion of property but no further information found to confirm that. Treat with skepticism any comments from property agents that indicate you can do this. The Gulf News 06 June 2008 reported that "Bin Mizaina said that the master developer can apply for residency visas as soon as a property is bought and a contract is signed with buyer", referring to Omar Mattar Bin Mizaina, head of employment permits section at DNRD. It's not clear why the Gulf News was asking the employment permits section of the DNRD about residence visas.
• In mid-2008, the whole residence visa with property thing was in a state of flux in Dubai, due mostly to property developers and real estate agents misleading customers by advertising a "guaranteed residence visa" with property purchases, when there was no way they could "guarantee" a visa. Some developers have put applications on hold, and some reports say that authorities are no longer issuing residence visas on this basis. Get information from either the DNRD or the master property developer before committing to a purchase if your decision depends on whether or not you are eligible for a residence visa. Treat whatever a real estate agent or developer says (other than the master developer - and even then be careful) with a pinch of salt.
• Later in 2008, Ajman said they would not be renewing residence visas for property owners upon expiry.
• In early 2009 there were unconfirmed indications that Emaar were still, or had restarted, applying for residence visas for Dubai property owners in Emaar developments. Realistically, it didn't sound like something to count on.
• In February 2009 there were reports that the UAE Federal Government was going to announce a 6 month residence visa for property owners anywhere in the UAE that allowed foreign ownership of real estate.

Foreign or expat property owners in Abu Dhabi are not eligible for a property owner's residence visa except possibly for some developments by Sorouh Real Estate - check directly with Sorouh for details (not a property agent).

Last update Tuesday 02-Jun-2009

Related pages

• DNRD - Dubai immigration department
• New UAE property ownership visa laws - announced 03 May 2009, to be implemented from 01 June 2009
• Visa Dubai - other visa options for Dubai and the UAE
• UAE immigration - different departments for each emirate

Related websites (open in new window)

• Dubai directory - add your link free

www.dubaifaqs.com/visa-residence-property-dubai.php

Abu Dhabi AUH ABD ADB, Ajman AJM, Al Ain AAN, Dubai DXB, Fujairah FUJ, Ras Al Khaimah RAK, Sharjah SHJ, Umm Al Quwain UAQ information

Copyright © www.dubaifaqs.com 2006-2009, Dubai, UAE - United Arab Emirates | Advertise | Link to us | Contact Us | About Us | Disclaimer