Buying in Dubai: official facts
Each statement links to its official source and the date we checked it. Anything we could not confirm is flagged, not guessed.
Who can buy, and where (freehold)
What the UAE government portal says about foreign ownership in Dubai.
- Verified
Foreign ownership is permitted in areas designated as freehold in Dubai.
Source: u.ae — Checked 2026-10-21
- Verified
Non-resident foreigners and expatriate residents may both acquire freehold rights in those areas. The portal states no age limit.
Source: u.ae — Checked 2026-10-21
- Verified
Title deeds are issued by the Dubai Land Department. The designated plots are set by Regulation No. 3 of 2006.
Source: u.ae · Dubai Land Department — Checked 2026-10-21
- Confirm before relying
Whether a specific project or area is freehold: ask the developer for the title type in writing and check it with the Land Department. We do not publish a list of freehold areas because we found no official, current list to cite.
Source: Dubai Land Department — Checked 2026-10-21
Buying and registration costs
Fees change. We show only what is consistent across sources, flagged as needing confirmation, because we could not open the official fee page.
- Confirm before relying
The Land Department transfer fee is widely reported as 4% of the sale price (Executive Council Resolution No. 30 of 2013); the resolution reportedly shares it equally between buyer and seller unless agreed otherwise, and in practice buyers often pay it all.
Not read from an official page by us. Confirm with the Land Department before budgeting.
Source: Dubai Land Department — Checked 2026-10-21
- Sources conflict
Off-plan registration (Oqood): sources disagree on the amount charged at registration versus at handover. We state no figure.
Source: Dubai Land Department — Checked 2026-10-21
- Confirm before relying
Other items you should budget for and ask about: administrative and title-deed fees, mortgage registration (financed purchases only), agent commission, trustee office fees, developer NOC. Amounts vary; we state none.
Source: Dubai Land Department — Checked 2026-10-21
Property and the Golden Visa
The rules for investor residence change. Treat this as a pointer, not a promise.
- Confirm before relying
A property worth AED 2 million or more is widely reported as the threshold for the real-estate investor Golden Visa. Mortgage, off-plan and valuation rules differ between sources and have reportedly changed in 2026.
Source: ICP · GDRFA Dubai · Dubai Land Department — Checked 2026-10-21
- Sources conflict
Visa duration: official pages we read disagree (5 years on one, 10 years on another). We state no duration.
Source: ICP · GDRFA Dubai — Checked 2026-10-21
Mortgages for non-residents
Lending limits are set by the Central Bank and by each bank.
- Confirm before relying
Loan-to-value limits and eligibility for non-residents come from Central Bank rules and each bank's policy. Their rulebook was not readable by our tools, so we state no percentage.
Source: Central Bank of the UAE — Checked 2026-10-21
Embassies, consulates and government services
Official directories. We link to them instead of copying addresses that change.
- Verified
Foreign missions in the UAE: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directory.
Source: MOFA — Checked 2026-10-21
- Verified
Dubai residency and visas: GDRFA Dubai (toll-free 8005111 on its site) and its Amer centres.
Source: GDRFA Dubai — Checked 2026-10-21
- Verified
Property registration and title deeds: Dubai Land Department.
Source: Dubai Land Department — Checked 2026-10-21
- Verified
Federal services and policy portal.
Source: u.ae — Checked 2026-10-21
General information, not legal, financial or investment advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with the official body.
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