Foreigners can buy property in Dubai in their own name in freehold areas such as Dubai Marina, Downtown, Business Bay, JVC, Dubai Hills and Dubai Islands. You don't need to live in the UAE or hold a visa. Expect to pay about 7–8% on top of the price for a ready home (mostly the 4% Dubai Land Department fee and the agency fee), and about 4–5% for off-plan bought from a developer. A property worth AED 2 million or more can also qualify you for a 10-year Golden Visa.
Updated November 2026 by Dani Diemzy, Dubai property agent since 2011. Fees change from time to time: check the current amounts with the Dubai Land Department before you pay.
How to buy property in Dubai in 7 steps
- Set your budget and how you'll pay. Cash, a UAE mortgage, or an off-plan payment plan spread over construction (see Dubai off-plan payment plans).
- Choose ready or off-plan. Ready homes earn rent straight away. Off-plan costs less upfront and is paid in stages. Our off-plan vs ready guide compares them.
- Pick the area. Compare prices by area and rental yields by area, updated daily from DLD data.
- Reserve the unit. For off-plan you pay a booking deposit, usually 5–20%, to the developer's escrow account. For a ready home you sign a Memorandum of Understanding (Form F) and pay a 10% security cheque.
- Sign the sale agreement. Off-plan: the developer's Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA). Ready: the MOU, then the seller's bank releases any mortgage.
- Register with the Dubai Land Department. Off-plan sales are registered on Oqood. Ready sales transfer at a DLD trustee office, where the title deed is issued in your name.
- Get the keys. Ready homes: on transfer day. Off-plan: at handover, after the final payment and snagging inspection.
Fees when buying property in Dubai
| Cost | Ready (resale) home | Off-plan from a developer |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Land Department transfer fee | 4% of the price | 4% of the price (some developers pay part of it as a launch offer) |
| Registration / Oqood admin fee | Title deed fee, about AED 580 | Oqood registration fee, set by the DLD |
| Trustee office fee | About AED 4,000 + VAT (AED 2,000 + VAT under AED 500,000) | Not usually charged |
| Agency fee | Usually 2% + VAT | Usually none for the buyer: the developer pays the agent |
| Mortgage registration (if any) | 0.25% of the loan + admin fee | Only if a bank finances it, usually near handover |
| Service charges | Yearly, per sq ft, depending on the building | |
Buying from abroad
Buying property in Dubai from India
Indian residents can send money abroad under the Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, currently up to USD 250,000 per person per financial year. Couples often buy together to use two allowances, and off-plan payment plans spread the transfers over several years. Rent earned in Dubai is not taxed in the UAE, but Indian tax residents must declare it in India.
Buying property in Dubai from the UK
UK buyers can buy in their own name and sign documents with a power of attorney if they can't travel. There is no UAE tax on rental income or on the sale, but UK tax residents are taxed on worldwide income and gains, so speak to a UK tax adviser before you buy.
Buying property in Dubai with crypto
Some Dubai developers accept cryptocurrency through licensed payment providers, which convert it to dirhams before it reaches the escrow account. The sale is still registered in AED with the DLD, and you'll need to show where the funds came from. Ask Dani which current projects accept crypto.
Can I get a mortgage as a non-resident?
Yes, some UAE banks lend to non-residents, usually up to 50–60% of the value for a ready home. Residents can usually borrow more. Off-plan homes are normally financed by the developer's payment plan rather than a bank until close to handover.
Can you buy property in Dubai without an agent?
Yes. For off-plan, you can buy directly from the developer, and the price is the same with or without an agent because the developer pays the agent's commission. For a resale home, you can deal with the seller and complete at a DLD trustee office yourself. A good agent earns their fee by finding the right unit, checking the paperwork and the developer's track record, and negotiating payment terms, so for a first purchase most buyers use one.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?
Yes, in freehold areas, with full ownership and a title deed in their own name. No residency is needed.
What are the total costs of buying property in Dubai?
Plan on about 7–8% of the price on top for a ready home and about 4–5% for off-plan from a developer, plus yearly service charges.
Does buying property give me a UAE visa?
Property worth AED 2 million or more can qualify for the 10-year Golden Visa. See our Golden Visa through property guide.
Talk to Dani
Dani has been a Dubai property agent since 2011. Tell him your budget and timeline and he'll send the projects and ready homes that fit, with the full cost breakdown. Browse all Dubai off-plan projects.
This article is general information about the Dubai property market, not financial advice. Prices and regulations change; ask for up-to-date details before you buy.