Guide to buying property and getting residency in Dubai

List of questions

1Can foreign nationals and Iranians buy property in Dubai?

Yes. Foreign nationals can buy property in Dubai’s designated freehold areas as permanent ownership that can be transferred to others and to heirs, subject to the applicable regulations. In its official property inquiry service, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) states that freehold property may be bought by all nationalities.

You do not need UAE residency to buy property in Dubai. Non-resident foreign buyers can proceed with a valid passport and by completing the transaction documents and steps.

For Iranian buyers, this answer rests on the general rule announced for all nationalities. Before paying a deposit, it is wise to check whether the chosen property can be registered in the buyer’s name and how payment can be made for that specific transaction.

2What are the conditions and steps for buying a ready property in Dubai?

1Choose a property that fits your budget and purchase method

With the guidance of licensed real estate advisors, you choose a suitable property based on your budget and payment method. The purchase can be in cash, with a bank loan or, in some projects, with instalments after handover under the developer’s terms.

2Check the title deed and the property’s status

Before signing the contract, the validity of the title deed and the match between the owner’s and the property’s details are checked through the Dubai Land Department’s official services. The seller’s identity documents are matched with the owner’s information, and the property’s registration status, including any possible transfer restrictions, is enquired. The status of any mortgage, tenancy and obligations attached to the property must also be clarified before the final agreement and stated in the contract.

3Sign the purchase contract and hand over the deposit cheque

After agreement, the buyer and seller sign the sale contract (Form F). At the same time, the buyer issues a deposit cheque to the seller for the amount set in the contract. The cheque is held in trust, and its possession or collection follows the contract terms and a joint written instruction from buyer and seller. In case of a dispute, deciding who is entitled to the amount requires a court order.

4Prepare the funds and transfer documents

By the date set in the contract, the buyer and seller must prepare to complete the transaction. The buyer prepares the purchase funds according to the contract’s payment terms, together with their identity documents. The seller completes the ownership documents and transfer requirements, including the developer’s no-objection certificate (NOC) for property in freehold areas. Any change or extension of a deadline must be made by written agreement signed by the parties or their legal representatives.

5Register the transfer and receive the title deed at the Trustee Office

The buyer and seller, or their legal representatives, go to the real estate registration Trustee Office. The parties’ identity documents and the developer’s e-NOC for freehold properties are presented and checked. For non-resident foreign nationals, a valid passport is accepted.

Once the documents are complete, the transaction details are entered into the system and reviewed. After the registration fees are paid and the process is completed, the electronic title deed is issued in the buyer’s name, together with the property’s electronic plan, and sent by email.

The DLD’s published time for this service is 25 minutes. This applies to the sale registration service only, not to the whole purchase process and document preparation.

3How does buying off-plan and with instalments work?

In an off-plan purchase, you buy the property from the developer before construction is complete and pay for it according to the contract’s payment plan. A property being off-plan and the payment being in instalments are two separate matters; the terms of both must be clear in the contract.

1Choose and check the project

With the guidance of licensed real estate advisors, you choose a suitable project and unit based on your budget, down payment, instalments and handover date. Before paying, the project’s registration status, construction progress and escrow account details are checked through the Dubai Land Department’s official services.

2Review and sign the purchase contract

Before signing, the unit’s specifications, price, payment plan, handover date and the terms for delay, cancellation and resale are reviewed. The sale and purchase agreement (SPA) must be signed by the buyer and the developer.

3Pay into the project’s escrow account as per the contract

Payments for an off-plan unit must be deposited into that project’s escrow account. The down payment, the number of instalments and their due dates follow the contract’s payment plan.

4Register the purchase in Oqood and receive the initial registration certificate

The developer registers the purchase through the Oqood system in the Dubai Land Department’s interim register. Under the DLD’s published conditions, the contract must be registered within 90 days of the signing date at most. Once registered, an electronic initial registration certificate is issued to the buyer; this certificate is different from the final title deed.

5Completion, handover and receiving the title deed

After the project is completed, inspection and unit handover take place as set out in the contract. The final title deed is pursued once the registration requirements are met and the buyer’s contractual obligations are fulfilled. In post-handover instalment plans, the handover date and the title deed issue date must be checked separately in the contract.

4What is a project escrow account and how does it protect a buyer’s payments?

An escrow account is a dedicated bank account that, under the Dubai Land Department’s rules, the developer must open for each off-plan project with a bank or financial institution approved by the Department. Buyers’ payments are deposited into this account, and each project must have its own separate escrow account.

The bank or financial institution manages the account as escrow agent, and the Dubai Land Department and the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) oversee it. The developer cannot withdraw freely from this account; once construction reaches the set stages, it submits a payment request. The project’s progress is reviewed by the escrow agent’s engineer, and after approval the funds are released to pay the project’s permitted costs.

If the project is not completed, the escrow agent is required, in coordination with the Dubai Land Department, to take the necessary steps to protect the rights of those who paid and to complete the project or refund the funds.

The purpose of the escrow account is to ensure that buyers’ funds are used only for the permitted costs of that same project and to protect their financial rights by supervising how the funds are used and released.

5Is buying and selling property in the UAE taxed, and what other costs apply?

Residential property

In an ordinary purchase or sale of residential property, no value added tax is added to the property price. Sales of these properties are generally exempt from VAT, and the first supply of a newly built residential property within the first three years after completion is zero-rated.

In Dubai, no annual tax is charged simply for owning property; service charges, maintenance and building services are separate costs. For individuals, rental income and profit from selling property are also outside corporate tax, provided it is a personal property investment and is not carried out through an activity that requires a licence.

Commercial property

Buying, selling and leasing commercial property, such as offices and shops, is generally subject to 5 percent value added tax.

What costs does a buyer pay when buying property in Dubai?

1Transaction registration fee at the Dubai Land Department

The registration fee for a property purchase is 4 percent of the transaction value. The buyer should include this amount in their purchase budget, whether buying directly from the developer or on the secondary market, unless the contract places all or part of it on the developer or the seller. This amount is the transaction registration fee.

2Trustee Office fee for transferring a ready property

Under the official tariff visible at the time of review in 2026, the Trustee Office fee, including 5 percent VAT, is about AED 4,200 for transactions valued at AED 500,000 or more, and about AED 2,100 for transactions below that amount. Who pays this fee must be stated in the contract; if the buyer pays, this amount is added to their purchase costs. The fees for issuing the title deed, the plan and other registration services are calculated separately.

3Commission and other transaction costs

When buying directly from the developer, the real estate agent’s commission is usually paid by the developer and the buyer does not pay a separate commission; this should be confirmed before buying.

In secondary market transactions, the agent’s commission as per the contract, the cost of required services and documents and, for a purchase with a loan, the bank and mortgage registration costs should also be included in the purchase budget. The amount and the party responsible for each cost must be clear before signing the contract.

6What are the conditions for reselling and transferring a ready or instalment property?

Reselling property in Dubai is possible; the transfer steps depend on the state of the title, the financial obligations and the terms of the purchase contract.

1Selling a ready property

After the buyer and seller agree, the sale contract is signed and the transfer documents are completed. For properties in freehold areas, the developer’s no-objection certificate (NOC) is obtained and ownership is transferred through the real estate registration Trustee Offices. After the transaction is registered, the title deed is issued in the new buyer’s name.

2Selling an off-plan or instalment property

An off-plan unit registered in the Dubai Land Department’s interim register can be resold. For the transfer, the contract terms, the status of the instalments and the requirements for obtaining the developer’s NOC are reviewed. The sale and the transfer of the buyer’s rights must also be formally registered.

Before the final agreement, you should confirm with the developer which amounts must be paid for the transfer and whether the new buyer can continue the instalments. The remaining payment plan and each party’s obligations must be clear in the transfer documents.

3Selling a property with a bank loan

A mortgaged property can also be sold, but settling the debt and releasing the mortgage must be done in coordination with the bank and following the Dubai Land Department’s procedures. Completing the transfer depends on presenting the bank’s mortgage release letter.

7What are the conditions for a two-year residency or a 10-year Golden Visa through buying property?

Buying property in Dubai can open the way to apply for residency. The type of residency is determined by the property’s value or the applicant’s ownership share, after the registration and payment documents are reviewed.

Two-year residency: Under the current terms of the Dubai Land Department’s Tasreeh service, no minimum property value is set for sole ownership. In joint ownership, the value of the applicant’s share must be at least AED 400,000.

10-year Golden Visa: The value of one or more properties owned by the applicant must total at least AED 2 million. In joint ownership, the value of the applicant’s own share must also be at least AED 2 million.

1Ready property without instalments

Once the property is registered in the buyer’s name and the title deed is received, the residency application is reviewed according to the ownership conditions and the property’s value.

2Ready property with post-handover instalments from the developer

In this type of purchase, the title or property registration certificate, the instalment contract, the amount paid and the obligations remaining to the developer are reviewed to determine whether an application is possible and which type of residency applies. Before buying, present these documents to an authorised residency service centre for an initial review.

3Ready property with a bank loan

In a purchase with a bank loan, in addition to the ownership documents, the bank’s letter regarding no objection to the residency application, the amount paid and the outstanding balance are reviewed. The required financial conditions must be confirmed for that specific case before proceeding.

4Off-plan property under construction

To assess whether an application is possible, the purchase registration documents, including Oqood, the contract and the payment documents are presented. The route and type of residency must be confirmed before acting. The official ICP guide provides for a qualifying off-plan purchase with a total value of at least AED 2 million for the Golden Visa.

Once the conditions are confirmed and the documents are complete, the steps follow: application, payment of fees, medical examination and the final residency review.

8Can I also obtain residency for my family by buying property?

Yes. After receiving property investor residency, you can, under the rules and conditions of your residency type, also apply for residency for your spouse, unmarried children and parents. Family members do not need to buy separate property; their applications are reviewed under the residence holder’s sponsorship, with the required documents.

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