🏙️ Dubai has recorded strong demand for family residence permits under its long-term residency programme. According to Dubai Residency, from 2021 to the first quarter of 2026, 374,679 permits were issued to family members of long-term residence holders. This is not the number of main applicants, but specifically the number of permits issued to family members, so the news is more accurately interpreted as a sign of growing family relocation to Dubai.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The published statistics highlight several major categories of family permits. The largest number was issued to families of specialised talents. The second-largest category was families of real estate investors, directly linking demand for long-term residency with Dubai’s housing market.

📊 The published data is structured as follows:

— families of specialised talents: 167,124 permits;
— families of real estate investors: 100,286 permits;
— families of scientists and specialists: 70,247 permits;
— families of investors: 37,022 permits;
— families of retirees: 3,259 permits.

🏡 For the real estate market, the key figure is 100,286 family permits linked to property investors. This suggests that buying property in Dubai is increasingly viewed not only as a transaction for rental income or resale, but also as part of a long-term strategy for living in the UAE. The more family applications are processed through residency programmes, the more important well-developed residential districts become.

💼 It is also important not to confuse the conditions of different visas linked to property ownership. For the 2-year property owner residence visa issued through Dubai Land Department, there is currently no minimum property value threshold for individual ownership: the owner may apply regardless of the property value. In the case of joint ownership, a different rule applies: each co-owner’s share must be at least AED 400,000.

🏘️ This distinction broadens the market. On the one hand, Dubai remains attractive to high-net-worth buyers focused on long-term residency and family relocation. On the other hand, the removal of the minimum threshold for the 2-year residence visa under individual ownership opens a residency route to a wider group of buyers, including those considering studios, compact apartments and more affordable housing segments.

📈 How strong demand for family residence permits affects the real estate market:

— it strengthens demand for apartments, townhouses and villas suitable for family living;
— it increases interest in districts with international schools, healthcare facilities and developed everyday infrastructure;
— it makes the possibility of obtaining residency an additional factor when choosing a property;
— it supports demand not only in the premium segment, but also in more accessible housing categories.

🔎 For property buyers, this changes the approach to choosing an asset. It is important to understand in advance which status is needed: a 2-year residence visa through property ownership or a long-term Golden Visa under a separate category. On Realting, buyers can explore current properties in Dubai, compare districts and select options suitable not only for investment, but also for family living, relocation and obtaining residency status in the UAE.