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Where Can Foreigners Buy Property in Dubai?

Explore freehold areas open to foreign buyers.

Updated: September 2026 5 min read

Foreigners can buy property in Dubai only on land the Ruler has designated for non-UAE ownership, usually called freehold areas. The main list is Regulation No. 3 of 2006, which names 23 areas, and later resolutions have added individual plots. Everywhere else, ownership is limited to UAE and GCC nationals.

The rule in one line

Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 (Article 4) restricts ownership across the emirate to UAE and GCC nationals, companies they wholly own, and public joint stock companies. Non-UAE nationals may own only in areas the Ruler designates, either freehold or on usufruct or leasehold of up to 99 years. For the full rules on who can buy, see Who Can Buy Property in the UAE?

The 23 areas in Regulation No. 3 of 2006

Article 3 of the regulation names these areas, using the DLD's official area names, and in each case lists specific plot numbers rather than the whole area:

  • Umm Hurair 2, Al Barsha South 2 and Al Barsha South 3
  • Emirates Hills 1, Emirates Hills 2 and Emirates Hills 3
  • Jebel Ali, Al Jaddaf, Ras al Khor and Al Rowyah
  • The World Islands, Palm Jumairah and Palm Jebel Ali
  • Sheikh Zayed Road, Sofouh 1 and Sofouh 2
  • Al-Qouz 3, Al-Qouz Industrial Area 2 and Al-Qouz Industrial Area 3
  • Mirdif, Dubai Marina, Nad al-Sheba and Warsan 1

Why the list doesn't match community names

The regulation uses land-registry area names and plot numbers, not the names developers market. A well-known community can sit inside one of these registry areas without being named in the law. The reverse also applies: being in a listed area does not make every plot in it freehold, because only the plots the regulation lists are designated. For the communities foreign buyers most often consider, see Who Can Buy Property in the UAE? To settle any doubt, check the specific plot, not the community name.

Plots added since 2006

The list has been extended by later resolutions that add named plots. Two examples on the Dubai Legislation Portal:

  • Resolution No. 18 of 2019 (4 September 2019): Plot 69 in Trade Centre Second and Plots 120, 121 and 122 in Zaabeel Second, freehold or usufruct and leasehold up to 99 years.
  • Resolution No. 6 of 2022 (28 February 2022): freehold ownership on Plots 58 and 59 in Zabeel First.
  • These are not the only changes. Search the Dubai Legislation Portal for newer resolutions before relying on any list, including this one.

One plot is leasehold only

Article 4 of Regulation No. 3 of 2006 allows foreigners only usufruct or leasehold rights of up to 99 years on Plot 224 in Nad al-Sheba, not freehold. See Freehold vs Leasehold for what that difference means.

How to check a specific property

  • Ready property: ask the seller for the title deed and confirm it with the DLD's Title Deed Verification service.
  • Off-plan: look the project up in the DLD's project status inquiry or the Dubai REST app, which shows the developer, the project status and the escrow account.
  • An off-plan sale in a project that is not approved and registered with the DLD is void (Executive Council Resolution No. 6 of 2010, Article 11).
  • Deal only with a broker whose licence you can verify on the DLD website.

Frequently asked questions

What are the freehold areas in Dubai?

They are areas the Ruler has designated for ownership by non-UAE nationals. The main list is Regulation No. 3 of 2006, which names 23 areas, including Dubai Marina, Palm Jumairah, Emirates Hills, Jebel Ali and The World Islands, and later resolutions have added individual plots.

Is every plot in a freehold area open to foreign buyers?

No. The regulation lists specific plot numbers in each area rather than the whole area, so being in a listed area does not make every plot freehold. It also uses land-registry names, not marketing names, so check the specific plot rather than the community name.

Have new freehold areas been added in Dubai since 2006?

Yes. Later resolutions have added named plots, such as Resolution No. 18 of 2019 for plots in Trade Centre Second and Zaabeel Second, and Resolution No. 6 of 2022 for Plots 58 and 59 in Zabeel First. Search the Dubai Legislation Portal for newer resolutions before relying on any list.

How can I check whether a foreigner can buy a specific property?

For a ready property, ask the seller for the title deed and confirm it with the DLD's Title Deed Verification service. For off-plan, look the project up in the DLD's project status inquiry or the Dubai REST app, because an off-plan sale in a project not approved and registered with the DLD is void.

Sources

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