Guide · Updated 2 October 2026
How to buy property in Dubai as a foreigner
Any nationality can buy in Dubai, with a passport and without living here. This guide covers the six steps, every fee, off-plan against ready, mortgages and the Golden Visa.
- 4% Dubai Land Department fee on every purchase
- AED 2m property value that can qualify for the Golden Visa
- 0% UAE tax on rent or resale gains for individuals
Who can buy, and where
Dubai lets buyers of any nationality own property outright, called freehold, inside areas designated for foreign ownership. You do not need a residence visa, a local sponsor or a UAE bank account to buy, though an account makes paying easier.
Nearly every community built for the international market sits in a designated area: Dubai Marina, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Hills, Arabian Ranches, Dubai South and the newer villa communities along the city's southern and eastern edges. Dubai Land Department's register shows about 165,000 villas and townhouses in these areas, against roughly 54,000 in districts kept for UAE and Gulf nationals.
Abu Dhabi works the same way through its investment zones, which include Saadiyat, Yas, Al Reem and Hudayriyat islands.
The six steps
- 1
Set the budget, fees included
Add about 7% to the price of a ready home for fees, or about 4% to 5% for off-plan. A property worth AED 2 million or more can also qualify you for the Golden Visa.
- 2
Choose off-plan or ready
Off-plan is bought from the developer and paid in stages while it is built. Ready is bought from an owner and paid in full at transfer. The comparison below shows which suits which buyer.
- 3
Pick the area and the developer
Foreign buyers can own freehold only in designated areas, which covers almost every community marketed to them. Check what the developer has delivered before, and on time.
- 4
Check before you pay
For off-plan: the project is registered with Dubai Land Department and has an escrow account. For ready: the title deed, the seller’s identity, and that service charges are paid.
- 5
Reserve and sign
Off-plan: a booking form, then the sale and purchase agreement. Ready: a Form F contract through a registered broker, with a 10% deposit cheque held by the broker.
- 6
Register and get the title
Off-plan sales are registered as Oqood and the title deed comes at handover. Ready sales transfer at a trustee office, where you receive the title deed the same day.
What it costs on top of the price
Budget about 7% for a ready home and about 4% to 5% for off-plan.
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Land Department fee | 4% of the price | Paid on every purchase, off-plan and ready. |
| Trustee office fee | About AED 4,200 | Ready homes above AED 500,000, VAT included. |
| Agency commission | 2% of the price, plus VAT | Ready homes. On off-plan the developer usually pays the broker. |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of the loan | Only if you finance the purchase. |
| Developer NOC | Up to about AED 5,000 | Ready homes: the developer’s no-objection certificate. |
After you buy, the running cost is the yearly service charge, set per square foot by community, plus upkeep. Fees are as published by Dubai Land Department and can change; I confirm them for your purchase.
Off-plan or ready
About three in four Dubai home sales in the first half of 2026 were off-plan. Neither is better; they suit different buyers.
| Point | Off-plan | Ready |
|---|---|---|
| You pay | In stages during construction, often with a part at handover | In full at transfer, or with a mortgage |
| You buy from | The developer | An owner, through a broker |
| You can see it | Not yet: plans, show homes and renders | Yes, and you can inspect it |
| Rent starts | After handover | From the day of transfer |
| Mortgage | Banks lend up to 50% before completion | Up to 80% for expat residents on a first home under AED 5 million |
| Main risk | Delay, and the finished home differing from the plan | Paying today’s full price; condition of an older home |
| Your protection | Escrow account and Dubai Land Department registration (Oqood) | Title deed checked and transferred at a trustee office |
Where to start looking
Six communities at different budgets, with what buyers actually paid. The Villa Book has all 30 on one map.
- Off-planDAMAC Islands 2DAMAC · DubailandAED 2.7m to 5m
- Off-planThe ValleyEmaar · Dubai–Al Ain RoadAED 2.9m to 4.5m
- Off-planLunayaZaya · Sheikh Zayed Road, Jebel AliAED 5m to 13.7m
- Off-planReportage VillageReportage · DubailandAED 0.9m to 1.7m
- Off-planPalm Jebel AliNakheel · Jebel Ali coastFrom AED 25.2m
- ReadyTown SquareNshama · Al Qudra RoadAED 2.7m to 3.5m
Questions buyers ask
- Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?
- Yes. Buyers of any nationality can own freehold property in Dubai’s designated areas, with no need to live in the UAE. You need a valid passport. Most communities marketed to international buyers are in these areas.
- Do I need to be a UAE resident to buy?
- No. Non-residents can buy with a passport. Residents and non-residents pay the same Dubai Land Department fee.
- How much are the fees when buying in Dubai?
- The main one is the Dubai Land Department fee of 4% of the price. On a ready home add about 2% agency commission plus VAT and a trustee fee of about AED 4,200, so about 7% in total. A mortgage adds 0.25% of the loan in registration fees.
- Is there property tax or income tax on rent in Dubai?
- Dubai has no annual property tax and the UAE has no personal income tax, so individuals pay no UAE tax on rent or on the gain when they sell. You may still owe tax in the country where you are tax resident, so ask an adviser there.
- Can I get a UAE residence visa by buying property?
- A property worth AED 2 million or more can qualify the owner for the 10-year Golden Visa. The authorities decide each application.
- Can a non-resident get a mortgage in Dubai?
- Yes, several UAE banks lend to non-residents, usually with a larger deposit than residents need. For expat residents the central bank cap is 80% of the price on a first home under AED 5 million, and 70% above that.
- Is off-plan property in Dubai safe?
- The law requires every off-plan project to be registered with Dubai Land Department and buyers’ payments to go into an escrow account for that project. That protects the money, but not against delay, so the developer’s delivery record still matters.
- What is the difference between freehold and leasehold?
- Freehold means you own the home and the land with no end date. Leasehold is a right to use it for a fixed term, up to 99 years. Most homes sold to foreign buyers in Dubai are freehold.
- How long does a purchase take?
- A cash purchase of a ready home usually completes in two to four weeks. With a mortgage, allow six to eight weeks. Off-plan can be reserved in a day, with the contract and registration following within weeks.
- Can I buy with cryptocurrency?
- Some developers accept crypto through licensed payment providers. The sale is still registered in dirhams with Dubai Land Department.
Tell me the budget. I'll send a shortlist with the real numbers.
Sold prices nearby, every fee and the net yield, before you pay anything.
Message me on WhatsAppSanjay Ram, Portfolio Manager, Lyka Realty. This guide is general information as of 2 October 2026, not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules and fees change; confirm them for your own purchase.