How to Buy Property in Dubai

✅ Quick Summary: How to Buy Property in Dubai

• You can buy a property as a foreigner in Dubai, both in freehold and leasehold areas
• To hold a UAE residency is not required to buy a Dubai property, but once a foreigner buys a property for AED 750.000  and AED 2 million, the property  buyer will qualify for residency permits via these properties
• There are several steps for buying a property in Dubai
• In addition to the property value that needs to be paid to the seller, there are government fees associated with the transfer itself
• You can appoint a Power of Attorney or a lawyer to assist with a property purchase transaction.
• Your Dubai property can be bought online without requiring you to be physically present in the UAE 
• You can apply for your online Power of Attorney for property Purchase in Dubai that can be directly used in the Emirate.
• POA.ae can assist in buying a property in partnership with Lex Estates  and provide you with a conveyancing service.

Are you planning to buy a house in Dubai, and not sure where to start and how to do it? In this article, you will get answers to some of the most frequent questions related to property buying in Dubai.

Can I buy a property in Dubai as a foreigner?

Yes, as a foreigner, you can buy property in Dubai in both freehold and leasehold areas.

The freehold areas are designated zones where foreign citizens can own a home in the Emirate permanently. Such areas are mostly populated by expats and include some of the most attractive areas in Dubai, including:

– Dubai Marina,
– Jumeirah Beach Residence,
– Jumeirah Lakes Towers,
– Palm Jumeirah,
– Emirates Hills,
– Downtown,

– Business Bay,
– Motor City,
– Sports City

While the leasehold areas are designated zones where foreign citizens can own property in the Emirate temporarily, generally up to 99 years. The most popular leasehold areas include:

– Al Barsha
– Umm Suqueim

– Mirdif
– Al Warqaa
– Umm Al Sheif

Do I have to be a resident in the UAE to buy a property?

No. You do not have to be a resident in the UAE to buy property in Dubai. Nevertheless, if you own a property in Dubai worth at least

– AED 750.000, you can apply for a residency permit of 2 2-year investor visa
– AED 2 million, you qualify for a residency permit under the 10-year golden visa
The important note here is that the full amount of the property may be either paid fully or partially at the moment of application for these visas.

What are the advantages of off-plan and ready properties in Dubai?

What steps do I need to follow?

The process of buying real estate is quite straightforward and streamlined, especially if you are a cash buyer. Usually, the following steps are involved in the process of buying a property.

1. Finding your property. You can search for and find your property online on several websites, such as www.propertyfinder.ae or www.bayut.com. Even if you find your real estate through web portals, the chances of dealing with real estate agents are high, as many properties are advertised by agents on behalf of homeowners. Make sure to deal with real estate agents who are licensed by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) of Dubai. If you like to buy your real estate directly from a seller or a developer, a good place to look for it is Home Owners Direct (www.hod.co).
   
2. Negotiating the terms of a sale and purchase agreement. Once you’ve selected the right property, you can make an offer and negotiate the terms of the sale and purchase with the seller. This is normally done (but not necessarily) with the help of a real estate broker or a lawyer.
3. Signing a sale and purchase agreement. Once you have agreed on the terms of the sale and purchase with a seller, you will need to sign the agreement of sale, also known as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). There is a standard MOU format of the Dubai Land Department (DLD) called Contract Form “F”, which is available on the website of the DLD. As per the standard practice in Dubai, a buyer pays 10% of the purchase price to the real estate agency or a neutral law firm facilitating the transaction, upon signing the MOU. The deposit is paid in order to book the unit. Conduct necessary due diligence on the property and all involved parties before signing the MOU and making any payment.
4. Applying for a developer’s No Objection Certificate (NOC). Next, the buyer and the seller have to visit the office of the developer (for example, Emaar or DAMAC Properties) to apply for and get a Developer’s NOC. The NOC states that the developer has no objection to transferring the ownership of the property to a buyer. The Developer can issue NOC only after ensuring that there are no outstanding fees payable to the Developer or the property management company. Therefore, before visiting a developer’s office, the seller has to clear all outstanding payments and get a clearance letter from the property management company. Bear in mind that a developer or a property management company may ask the buyer to pay for service charges for the next quarter or two before issuing the NOC.
5. Transfer of ownership. Once the NOC is obtained, both the buyer and the seller, or their legal representatives, holding a valid Power of Attorney, must go to one of the Registration Trustee offices of the Dubai Land Department (DLD) to effect the transfer of title. DLD requires you to make a payment of the property price in the form of a manager’s cheque/pay order, which has to be presented and handed over to the seller at the time of transfer at DLD. Once the transfer is done, DLD issues a new title deed.

The outlined steps above vary if the property is mortgaged or if you are buying a home on a mortgage.

How much will it cost?

While the property purchase price varies based on various facts (e.g., location, size, developer etc.), the costs outlined below are the key costs involved in any property purchase, in addition to a purchase price.

• DLD Transfer fee: 4% of the property sale price;
• Registration Trustee fee:  AED 4,000 for transactions over Dh500,000, and AED 2,000 for those below this amount;
• DLD Administrative fees: AED 580;
• NOC from Developer: AED 525 to AED 5,250 AED
• Value Estimation Certificate: AED 4,300
• The broker’s commission (if any): usually 2% of the purchase price, which can vary based on the agreement between the parties;

You may also have to refund the seller for the prorated share of the services charges that were prepaid by the seller (if any). In addition, you should also consider costs for transferring utilities under your name.

Do I need to appoint a Power of Attorney or a lawyer to buy property in Dubai?

Although it may not seem complicated, the process can become rather lengthy and could take up to one month to complete. So, if you are not familiar with the process or are not able to attend relevant authorities personally to complete the transfer, it is advisable to appoint an expert or a lawyer to represent your interests, or to handle the whole process on your behalf in your absence.

🔗 Legal representation for buying or selling property in Dubai

Can I buy a property online in the UAE  if I am abroad and leave permanently outside of the UAE?


Yes, if you leave permanently outside of the UAE, but if, would like to invest in Dubai property, you can do it while you are located outside of the UAE. All the paperwork can be done by your real-estate agent or your conveyancing representative, who will take care of all the paperwork, and you can either just attend the final transfer day in person or you can appoint any trusted person to attend it on your behalf.

🔗 Learn more about selling a property in Dubai from abroad

Can I issue an online power of attorney for property purchase in Dubai?

Yes, a Power of Attorney for Property Purchase in Dubai can be issued online together with POA.ae. You just need to provide the required documents to draft the POA and make the payment for it, attend a verification call, and your online POA will be certified electronically and shared with you for further usage for your needs.


Can I appoint POA.ae for property purchase in Dubai and conveyancing service for Online Property Transactions?

Absolutely, Yes! Although we do not provide direct property sales and purchase activities, we can provide this service via the assistance of the Lex Estates company. Once your dream home or office is set, we can provide you with conveyancing services to register it under your name within the Dubai Land Department, guiding you and making the process as smooth as possible.

Disclaimer: poa.ae is a registered trademark and an online portal. It is NOT a notary office or a law firm. Any reference to potential legal services or notary services is outsourced to lawyers, law firms, or notaries licensed to practice in an appropriate jurisdiction. Your access to the website and use of our services are subject to our Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policy.