Can I Buy Property in Dubai as a Foreigner?
Written by: Marcus M. Araz, MBA, PhD · Updated:
Yes, you can. In designated areas in Dubai, foreign nationals can buy a home with full ownership (freehold) ; the title is registered directly in the buyer's name at the Dubai Land Department. There is no residence permit or visa requirement, and you can buy while living in Türkiye.
What the rule actually says
Foreign ownership rests on two instruments from 2006: the Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 on land registration, and Regulation No. 3 of 2006determining the areas in which non-nationals may own. As the government portal u.ae puts it, in those areas foreign nationals may acquire freehold ownership without restriction, usufruct rights, or leasehold rights of up to 99 years.
| Type of right | Ne veriyor | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Full ownership (freehold) | Unrestricted ownership of the land and the home, with the right to sell and to bequeath | Indefinite |
| Usufruct | Use of the property and its income, without altering the structure | Up to 99 years |
| Long lease (leasehold) | Right of use for the term of the contract | Up to 99 years |
Where can it be bought
The freehold areas are listed plot by plot in the schedule to Regulation No. 3 of 2006. Almost every name an investor knows is on that list: Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Village Circle and Triangle, Dubai Maritime City, Motor City, Dubai Islands. Every scheme in our portfolio is in a freehold area.
Outside that list a foreign buyer is not granted full ownership; there it is usufruct or a long lease. That is the first question to ask about a scheme: is the plot in a freehold area.
Oturum izni gerekiyor mu
It is not, and the relationship runs the other way. No residence permit is required in order to own; on the contrary, owning above certain thresholds creates a right of residence. We set that out in detail on our Residency in Dubai by buying property page.
The process and the documents
The process is short compared with the UK. Buying directly from the developer, a passport is enough; instructing a lawyer is not compulsory and the developer and the Land Department handle the registration. On a resale, a no objection certificate (NOC) is obtained from the seller's bank and from the developer, and the transfer takes place at the Land Department's registration trustee office.
Oqood on an off-plan purchase. No title deed is issued before the scheme completes; instead the contract is registered in the Land Department's Oqood system and the buyer's right is protected by that registration. Payments go into the developer's escrow account, not to the company directly. At handover the Oqood registration turns into a title deed.
The cost side
Buying directly from the developer, the cost on top of the price is roughly 4.3 percent and most of it is the one off 4 percent DLD transfer fee. The item by item breakdown is on our Cost of buying a home in Dubai page, and the annual tax and cost side on our Is there property tax in Dubai page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy a home in Dubai with full ownership? Yes. In the designated freehold areas the title is registered directly in the foreign buyer's name.
Oturum izni olmadan alabilir miyim? Yes. There is no residence permit or visa requirement in order to own.
Is the title really in my name? Yes. The Dubai Land Department issues the title deed in the buyer's name, and the right to sell and to bequeath comes with it.
What happens outside a freehold area? Full ownership is not granted; it becomes usufruct or a lease of up to 99 years.
How is my right protected on an off-plan purchase? The contract is registered in the Oqood system and payments go into the developer's escrow account.
Avukat tutmam gerekiyor mu? Not compulsory. Buying directly from the developer, the developer and the Land Department handle the process.
Sources
For foreign ownership we relied on the government portal u.ae and the Dubai Land Department legislation page as our sources; the basis is Law No. 7 of 2006 and Regulation No. 3 of 2006. The area list and the tariffs can change; before any purchase decision we confirm the status of the plot together.
Legal notice
capital.works® (YATIRIM UK LIMITED) is a real estate advisory company; it does not provide legal or immigration advice in the United Arab Emirates. This page is for general information. Title and registration are within the authority of the Dubai Land Department.
The next step
Let us talk about what you can buy and where: Contact us. You can see the whole of the Dubai side on our Dubai Property Guide page, and for the mortgage side our Can I buy a home in Dubai with a mortgage page.