Buying Property
Everything you need to know about buying property in Dubai & UAE.
Answers to the questions buyers ask most in Dubai: who can buy and where, what it costs on top of the price, how offers, sale agreements and DLD registration work, and what to check at handover. Each article cites the Dubai Land Department page or law it relies on.
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Getting Started
- Buying Property in Dubai – OverviewTo buy property in Dubai you agree a price, sign a sale agreement, get a no-objection certificate from the developer (for resale), and transfer ownership at a Dubai Land Department trustee office, where the title deed is issued.
- Who Can Buy Property in the UAE?Yes — foreigners can buy property in the UAE.
- Freehold vs Leasehold – What's the Difference?Freehold vs leasehold in Dubai comes down to time.
- Where Can Foreigners Buy Property in Dubai?Foreigners can buy property in Dubai only on land the Ruler has designated for non-UAE ownership, usually called freehold areas.
Buying Process
- Step-by-Step Buying Process in the UAEThe property buying process in the UAE depends on the emirate and on whether the home is ready or off-plan.
- Making an Offer & ReservationMaking an offer on property in Dubai is usually informal: you or your agent put a price and terms to the seller, and nothing binds either side until you both sign a sale contract.
- Property Purchase Agreement (SPA)An SPA (sale and purchase agreement) in Dubai is the contract you sign with a developer when you buy off-plan.
- Handover Process ExplainedThe property handover process in Dubai is when a finished off-plan unit passes from the developer to you.
- DLD Registration ProcessThe DLD registration process is how ownership of Dubai property legally changes hands.
Costs & Fees
- Property Buying Costs in DubaiOn top of the purchase price, budget roughly 6–7% for the costs of buying a ready property in Dubai through an agent — more if you take a mortgage.
- DLD Fees & Registration ChargesThe Dubai Land Department (DLD) charges a transfer fee of 4% of the property value on every sale, plus fixed registration and title deed fees.
- Agent Commission & FeesNo law fixes real estate agent commission in Dubai.
Financing & Mortgages
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