Excited by the prospect of buying property in Dubai? The star of the Middle East’s real estate market, this dazzling emirate is one of the world’s most exciting investment destinations. It is also an attractive place to own a holiday home or reside permanently, thanks to its luxury lifestyle, thriving expat community and low taxation.
Each link below takes you to a specific section or important stage of the Dubai purchase journey. If you’re only just starting your research or you’re ready to make an offer, you’ll find the relevant information to help you move forward with confidence.
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Whatever your reason for purchasing in Dubai, start your journey by learning about the local market and how it operates. This top-level guide brings together the key steps and provides invaluable guidance for buying property in Dubai successfully – from finding the right neighbourhood or development and navigating the contracts and legal processes, to managing your investment and applying for a visa.
Background to Dubai’s foreign market
One of the seven of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai was a sleepy fishing village beside a desert creek until as recent as the 1960s. Thanks to the ambitions of the ruling Al Maktoum family, today it is one of the world’s most exciting lifestyle, business and hospitality destinations.
Compared to other Middle Eastern cities, it has a controlled tolerance of Western lifestyle. This makes it a precious bridge between East and West and attractive to international investors. In the first six months of 2025 alone, Dubai welcomed 110,000 new residents. It remains on target to almost double its population to 7.8 million by 2040.
This growth is one of the objectives of the Dubai Government’s Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, a series of projects that will transform urban areas and the lifestyle offered by the emirate. In January 2023, Dubai launched its ‘D33’ economic agenda. The key goal of this is to double the size of Dubai’s economy over the next decade.
The good news for overseas buyers is that the Dubai government is forward-thinking and set on making freehold ownership accessible to non-UAE citizens. Whether a resident overseas or living full-time in Dubai, foreign citizens have been able to own freehold property with a full title deed there since 2002. One caveat is that foreign freehold ownership is only permitted in specially designated Freehold Areas. These areas are controlled by the governmental Dubai Land Department (DLD). There are similar designated areas for leasehold ownership. There are no such restrictions on citizens of the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Whatever your nationality and whether you’re an investor, second-home lifestyle buyer or looking for permanent residence, you should be eligible to buy property in Dubai. You just need to be selective about where you purchase and ensure you work with professionals throughout the process.
Understand your visa options in Dubai
Anyone planning to live in Dubai – and enjoy the low taxation and world-class lifestyle – will need a residency visa. To work there you will also need a work permit. Engaging the services of a migration specialist or law firm will help you tackle these important requirements. It is worthwhile addressing this in good time, as visa applications take time and the route you take could determine when and what type of property you purchase. Many new arrivals in Dubai rent a home before purchasing their own property there.
Many professionals get sponsored by a local employer, who arrange all necessary visas and permits. For those who don’t take this route, there are a number of options depending on your personal situation. Skilled workers or professionals without an offer of employment could apply for Dubai’s Green Visa. This guarantees a five-year residency permit and is aimed at freelancers, self-employed, skilled workers and investors/business partners in a Dubai-based commercial operation. Another option for remote workers is the one-year Digital Nomad visa – Dubai ranks among the world’s best for internet and mobile connectivity.
Since 2019, Dubai (and wider UAE) has offered its Golden Visa, a 10-year residency-by-investment visa. The key qualifying requirement is the purchase of a property, or properties, in the emirate with a minimum value. Alternatively, you can deposit money in an eligible Dubai bank. Another less permanent option is the two-year investor visa, which requires a lower-value property investment.
If you’re over 55 years of age, buying a property in Dubai or having equity in a property should entitle you to a retirement five-yearly renewable visa. You’ll also need proof of a specified minimum annual income.
Choosing the right property and location
Where and what type of property you buy in Dubai will depend on your reasons for buying. Being a relatively new destination means all properties are modern. Many are in dazzling skyscrapers, competing for space on its famous skyline. Dubai stands out especially for the size and growth of its new-build market. New developments are launched and sold off-plan (pre-construction) constantly. Most are within designated Freehold Areas, meaning foreigners can purchase there.
There are new developments to suit a range of price brackets, property types and locations. Typical are tower-block apartment blocks in or near busy central districts or along Dubai’s beachfront. These suit working professionals, second-homeowners and buy-to-let investors. But there are also more family-oriented communities with detached and semi-detached homes, located in quieter, residential neighbourhoods. Larger budgets might consider a multi-million-dollar penthouse or boutique villa, such as those on the famous Palm Jumeirah.
As a guide, in typical times of growth off-plan sales can account for between 50% and 70% of the emirate’s monthly real estate transactions (volume). Apartments account for most of these sales. This type of purchase is especially popular with investors looking for capital growth.
Dubai also has a busy resale (secondary) market, which suits buyers who prefer to purchase somewhere they can live in immediately. Or for investors, a resale property produces immediate income in an established locality. For end-users, you have a property that is available for immediate occupation.
It’s important to take time choosing both the district or community and the type of property when buying in Dubai. This makes an experienced local estate agent invaluable. Working with the right professionals can save you time and stress, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the local market and laws, let alone the different locations.
Essential experts for buying in Dubai
An estate agent or developer (if buying direct), both of which should be registered with Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), aren’t the only professionals you need. Equally important, your team for a successful purchase in Dubai should at the very least include an independent lawyer and currency exchange specialist, plus a mortgage broker if required.
It makes sense to appoint your lawyer early in the buying process. It means they can be on-standby ready to field any queries you have or check a reservation contract once you find a property. With foreign purchasers, it’s common to grant your lawyer power of attorney, so they can represent you on the ground in Dubai without you having to travel there.
It’s never too soon to think about how you will transfer funds to Dubai to pay for your property. Here at Your Overseas Home, we work closely with Smart Currency Exchange, a currency exchange specialist with decades of experience helping international property-buyers get the best value and peace of mind with cross-border payments. As a client, your dedicated account manager will talk through your buying plans in Dubai, get to understand your profile and currency requirements, and match you with suitable payment solutions.
Mortgages are widely available from local Dubai banks for US, UK and other international buyers. The process and eligibility can vary from bank to bank. For this reason, it makes sense to apply through a qualified mortgage broker. Again, speak to them early to get an indication of what you can borrow.
Financing and costs when buying in Dubai
Before you’ve found the right property, you need to be crystal clear about your budget and decide if you will purchase with a mortgage or not. Buying off-plan requires even more planning as you will need to consider a series of payments. Buying a home in Dubai involves more than just the purchase price – you’ll need to budget for taxes, fees and ongoing ownership costs.
Turning to mortgages, ensure your broker gets you a pre-approval letter as soon as possible. This is an official document issued by a bank that confirms that you can get a mortgage in Dubai and outlines the maximum amount that you can borrow. Typically, the minimum deposit required by a non-UAE national is 20%-25% of the purchase price (75%-80% LTV obtainable).
If buying off-plan property, you will be required to pay a deposit and follow a payment plan. These vary by developer but generally are now very flexible. During the construction period, you could be required to pay anything between 50%-80% of the purchase price. The remainder will be due on completion. Other options offered by developers include deferred payments for a portion of the total price or post-handover payment plans. It’s worthwhile hunting around for a payment plan that best matches your requirements. Developers will often offer other incentives, such as waiving fees or free furniture packages.
Meanwhile, associated costs that come with a property purchase in Dubai typically amount to 7-8% of the purchase price. They include the DLD transfer fee, your agent’s or broker’s commission, various admin fees and your lawyer’s fee. If buying with a mortgage, you’ll also need to cover a valuation fee, your lender’s arrangement fee and further admin fees.
The buying process explained
Understanding the legal process and different stages that come with buying a property in Dubai is essential for avoiding costly mistakes and moving forward with confidence. While the system is relatively straightforward and transparent, it does differ from what many international buyers may be used to. In Dubai, all property transactions are regulated by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), part of the DLD.
Once you have had an offer accepted and agreed terms with the vendor or developer, you will be required to sign a reservation contract and pay a reservation fee. When buying a resale, the next step is the signing of the sales and purchase agreement and submission of a ‘Form F’. Typically, a 10% deposit will be paid by the buyer at this stage. To proceed to completion, a ‘No-Objection Certificate’ (NOC) applicable to the property will be needed.
Before completion can happen, the purchaser should transfer the remaining balance, ideally through a currency specialist such as Smart Currency Exchange, to their lawyer. This allows the formal transfer of ownership to take place at the office of a DLD-licensed registration trustee. This must take place within a certain number of days from the signing of the Form F. The property can then be registered and title deeds issued in the new owner’s name.
The process is slightly different when you buy an off-plan property. After signing the sales contract with the developer, you should receive a preliminary registration certificate called an ‘oqood’ (‘contract’ in Arabic) from the DLD. When your property is completed and you’ve paid the full balance, the oqood can be converted to a title deed by the DLD.
Next steps to buy property in Dubai
Now that you understand how to buy property in Dubai, you’re well placed to begin your journey with confidence. Whether you’re still researching or ready to take action, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Start by downloading your free Dubai Buying Guide. It’s packed with up-to-date advice on the buying process, legal requirements, and what to expect at each stage – ideal whether you’re buying now or planning for the future.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you can book a free consultation with one of our property specialists. They’ll listen to your plans, help you understand your options and connect you with trusted professionals on the ground in Dubai – from estate agents and mortgage brokers to currency experts and legal advisors.
Wherever you are in your buying journey, Your Overseas Home is here to support you from search to sale – and beyond.
Buying in Dubai – FAQs
Yes, non-UAE citizens can buy freehold property in Dubai but only in special Freehold Areas, designated by Dubai’s government. Most of Dubai’s new developments and central neighbourhoods fall within these areas. Outside of these areas, foreigners are restricted to purchasing leasehold property.
In addition to the agreed purchase price, buyers typically pay 7–8% to cover fees and taxes. Buying with a mortgage attracts another 1-2%.
Yes, there are mortgages available from local and international banks for foreign citizens in Dubai. Residents working in Dubai generally get better terms than non-resident buy-to-let investors.
Taxation generally is famously low in Dubai. Individuals who move there will benefit from huge tax breaks. Dubai levies no income, capital gains or inheritance tax on individuals who are tax resident in the emirate. Corporate tax and VAT do exist in Dubai but they are low.
