The difference between freehold, usufruct and long leases in Dubai for foreign buyers, what to compare before you pay, and where the catalogue stands.
Quick answer
In Dubai, a foreign buyer can own property outright, with no time limit, only inside the areas the Ruler has designated for foreign ownership. That is freehold. Outside those areas, or when a developer sells a different kind of right, a foreigner can hold usufruct or a lease for up to 99 years. The word on the listing matters less than the right written on the title, so check which one you are actually buying.
Last updated: 13 November 2026. Property figures come from the Golden Hills catalogue on that date. The toman figures use 71,944 toman per dirham (rate of 10 November 2026) and are an approximate conversion only.
Freehold
Freehold means ownership of the unit and its share of the land, registered in your name, without an end date. For foreign nationals it is available inside the designated areas. Citizens of the Gulf states, and companies wholly owned by them, can hold freehold anywhere in Dubai. When you buy a resale unit in a freehold area, the developer issues a no-objection certificate before the transfer, and the sale is recorded in the property register.
Long leases, usufruct and musataha
The other rights registered in Dubai are shorter in time. Usufruct gives you the right to use and enjoy a property, and a long lease gives you the right to occupy it, both for a period that can run up to 99 years. Musataha is a right to build on and use a plot for a set period. These rights are registered with the Land Department, but they are not ownership. When the period ends, what happens to the unit depends on the contract and the title.
What to compare
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What right is registered on the title? | It decides whether you own or only hold use for a period. |
| How many years remain, and can it be renewed? | A shorter remaining period lowers what the right is worth. |
| Can you sell, mortgage or pass it to heirs? | Some rights restrict one of these. |
| Who pays service charge and repairs? | The cost of holding the unit differs. |
| Can you rent it out short term? | Use restrictions can sit in the contract. |
A lower price is not a better deal until you have answered these. A right with 40 years left should be priced differently from one with 99.
Where the catalogue stands
The Golden Hills catalogue lists 1,005 projects in Dubai, spread across 91 areas. The project documents show the right you receive, so ask for it before you reserve.
Business Bay
Business Bay has 39 projects, starting from AED 823,000 (about 59.2 billion toman). Chic Tower is the lowest entry. See the Business Bay page.
Al Furjan
Al Furjan has 24 projects. Azizi Sakandar starts at AED 626,000 (about 45.0 billion toman) with a March 2027 date. See the Al Furjan page.
Jumeirah Lake Towers
Jumeirah Lake Towers has 11 projects. Diamondz starts at AED 1,100,000 (about 79.1 billion toman) with a November 2027 date. See the Jumeirah Lake Towers page.
A starting price is the lowest price, for the smallest layout. It says nothing about the right on the title, so use the questions above on any project you like.
Before you decide
- Ask for the exact right on the title before you pay a reservation.
- Check the remaining period and the renewal terms of any lease or usufruct.
- Ask whether you can sell, mortgage and pass the unit to heirs.
- Compare the full cost of holding the unit, not only the entry price.
- Keep the property decision and the legal-structure decision separate.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
Can a foreigner own property in Dubai?
Yes, outright and with no time limit, inside the areas designated for foreign ownership. That is freehold.
What is usufruct?
A registered right to use and enjoy a property for a period that can run up to 99 years. It is not ownership.
How long can a lease last?
A long lease can run for up to 99 years.
What should I check before I reserve a unit?
The exact right on the title, the years remaining and the renewal terms, and whether you can sell, mortgage and pass the unit to heirs.
Is a cheaper leasehold unit a better deal?
Not until you have compared the remaining period and the full cost of holding it. A right with fewer years left is worth less.
Последняя верификация: 13 November 2026 · Срок пересмотра: —
