Hudayriyat Island Golden Visa: What Actually Qualifies

Almost every listing for a Hudayriyat Island home mentions the UAE Golden Visa, usually as a single line: buy a property worth AED 2 million or more and you qualify. That line is close to true, but it leaves out the details that decide whether your purchase qualifies, and when. In Abu Dhabi those details are about how much you have actually paid, and how much of the property you own outright.

Here is how the rules work, and what they mean on the island's real payment plans.

Important: Golden Visa rules are subject to change and are updated regularly. Always check the current requirements with the Abu Dhabi Residents Office or on the TAMM platform before relying on them.

The Golden Visa in brief

The Abu Dhabi Golden Visa for real estate investors is a 10-year residence visa. According to Abu Dhabi's Department of Economic Development, it also covers the investor's spouse and children. You don't need to live in the UAE to buy the property, and the visa is renewable as long as you continue to meet the criteria.

The core rule: AED 2 million, outside a mortgage

Abu Dhabi's published criteria require real estate with a minimum total value of AED 2,000,000 outside a mortgage. Two points follow from that wording:

• You can combine properties. The criteria refer to real estate with a minimum total value, so more than one property can count towards the threshold.
• What counts is your equity, not the price. Mortgages through national banks are permitted, but your own capital must be at least AED 2 million. Abu Dhabi's own example: on a property worth AED 5 million, the outstanding mortgage cannot exceed AED 3 million.

Off-plan property: AED 2 million paid

This is where most guides go wrong. For off-plan property, Abu Dhabi asks for two things: a purchase agreement from an approved developer, and evidence that no less than AED 2,000,000 in payments has been made to the developer to date.

In other words, signing for an off-plan villa worth AED 8 million does not qualify you on day one. What matters is how much you have paid, and on most Hudayriyat Island payment plans the bulk of the price falls due at handover.

You may read that the rules changed in 2026 so that off-plan and mortgaged properties now qualify on their value alone. Much of that coverage concerns Dubai. At the time of writing, Abu Dhabi's published criteria still set out the paid-amount and equity tests above. Rules differ between emirates and change over time, so check the current rules for the emirate where you're buying.

What this means on Hudayriyat Island's payment plans

Modon is an approved developer, and every residential community on the island is priced above AED 2 million, so the island's homes can qualify. When they qualify depends on the payment plan. Three examples, using published launch prices:

Nawayef Park Views: one-bedroom apartment from around AED 2.1 million

The total value clears the threshold, but on the off-plan test you would need to have paid AED 2 million to Modon, which is almost the full price. In practice, most buyers at this price point qualify once the home is handed over and paid for, rather than during construction. A mortgage at handover would take your equity below AED 2 million.

Hudayriyat Golf Estates: three-bedroom townhome from around AED 4.2 million

On the 40/60 plan, 40% is paid before handover, which is about AED 1.68 million. That falls short of the AED 2 million paid during construction. At handover, paying the balance in cash takes you well over the threshold. Financing the full 60% would leave your equity at around AED 1.68 million, still under AED 2 million, so you would need to pay more of the balance yourself.

Wadeem Gardens: four-bedroom villa from AED 8.7 million

On the 25/75 plan, the buyer pays 25% (about AED 2.175 million) in five instalments, and ADIB finances up to 75%. Your own payments pass AED 2 million only with the final buyer instalment in October 2030, and at handover your equity of around AED 2.175 million sits just above the threshold. On the larger villas, with the same 25% share, the margin is wider.

These are illustrations based on published starting prices and payment plans, not advice on any specific unit. Always check your personal SPA and payment schedule, as your own terms may differ. Eligibility is decided by the authorities at the time you apply.

How to apply

UAE residents apply for a Golden Visa nomination through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office on the TAMM platform. Non-residents are directed to contact the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to start the nomination. You will need the registered purchase agreement or title deed, proof of payments (for off-plan) or a bank statement confirming your equity (for mortgaged property), and the standard identity and medical requirements. The documents required can change, so confirm the current list when you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Does buying on Hudayriyat Island qualify me for a Golden Visa?

It can. Under the current rules, the property must be worth at least AED 2 million, with at least AED 2 million of your own equity. For off-plan homes, at least AED 2 million must have been paid to the developer.

Can I get a Golden Visa on an off-plan property in Abu Dhabi?

Yes, once you have paid at least AED 2 million to an approved developer. Before then, the off-plan property alone won't qualify.

Can I combine two properties?

Yes. Abu Dhabi's criteria refer to a minimum total value of AED 2 million, which can be met across more than one property.

Does the Golden Visa cover my family?

Yes. According to Abu Dhabi's published guidance, the real estate investor Golden Visa also covers spouses and children.

Do the Golden Visa rules change?

Yes, regularly. The criteria in this article reflect the published rules at the time of writing. Check the current requirements with the Abu Dhabi Residents Office or on TAMM before you make a decision based on them.

Sources

Eligibility criteria and requirements are taken from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development's Golden Visa page for real estate investors, as published at the time of writing. Prices and payment plans are Modon's published launch figures and may change. For the financing structure, read how the up-to-75% off-plan financing works.

Talk to a Hudayriyat Island specialist

I'm Jasper Roode, a RERA-licensed broker focused on Hudayriyat Island. If the Golden Visa is part of your plan, I can help you choose a unit and payment structure that gets you there, and show you when you'd qualify.

Book a Call