Buying Property in Dubai as a Foreigner

In short: Buying property in Dubai as a foreigner is straightforward in the designated freehold areas, where non-UAE nationals can own homes outright. The main cost is the Dubai Land Department (DLD) fee of 4% of the price, plus fixed registration and trustee charges. A property worth at least AED 2 million can support a long-term UAE Golden Visa, and owners pay no annual property tax and no personal income tax on rent.

This guide reflects Dubai legislation and official UAE sources as checked on 12 November 2026.

Where can foreigners own property in Dubai?

Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 on real property registration, ownership in Dubai is generally reserved for UAE and GCC nationals and companies they own. The same law lets the Ruler designate areas where non-UAE nationals may hold freehold title without time limit, or usufruct and leasehold rights of up to 99 years.

Regulation No. 3 of 2006 set out the first designated areas. They include:

Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah;
Emirates Hills, Al Barsha South and Jebel Ali, including Palm Jebel Ali;
The World Islands, Al Jaddaf, Mirdif and plots along Sheikh Zayed Road.

Later resolutions have added further land, so the freehold map today is wider than the 2006 list. Before you reserve, confirm with the DLD or the developer that the specific plot is in a freehold area and how the title will be registered. Properties in designated areas can also be held through companies registered in a Dubai free zone, according to DLD guidance.

Ready or off-plan: two different purchases

Ready (completed) property

You buy an existing home from its owner. The price is agreed, a sale contract is signed, and the transfer takes place at a DLD-registered trustee office, where the title deed is issued in your name once the fees are paid. If the seller has a mortgage, it is settled as part of the transfer.

Off-plan property

You buy from a developer before or during construction and pay in instalments. The sale is registered with the DLD through the Oqood system, and buyers' payments go into an escrow account for the project, which protects funds for construction. The DLD fee of 4% is paid when the sale is registered on Oqood; it is not charged again at handover. Off-plan purchases carry construction and delivery risk, so read the payment plan, the completion date and the developer's track record carefully.

What does it cost: DLD fee, registration, agent and service charges?

Cost	What to expect
DLD transfer fee	4% of the purchase price
Registration and trustee fees	Fixed amounts that depend on the property and price; sources quote different figures, so ask the trustee office for the current schedule
Agent commission	Agreed with your agent; check who pays it before you sign
Mortgage registration	Charged by the DLD if you borrow
Service charges	Annual charges set per building or community for maintenance and shared facilities
Housing fee	5% of annual rental value, billed through DEWA (water and electricity)

Sources differ on whether the DLD fee is split between buyer and seller or paid in full by the buyer, so agree this in the contract. VAT is generally not charged on the sale of residential homes: the first supply of a new home is zero-rated and resales are exempt.

What you do not pay

There is no annual property tax in Dubai.
Individuals pay no personal income tax on rental income and no capital gains tax on a sale.
Individuals who hold property personally, without a commercial licence, are outside the 9% UAE corporate tax.

Your home country may still tax the rent or gain, so check its rules.

Can non-residents get a mortgage?

Yes, from some UAE banks, though on stricter terms than residents. The UAE Central Bank's mortgage regulations cap loan-to-value ratios for expatriate buyers at:

80% for a first home worth less than AED 5 million;
70% for a first home worth more than AED 5 million;
60% for second and subsequent homes.

These are ceilings. Banks set their own criteria for non-residents and will ask for proof of income and bank statements, so get an agreement in principle before you commit to a purchase timeline.

Residency: the property route to the UAE Golden Visa in 2026

The UAE's official government portal lists real-estate investment as a route to the Golden Visa, with a minimum investment of AED 2 million. The visa:

is a long-term residence visa; the portal lists five years for real-estate investors, while DLD-linked and industry sources describe ten-year property visas, so confirm the term that applies to you with the DLD or the immigration authority;
lets you sponsor family members, including your spouse and children;
allows you to stay outside the UAE for longer than the six months that normally invalidates a residence visa.

Since January 2024, property worth AED 2 million has been reported to qualify whether it is completed, off-plan or mortgaged, with a no-objection certificate from the lending bank where there is a mortgage. Check the current conditions before you buy with the visa in mind, especially for joint ownership or off-plan homes.

Dubai has also offered a shorter residence visa for property owners below the Golden Visa threshold. Its conditions have changed over time, so ask the immigration authority what applies when you buy.

Renting out: long-term leases or holiday-home permits?

Long-term leases

Residential tenancy contracts in Dubai must be registered through Ejari, the DLD's tenancy registration system set up under Law No. 26 of 2007. Leases run for at least one year. The landlord undertakes in the standard contract to register it.

Holiday homes

Short-term letting is regulated by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Every apartment or villa must be registered and approved by DET before it is listed, and each unit needs its own holiday-home permit. Individual owners can hold permits for up to eight units; beyond that, a licensed holiday-home operator is required. Building or community rules can also restrict short lets, so check them before buying for this purpose.

What should you check before you sign?

Title and seller: that the seller is the registered owner and whether the home is mortgaged.
Freehold status: that the plot lies in a designated freehold area.
Off-plan projects: that the project is registered with the DLD and your payments go to its escrow account.
Running costs: the building's current service charges and any arrears.
Use: whether building or community rules allow short-term letting, if you plan it.
Finance and visa: that your bank will lend on this property, and that it meets the Golden Visa conditions if residency matters to you.

From offer to title deed, step by step

Choose and check: confirm the property is in a freehold area, and for off-plan homes that the project is registered and has an escrow account.
Offer: agree the price and terms with the seller or developer.
Contract: sign the sale and purchase agreement and pay the deposit agreed in it.
Finance: if borrowing, complete the bank's valuation and final approval.
Clearance: for a resale, the seller usually obtains a no-objection certificate from the developer before the transfer.
Transfer or registration: for a ready home, complete at a DLD trustee office, paying the 4% fee and the balance; for off-plan, the sale is registered on Oqood.
Title deed: the title deed is issued in your name; for off-plan, at handover after completion.
After completion: connect DEWA utilities and, if you qualify, apply for the Golden Visa.

Key takeaways

Foreigners can buy freehold in designated areas under Law No. 7 of 2006 and later resolutions.
The DLD fee is 4% of the price; for off-plan it is paid on Oqood registration, not again at handover.
There is no annual property tax and no personal income tax on rent or gains for individuals.
Expatriate mortgages are capped at 80% of value for a first home under AED 5 million; banks lend less to many non-residents.
Property worth at least AED 2 million can support a long-term Golden Visa.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners buy property anywhere in Dubai?

No. Non-UAE nationals can buy freehold only in areas designated by the Ruler, such as Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. The list has grown since 2006.

What is the DLD transfer fee?

4% of the purchase price, plus fixed registration and trustee fees. For off-plan homes it is paid when the sale is registered on Oqood.

How much property do I need for a Dubai Golden Visa?

The official UAE portal gives a minimum of AED 2 million. Confirm the visa term and conditions for off-plan, mortgaged or jointly owned property before you buy.

Do I pay tax on rental income in Dubai?

Individuals pay no personal income tax on rent in the UAE, but a 5% housing fee is billed through DEWA, and your home country may tax the income.

Can I let my Dubai apartment on a short-term basis?

Yes, if the unit is registered and approved by the Department of Economy and Tourism and has a holiday-home permit, and the building's rules allow it.

Explore Dubai homes

We currently list 9 homes in Dubai, priced in sterling from GBP 584,000 (11 November 2026). Browse our properties in Dubai, see our investment opportunities and contact us with any questions.

Sources (checked November 2026)

Updated: November 2026

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice; rules and fees change, so check the current position with the relevant authority and a qualified adviser before you act.

Buying Property in Dubai as a Foreigner: Off-Plan, Oqood, DLD Fee