Buying property in Dubai: frequently asked questions

Yes, foreigners can buy property in Dubai in the freehold zones approved by the Dubai government.

Freehold means full ownership with no time limit. In some zones a long-term right of up to 99 years applies instead. The zones are set by Law No. 7 of 2006 and Regulation No. 3 of 2006. Examples: Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, JVC.

A foreign company cannot own property directly: it needs a company registered in a free zone. Before buying, it is worth confirming that the building sits in a zone open to foreign ownership.

On top of the price, the main cost is the DLD fee of 4% of the purchase price.

Officially it is split equally: 2% for the buyer and 2% for the seller. On the Dubai resale market the buyer usually pays all of it under the contract; who pays is set in the contract.

Also: title deed AED 250 and a registration trustee fee of AED 4,000 + VAT for prices of AED 500,000 and above (AED 2,000 + VAT below that). With a mortgage, registering the mortgage costs 0.25% of the loan amount.

On a resale, the developer issues an NOC. Its cost is set by the developer, so ask for it in advance.

The main protection is the project escrow account: under Law No. 8 of 2007, buyers' payments go into it at an accredited bank and may only be spent on construction.

The developer's creditors cannot attach these funds. After completion, 5% is held for one year as a guarantee against defects. The law also governs what happens to the escrow funds if a project is not completed.

The contract is registered in the Oqood register, with the same 4% DLD fee. You can check the developer and the project in the Dubai REST app (status, completion percentage, escrow account) and in the DLD list of approved developers.

Yes: a 10-year Golden Visa is available for property worth AED 2,000,000 or more (per ICP and DLD).

A mortgage is allowed if the loan comes from an approved local bank; a bank letter is required. Off-plan property from an approved developer is also accepted (ICP).

The visa can be extended to family: spouse, children and parents, with health insurance. There is also a two-year real estate investor visa through DLD; the conditions and thresholds are on the service page.

Yes, you can buy through a representative holding an official power of attorney, so a trip is not required.

A power of attorney issued abroad must be notarised and legalised for the UAE, and translated into Arabic. The procedure depends on the country, and I confirm it for each case.

The fully online DLD service Dubai Now is only open to UAE ID holders, so it does not suit a non-resident. When buying from a developer, the contract is often signed electronically. Tell me which country you are in and I will say which documents you need.

Yes, UAE banks lend to foreigners, and the loan-to-value limits are set by the UAE Central Bank.

For expats: a first home up to AED 5 million, up to 80% of value; above AED 5 million, up to 70%; a second or investment property, up to 60%; off-plan, up to 50%. Banks may set stricter terms.

The Central Bank has no separate rule for non-residents: banks decide for themselves and usually offer non-residents a lower share. Mortgage registration at DLD costs 0.25% of the loan amount.

There is no annual property tax and no personal income tax in the UAE.

An individual's rental income from residential property is not subject to corporate tax (Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023 and the FTA guide for natural persons investing in real estate). If you own through a company, corporate tax rules apply.

VAT is not charged on the resale or rental of residential property, as these are exempt. The first sale of new residential property within 3 years of completion is taxed at 0%.

The tenant pays the Dubai housing fee of 5% of annual rent through the DEWA bill. Taxes in your country of tax residence depend on its laws, so check with a tax adviser.

Service charges are annual fees for maintaining the common areas of the building and the community.

The rate per sq ft per year is multiplied by the area stated in the title deed. RERA approves the budget after an audit, and a management company may not collect charges without that approval. Owners must pay approved charges (Law No. 6 of 2019).

You can look up the rate for a specific building in the DLD Service Charge Index: on the DLD website, in Mollak and in Dubai REST. I check it before the deal.

A long-term lease must be registered in Ejari, and this is mandatory.

A rent increase at renewal is limited by Decree No. 43 of 2013 and the RERA rental index: from 0% to 20%, depending on how far the current rent is below the market rate. Notice of changed terms is given 90 days in advance.

For short-term rentals you need a DET holiday home permit for each unit before the listing is published.

Income depends on the building and the area, and I calculate it from actual rental transactions in that specific building.

Use the official DLD registers; I run these checks before any deposit is paid.

For the developer, use the DLD list of approved developers. For an off-plan project, use Dubai REST: status, completion percentage and escrow account.

For a completed apartment, the seller's ownership is confirmed by the title deed through DLD services, the absence of debts to the developer by the NOC, and the service charges rate is visible in the DLD index. Pay a deposit only after these checks.

Yes: the First-Time Home Buyer Programme from DLD and DET, launched in July 2025.

It is for UAE residents aged 18 and over who do not own freehold property in Dubai. Participants get priority access to off-plan, preferential prices on units up to AED 5 million and mortgage products from partner banks.

The programme is open to all nationalities and income levels, but it does not apply to non-residents. See the official DLD announcement for the terms.

I am Daniil Shalabaev, a real estate broker in Dubai at Whitewill, working in Russian and English.

I help clients buy a ready apartment or off-plan, sell, and choose a property to rent out. I handle the deal through to registration at DLD. Before real estate I worked in corporate finance at Alfa-Bank in Moscow, and I graduated from King's College London.

Getting started is simple: message me on WhatsApp with your budget, your goal (to live, to rent out, a visa) and your timing. I will send suitable options with a cost breakdown.