How to read this guide. Points from the UAE government portal and Dubai Land Department are noted with their source. Anything I could only confirm from property portals or agent articles is marked Confirm. This guide explains how buying works. It does not predict prices, rents or returns.
A small Confirm tag means I could not verify that point on an official page yet. Please check it with the authority before relying on it.
In one minute
- Foreigners can buy property in Dubai, but only in designated freehold areas, or hold long leases elsewhere.
- The price on the listing is not the total cost. Government fees, agency fees, mortgage charges and yearly service charges all apply.
- Off-plan and ready properties follow different steps and carry different risks.
- Before you pay anything, check that the seller, the developer and the broker are properly registered.
Who can buy, and where
Source: UAE government portal, "Expatriates buying a property in the UAE", read 21 October 2026 (page dated 28 September 2026). - Foreigners may buy in designated freehold areas and acquire ownership "not limited by time". They may also hold usufruct or lease rights of up to 99 years in areas set by the Dubai Land Department. - The areas are defined under Dubai Legislation No. 3 of 2006. - The portal says no minimum age is required to own property in Dubai. - The Dubai Land Department issues title deeds. The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) oversees the sector, and the portal links to a directory of licensed brokers. - Freehold areas are many and change over time. Before you fall in love with a project, confirm it is inside a freehold area with the Dubai Land Department.
The steps, in plain order
The sequence below is how most purchases run. It comes from portal and agent guides, so confirm each step for your own deal Confirm. 1. Decide your goal. Live in it, rent it out, or both? That changes what you should look for. 2. Set your full budget, including the costs below, not only the price. 3. Shortlist and visit (or have someone you trust visit) the properties. 4. Check the property, the seller and the broker (see the checklist below). 5. Agree the price and sign the sale agreement, with a deposit. A deposit of about 10% is commonly mentioned Confirm. 6. For a ready resale property: the seller obtains the developer's no-objection certificate, and the transfer is completed at a Dubai Land Department registration centre, where fees are paid and the title deed is issued Confirm. 7. For off-plan: you buy from a developer under a payment plan. The sale is registered, and your payments should be protected under the rules for project accounts Confirm. You receive the property at handover, after which you inspect it for defects.
What buying really costs
Source for the figures below: Dubai property portals and broker articles. Confirm each against the official Dubai Land Department fee schedule Confirm. | Cost | Typical figure | |---|---| | Dubai Land Department transfer fee | Around 4% of the price, usually paid by the buyer in practice | | Registration and trustee fees | Vary by price band and source | | Agency commission | Commonly around 2%, with some sources giving 2% to 5% | | Mortgage registration (if financed) | Around 0.25% of the loan, plus a fixed admin charge | | Bank valuation (if financed) | Roughly AED 2,500 to 3,500 | | Off-plan registration | Figures differ between sources | | Service charges | Every year you own, varies widely by building and community | Overall: budget well above the sticker price. One source suggests 7% to 10% extra for transaction costs. That is a guide, not a rule, so ask for a written total before you commit.
Off-plan or ready: how to choose
| Ready property | Off-plan | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A finished home you can inspect, live in or let now | A property that is still being built |
| Payments | Usually most of the price at purchase | Often a payment plan over the build period |
| Main risks | Condition, hidden service-charge issues, resale value | Delay, changes to plans, developer capacity |
| Good questions | Why is the seller selling? What are the service charges? | What is the developer's delivery record? Where are my payments held? |
| Neither is "better". It depends on your timeline, budget and appetite for risk. |
Can I buy from abroad?
Yes. Many buyers purchase remotely. It needs the right documents, a clear process, and someone trustworthy on the ground to coordinate viewings and paperwork. A power of attorney is sometimes used Confirm. Mortgages for non-residents are possible but terms differ, so ask a bank early Confirm.
Does buying give me a visa?
A property worth at least AED 2 million can open the Golden Visa route, but the details depend on how the value is counted and on mortgage and off-plan rules. Read the Golden Visa guide before you choose a property for that reason.
Before you buy: ten checks
Tick them off as you go. Your ticks stay on this device only.
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying a deposit before checking who you are paying.
- Comparing prices without comparing service charges.
- Choosing an area from photos and hype rather than a visit or a trusted viewing.
- Buying for a visa or a yield promise rather than because the property fits your life.
- Rushing because someone says "only a few left".
Sources
- UAE government portal: Expatriates buying a property in the UAE
- Dubai Land Department: Golden Visa Application (Investor)
- Property Finder: DLD fees in Dubai (portal summary, not the official schedule)
- Gulf News: Dubai property market closes 2025 with record sales
Thinking about buying in Dubai?
I will help you shortlist what fits your goals, verify the seller, the developer and the broker, lay out every cost in writing, and support you from the first viewing to the keys.
- A shortlist built around your budget, your timeline and your family, not around what is trending.
- Every cost laid out in writing before you commit, including the ones people forget.
- Checks on the developer, the title, the payment plan and the paperwork.
- One point of contact from your first question to the keys, and after.
I reply to every message within 24 hours. No pressure and no obligation. I will tell you plainly if something is not right for you. Before we start, I tell you in writing how I am paid.