Buying Property in Dubai: The Complete Guide for 2026

Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?

Yes. Foreigners can buy property in Dubai with full, permanent ownership in areas the Ruler has designated for freehold, under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006. There are no nationality restrictions in the law, you do not need to live in the UAE, and a passport is enough to register the sale. Outside the freehold areas, ownership is reserved for UAE and other GCC nationals.

“"Foreigners (who don't live in the UAE) and expatriate resident may acquire freehold ownership rights over property without restriction."”

u.ae, Expatriates buying a property in the UAE

Read the full answer, including buying on a tourist visa and the limits outside freehold areas, in can foreigners buy property in Dubai?

Where can you buy? Dubai's freehold areas

Dubai's freehold areas are the communities where non-UAE nationals can own property outright. The 2006 regulation named 23 areas, later resolutions added more plots, and property portals now list about 77 freehold communities, from Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah to Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Hills Estate and Dubai South. Most of Deira, Bur Dubai, Karama and the older parts of Jumeirah are not freehold.

You can check whether a specific property is freehold with the DLD's Property Status Enquiry, online or in the Dubai REST app. The full list, grouped by apartments, villas and mixed communities, is in freehold areas in Dubai.

How much money do you need to buy property in Dubai?

The money you need to buy property in Dubai is the price, or the deposit if you use a mortgage, plus about 6.3% to 6.7% in fees. There is no legal minimum price. Average asking prices in the more affordable areas start at about AED 541,000 for a studio and about AED 1.8 million for a three-bedroom villa, according to Bayut's H1 2026 sales market report.

Budgets, prices by property type and the salary a bank will expect are in how much money you need to buy property in Dubai.

What does buying cost on top of the price?

Buying property in Dubai costs about 6.6% on top of the price for a cash resale: the DLD's 4% transfer fee, a 2% agent commission plus VAT, and AED 4,720 in fixed registration charges. A conveyancer takes it to 7% to 8%, and a mortgage adds roughly 1.5% to 2.5% of the loan. None of these fees can be borrowed.

The legal rule is that buyer and seller split the 4% DLD fee equally; in practice the buyer pays all of it. Every fee is explained in the cost of buying property in Dubai and DLD fees.

How do you buy property in Dubai, step by step?

A resale purchase in Dubai follows the same nine steps whether you are in Dubai or abroad:

1. Set your budget and get mortgage pre-approval if you need a loan. Include about 6.6% in fees.
2. Choose an area and a RERA-licensed agent. Check the agent's broker card in the Dubai REST app.
3. View properties and make an offer through the agent.
4. Sign Form F the standard sale contract, and pay a deposit, usually 10% of the price.
5. The seller gets the developer's NOC confirming the service charges are paid.
6. If you use a mortgage the bank values the property and issues a final offer.
7. Transfer at a registration trustee office the price is paid by manager's cheques, with the DLD fees.
8. Receive the title deed in your name, issued electronically on the day.
9. Take the keys connect DEWA, and register an Ejari contract if you let the property.

“Transactions that create or transfer property rights "will not be deemed valid unless recorded in the Property Register."”

Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006, Article 9

Costs and time for each step, and the separate off-plan route, are in how to buy property in Dubai.

How long does buying property in Dubai take?

A cash resale in Dubai usually takes about 30 days from signing Form F to receiving the title deed. With a mortgage, allow 6 to 10 weeks, because the bank's valuation and final offer come before the transfer. The transfer itself is completed in a single appointment at a registration trustee office. Off-plan purchases take as long as the building: you receive the title deed at handover.

What documents do you need?

To buy property in Dubai, a UAE resident needs an Emirates ID and a non-resident needs a valid passport; no UAE visa is required. The main contract is Form F, signed by buyer and seller. The seller provides the title deed and the developer's NOC. Mortgage buyers also need bank statements, proof of salary and a credit report. If you cannot attend the transfer, you need a power of attorney that is notarised, legalised, attested in the UAE and translated into Arabic.

The full checklist, by buyer type and by stage, is in documents required to buy property in Dubai.

Can you get a mortgage in Dubai?

Yes. UAE banks lend to UAE residents and, more cautiously, to non-residents. The Central Bank of the UAE limits how much they can lend:

The deposit must come from your own money, not a personal loan or credit card, and monthly debt repayments cannot exceed 50% of income. Every case is in the minimum down payment for property in Dubai.

Do you need a lawyer or conveyancer?

No law requires a conveyancer or lawyer to buy property in Dubai: the Dubai Land Department registers the sale through a registration trustee office. A conveyancer costs about AED 5,000 to 10,000 plus VAT and is most useful when you use a mortgage, the seller still has one, or you are buying from abroad. See conveyancing in Dubai to decide.

Off-plan or ready: what changes?

Buying off-plan means buying from the developer before the building is finished. The 4% DLD fee still applies, but you pay it to the developer, who registers the sale on the DLD's interim register, called Oqood. There is usually no agent commission or trustee fee, and you pay the price in instalments under a payment plan instead of a lump sum. Banks can lend at most 50% on off-plan property. The trade-off is waiting for completion and relying on the developer to deliver.

What does it cost to own property in Dubai?

Owning property in Dubai has two main running costs, and no annual property tax:

• Service charges. Yearly fees for the building's shared areas, charged per square foot and approved by RERA. Flats in the main areas typically pay about AED 8 to 30 per sq ft a year. The owner pays, not the tenant. See service charges in Dubai.
• Housing fee. Dubai Municipality charges 5% of the annual rent, added monthly to the DEWA bill; owners who live in their home pay 5% of a standard rental value. UAE nationals are exempt. UK readers can think of it as Dubai's council tax. See the Dubai Municipality housing fee.

Is there property tax in Dubai?

There is no annual property tax and no stamp duty in Dubai, and individuals pay no UAE tax on rent or on gains from selling property. The 4% DLD fee is the nearest thing to stamp duty. Corporate tax at 9% applies only to companies and licensed businesses above AED 375,000 of profit.

“"Real Estate Investment income is disregarded when determining Turnover and so is not subject to Corporate Tax, regardless of the amount."”

Federal Tax Authority, Real Estate Investment for Natural Persons guide, October 2024

UK residents are different: they can owe UK income tax on Dubai rent, UK capital gains tax when they sell, and UK inheritance tax. See is there property tax in Dubai?

Does buying property in Dubai give you a visa?

Buying property in Dubai does not give you a visa automatically, but it lets you apply for one. Since late April 2026, a sole owner can apply for a 2-year property investor visa whatever the property is worth; joint owners need AED 400,000 each. A property worth AED 2 million or more qualifies for the 10-year Golden Visa. Read more in Dubai property visa: no minimum value.

“"The property owner is allowed to apply for the issuance of a license and residency visa, regardless of the property value."”

Dubai Land Department, Investor Residence Application (Taskeen)

Buying from the UK

British buyers can buy in Dubai on the same terms as anyone else. Four things are different for UK buyers:

• You do not need to travel. A power of attorney signed in the UK must be notarised, legalised by the FCDO, attested by the UAE Embassy and translated into Arabic. The UAE is not part of the apostille system, so an apostille alone is not enough.
• Currency costs. At about AED 4.88 to the pound, an AED 1 million home is about £205,000; a 1% difference in the exchange rate is about £2,000.
• Mortgages. As a non-resident you will usually need a 40% to 50% deposit.
• UK tax. If you are UK tax resident, rent and gains from Dubai property can be taxable in the UK. Check your own position with a qualified adviser.

Is it worth buying property in Dubai?

Whether buying property in Dubai is worth it depends on your plans, but the main advantages and disadvantages are clear:

This is general information, not financial advice. If you are borrowing or investing a large share of your savings, speak to a regulated adviser.

All our Dubai buying guides

What changed in 2025 and 2026

• January 2025: 457 plots on Sheikh Zayed Road and in Al Jaddaf opened to freehold conversion.
• February 2025: UAE banks stopped financing the DLD fee and agent commission, so buyers need more cash up front.
• April 2025: the UK ended the non-dom remittance basis, which matters for UK residents with income abroad.
• Late April 2026: the 2-year property investor visa dropped its minimum property value for sole owners.
• No change to the 4% DLD fee, the Central Bank's loan limits or the absence of property tax.