Buying property in Dubai:
your questions answered

Yes. Since 2002 non-UAE nationals have been able to buy property in Dubai's designated freehold areas, and you do not need to be a resident to do so. In a freehold area you own the property and the land outright, and the title deed is issued in your name by the Dubai Land Department. Outside those designated areas, foreign ownership is generally limited to leasehold interests. Most of the communities we work in, including Dubai South, Business Bay, Damac Lagoons, Villanova and Dubai Islands, are freehold.

Beyond the purchase price, the main cost is the Dubai Land Department transfer fee, which is 4% of the property value plus a registration charge that varies with the price band. You should also budget for agency commission, which is typically 2% plus VAT on a sale, a trustee office transfer fee, a title deed issuance fee, and if you are using a mortgage, a mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the loan plus bank arrangement and valuation charges. As a rule of thumb, allow roughly 6 to 8% of the purchase price in total transaction costs. These are set by the authorities and can change, so ask us for a written breakdown for your specific purchase.

There is no annual property tax and no capital gains tax on property in Dubai. What owners do pay are annual service charges to the owners' association, which fund maintenance of shared areas and are calculated per square foot and vary considerably by community and building. Tenants in Dubai pay a housing fee of 5% of annual rent, collected in monthly instalments through the DEWA utility bill. VAT at 5% applies to commercial property, while the first sale of new residential property is zero-rated and subsequent residential sales and leases are generally exempt.

Property investment is one of the routes to UAE residency. At the time of writing, buying property valued at AED 2 million or more can qualify an investor for a 10-year Golden Visa, and there are shorter-term investor visas available at lower thresholds. The rules cover whether the property must be completed or can be off-plan, whether mortgaged property qualifies, and how family members are included, and they have been revised several times in recent years. Treat the threshold as indicative and let us confirm the current position with you before you buy on that basis.

Yes, several UAE banks lend to non-resident buyers, though on tighter terms than for residents. Non-residents can typically borrow up to around 50 to 60% of the property value, while UAE residents buying a first home below AED 5 million can usually borrow up to 80%. Banks assess income, existing debt, age at maturity and the property itself, and some lend only on completed property or on projects from an approved developer list. We work with mortgage advisors who can get you a pre-approval before you start viewing, which strengthens your negotiating position.

Off-plan means buying from the developer before construction is complete. You pay a deposit, commonly between 5% and 20%, then make staged payments linked to construction milestones or to a fixed calendar, with a final instalment at handover. Some projects also offer post-handover plans that spread payments over a period after you take the keys. Plans are often written as a ratio such as 20/50/30, meaning 20% down, 50% during construction and 30% on handover. The binding terms are always those in the developer's sale and purchase agreement rather than the marketing summary.

Dubai regulates off-plan sales more tightly than it did before 2008. Registered projects must hold buyer payments in a project escrow account that the developer can only draw against verified construction progress, developers must be registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, and off-plan sales are recorded with the Dubai Land Department through the Oqood system. That framework reduces risk but does not remove it. Handover delays are common, and the finished product can differ from the renders. We check the developer's track record, the escrow arrangements and the project registration before we recommend anything.

Gross yields in Dubai have generally been higher than in most mature global cities, and depending on the community and property type they have commonly fallen in a range of roughly 5% to 8% gross. Apartments in mid-market communities tend to yield more than large villas in prime areas, which usually favour capital growth instead. Net yield is what matters, so deduct service charges, management fees, maintenance and void periods. Yields move with the market, so ask us for current figures for the specific community you are considering rather than relying on a general range.

Ejari is the Dubai Land Department system that registers tenancy contracts, and registration is mandatory for residential leases in Dubai. The registration certificate is what you need to connect DEWA utilities, apply for or renew residence visas linked to the tenancy, and enrol children in some schools. It also gives both landlord and tenant a record that the Rental Dispute Centre will recognise. Registration is normally arranged at the start of the tenancy and renewed with each contract. We handle it for the landlords whose properties we manage.

Dubai's tenancy law requires a landlord to give 90 days' written notice before renewal if they want to change any term of the contract, including the rent, and any increase must be justified against the RERA rental index, which caps increases according to how far the current rent sits below the market rate. To end a tenancy and recover the property for personal use or sale, a landlord must generally give 12 months' notice served through a notary or registered post. The rules are detailed and the notice route matters, so take advice before serving anything.

We start with a valuation based on recent transacted prices in your building or community rather than asking prices. You then sign a RERA Form A appointing us, which lets us list the property and market it. When a buyer is found, both sides sign a Form F memorandum of understanding and the buyer normally pays a 10% deposit held by the registration trustee. If there is a mortgage on the property it is settled, the developer issues a no objection certificate, and the transfer is completed at a trustee office where the new title deed is issued. A straightforward cash sale often completes in around four to six weeks.

No. Overseas buyers and sellers complete transactions here regularly. You can appoint someone you trust under a power of attorney, which must be properly notarised and, if executed abroad, attested and legalised for use in the UAE, and translated into Arabic. Some banks and developers still require the buyer to attend in person or to complete identity checks remotely through an approved process. We coordinate the paperwork and can arrange virtual viewings and video walkthroughs before you commit.

Service charges fund the upkeep of shared areas, including cleaning, security, lifts, landscaping, pools, insurance and the building's reserve fund. They are charged annually per square foot of your unit, collected through the Mollak system, and the rate must be approved by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency. Rates vary widely: a simple building in an outer community sits at the lower end, while a serviced tower with extensive amenities on a waterfront sits much higher. Always ask for the current approved rate for the specific building before you buy, because it directly affects your net yield.

Freehold gives you outright ownership of the property and the land it sits on, with a title deed in your name, and the right to sell, lease or pass it on without a time limit. Leasehold gives you the right to occupy and use the property for a fixed term, commonly up to 99 years, after which the interest reverts to the freeholder. Foreign buyers can own freehold in Dubai's designated areas, and most of the communities marketed to international buyers are freehold. Always confirm the tenure on the title deed rather than relying on marketing material.

Start with how you will actually use the property. If you are buying to live in, commute time, schools, and whether you want apartment or villa living usually matter more than headline yield. If you are buying to let, look at tenant demand, the service charge rate, the handover pipeline nearby, and whether you are competing with hundreds of identical units. Established communities tend to offer steadier rents, while newer districts can offer better entry pricing and more upside with more uncertainty. Our consultants each specialise by community, so you speak to someone who works there every week.

On a sale we charge the market-standard brokerage commission, agreed in writing before we act, and we handle the whole process through to the transfer of title. On leasing we charge a percentage of the annual rent. Property management is quoted per property under a Standard or Premium package, depending on how much you want us to take on. There are no charges for an initial consultation, a market valuation, or for us shortlisting properties and arranging viewings for you.