Buying property gives the right to a residence permit in all four countries, but the entry threshold varies several times over. In Qatar it is QAR 730,000 (about $200,000), in Bahrain BHD 130,000 (about $345,000), and in Saudi Arabia SAR 4 million (about $1.07m). In Oman, an owner's residence permit has no minimum property value, while the Golden Residency requires OMR 200,000 (about $520,000). In every country, the residence permit rests on ownership of the property and depends on its value at the time of purchase. This article compares the conditions, terms and restrictions, and explains what happens to the residence permit when the property is sold.
The rules for buying the property are set out in the article on can a foreigner buy property in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, and taxes and fees in the article on what taxes and fees does a foreigner pay when buying and owning property in the Gulf States. The general procedure for obtaining a residence permit in each country is covered separately: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
Content
Comparing the programmes
Thresholds are shown in local currency and in dollars. The currencies of all four countries are pegged to the dollar, so the conversion does not shift from month to month.
| Country | Programme | Threshold | What the owner gets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Premium Residency, "real estate owner" category | SAR 4 million (about $1.07m), residential property in designated areas | A status tied to ownership of the property |
| Qatar | Residence permit for property owners | QAR 730,000 (about $200,000) | A residence permit without a sponsor, with a stay of at least 90 days a year |
| Qatar | Permanent residence | QAR 3,650,000 (about $1m) | Benefits in healthcare, education and investment |
| Oman | Property owner residence permit (Owner Visa) | No minimum value | Residence without a sponsor, from 6 months to a year, renewable |
| Oman | Golden Residency | OMR 200,000 (about $520,000) | 10 years, renewable, family included |
| Bahrain | Golden Residency, "property owner" category | BHD 130,000 (about $345,000) | 10 years, renewable, family included |
Saudi Arabia
The residence permit for property owners is part of the Premium Residency programme. The "real estate owner" category requires a certified value of at least SAR 4 million in residential property in designated areas. The status is tied to ownership of the property or to certain rights over it.
Consultants name two further conditions that are worth checking on the programme's official portal before buying:
- the property is completed and not mortgaged;
- the value is confirmed by an accredited valuer.
Buying a property for this amount does not in itself give a residence permit: the application is reviewed by the Premium Residency Centre. Open sources do not say whether the threshold is counted for a single property or for several together, or what term applies to the category. These points should be established with the centre before the contract is signed.
The law on property ownership by foreigners, which came into force on 22 January 2026, widened the choice of properties. The zones where a foreigner may buy are described in the article on can a foreigner buy property in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
Qatar
In Qatar the threshold depends on the result the owner wants. The real estate regulator (Aqarat) distinguishes two classes of ownership.
| Class | Minimum value | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| Second | QAR 730,000 (about $200,000) | A residence permit tied to the property |
| First | QAR 3,650,000 (about $1m) | Permanent residence with benefits in healthcare, education and investment |
According to the Ministry of Justice, a residence permit is issued without a sponsor to the buyer of a property worth QAR 730,000 or more. The condition is a stay in the country of at least 90 days a year. For permanent residence, consultants cite additional criteria and a limited number of approvals a year, so a value of QAR 3,650,000 does not guarantee the result.
The property must be in a zone where foreigners are allowed to own property. These zones are described in the article on can a foreigner buy property in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
Oman
Oman has two routes, and they differ by threshold.
Property owner residence permit (Owner Visa). It was introduced by Royal Oman Police Decision No. 87/2026, which came into force on 22 June 2026. The residence permit is issued without a sponsor to the owner of a property on the basis of a certificate from the competent authority. Open sources give no minimum property value.
Conditions according to consultants and the local press:
- the term is from 6 months to one year, with the option to renew;
- each entry gives the right to stay for up to three months;
- the residence permit extends to the spouse and first-degree relatives;
- if ownership passes to another person, the owner's residence permit and those of family members end.
Golden Residency. The programme was launched on 1 September 2025. According to Invest Oman, the minimum amount is OMR 200,000 (about $520,000), the property must be completed and located in an integrated tourism complex (ITC), and it needs a valid title deed. The term is 10 years, renewable, and the family is included. Some reviews give different amounts and terms, so the conditions should be confirmed with Invest Oman before paying.
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Bahrain
The Golden Residency for property owners in Bahrain is available for property worth BHD 130,000 or more (about $345,000). The Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs authority (NPRA) cut the threshold from BHD 200,000 in late 2025.
How the threshold is counted, according to the programme's official page:
- the value at the time of purchase is taken into account;
- the threshold can be met with one property or several, provided the combined value of the applicant's shares reaches BHD 130,000.
Additional conditions cited by consultants: the property is in a freehold zone, and ownership is confirmed by a document from the Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB). The zones are described in the article on can a foreigner buy property in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
State fees, according to consultants, total BHD 305 (about $810): BHD 5 for submitting the application and BHD 300 for issuing the permit. A medical examination, insurance and a resident card are paid for separately. The programme sets no minimum period of stay in the country.
Sources differ on the term: some describe the residence permit as 10-year, others as indefinite with a fee every 10 years. Which version applies should be confirmed with the NPRA.
What happens to the residence permit when the property is sold
In all four countries, the residence permit rests on ownership of the property. If the property is sold, the status changes:
| Country | What happens on sale |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | The status is tied to ownership, so the basis falls away after the sale |
| Qatar | The residence permit is tied to the property |
| Oman | The owner's residence permit, and those of family members, end when ownership is transferred |
| Bahrain | The property must remain owned and meet the threshold |
If you plan to sell the property, find out in advance how to keep the right to reside: buy another qualifying property, or switch to another type of residence permit, for example through work.
How to prepare your application
The general procedure for all countries:
- Choose the country and programme by threshold and term.
- Check that the property is in a zone where foreigners are allowed to own, and that ownership will be registered rather than a lease.
- Find out how the value is counted: by the contract, by the title deed or by a valuation.
- Confirm the conditions with an official source: the Premium Residency Centre; Aqarat and the Ministry of Justice in Qatar; Invest Oman and the Royal Oman Police; the NPRA.
- Gather the documents: passport, title deed, family members' documents, photographs. The exact list depends on the country and programme.
- Budget in advance for fees, the medical examination and insurance.
"The threshold is counted by the value at the time of purchase, and what matters is the price stated in the title deed. If you are a few thousand short of the threshold, it is better to reconsider the property before the deal: once it is registered, correcting the value will be harder," says an immigration consultant from Manama.
Choosing property in the Gulf States
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$ 226 268
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$ 305 785
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$ 158 648
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$ 470 000
Who the programmes are not for
- Those who are not ready to invest from $200,000 in Qatar or $345,000 in Bahrain. In the Gulf states, a residence permit can also be obtained on other grounds: work, business, retirement.
- Those who buy with bank money. For Saudi Arabia, consultants name the absence of a mortgage on the property as a condition.
- Those who will not be able to live in Qatar for at least 90 days a year. This is a condition of the owner's residence permit.
- Those who need the right to work. In Oman, according to consultants, the owner's residence permit does not replace a work permit.
- Those who count on citizenship. The residence permits in the programmes covered here do not give citizenship.
What has changed in the conditions since 2025
- On 1 September 2025, Oman launched the Golden Residency. One route is completed property in an ITC worth OMR 200,000 or more.
- In late 2025, Bahrain cut the Golden Residency threshold for property owners from BHD 200,000 to BHD 130,000, a reduction of 35%.
- On 22 January 2026, Saudi Arabia's law on property ownership by foreigners came into force. Foreigners gained the right to buy property in designated zones.
- On 22 June 2026, Decision No. 87/2026 came into force in Oman. It introduced a sponsor-free residence permit for property owners.
Frequently asked questions
Find a property for relocation
Once you have chosen a country, browse the listings in the Middle-East.Realestate catalogue. Before buying, compare the property's value with the programme's threshold and make sure it is in a zone where foreigners are allowed to own property.
