Buying Property in Dubai as a Foreigner: Freehold Areas, Rules and Steps

Foreigners can buy property in Dubai, but only in areas the Ruler has designated for non-UAE nationals. Article 4 of Law No. 7 of 2006 allows freehold ownership without time restrictions, or usufruct and leasehold rights of up to 99 years, in those areas. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) alone registers those rights and issues the title deed.

Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?

Yes. Foreigners who live abroad and expatriate residents can both buy, but only inside designated areas. The rule is in Article 4 of Law No. 7 of 2006 Concerning Real Property Registration in the Emirate of Dubai, which restricts ownership across the whole emirate to UAE nationals, nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council member states, companies fully owned by them, and public joint stock companies. Non-UAE nationals may be granted rights "in certain areas determined by the Ruler".

• Residency is not required. The UAE Government's u.ae portal states that foreigners who do not live in the UAE and expatriate residents may both acquire these rights. DLD's sale registration page accepts a valid passport from non-resident foreigners in place of an Emirates ID.
• Nationality is not a filter. Apart from the wider right given to Gulf Cooperation Council nationals, Law No. 7 of 2006 and Regulation No. 3 of 2006 treat non-UAE nationals as one group, so the same rule applies to buyers from India, the United Kingdom, Pakistan or anywhere else.
• There is no minimum age. DLD's FAQ page says the law sets no age limit to own property in Dubai. The same answer says that selling, donating or mortgaging property owned by a person under 18 needs a judgment from the competent judge.

A company can also hold the title. DLD's FAQ page says property in these areas may be registered to a company owned by non-UAE citizens if it is registered in a Dubai free zone, or in another emirate under a memorandum of understanding.

What is freehold property in Dubai?

Freehold is ownership of real property with no time limit. Usufruct and leasehold are rights for a fixed term of up to 99 years. Article 4 of Law No. 7 of 2006 opens all three to non-UAE nationals.

Right	Maximum duration	What the official sources say
Freehold ownership	No time restriction	Granted under Article 4(a) of Law No. 7 of 2006. DLD issues a title deed.
Usufruct	Up to 99 years	Registered with DLD under the real property registration laws, not in Ejari. DLD's FAQ page says it may be sold within the remaining period of the contract.
Leasehold (long-term lease)	Up to 99 years	Granted under Article 4(b). DLD is the only entity authorised to register long-term leasehold contracts under Article 6.

The practical test for leasehold vs freehold in Dubai is the registration document. Under Article 24 of Law No. 7 of 2006, a title deed issued by DLD has absolute evidentiary value in verifying real property rights, so read the document type and any term on it before paying a deposit.

Where are the freehold areas in Dubai?

Freehold areas in Dubai are defined by land plot, not by neighbourhood name. Article 3 of Regulation No. 3 of 2006 lists 23 areas and the plot numbers in each where non-UAE nationals may acquire freehold, usufruct or leasehold rights.

Area named in the Regulation	Designated plot numbers
Umm Hurair 2	013
Al Barsha South 2	002
Al Barsha South 3	002
Emirates Hills 1	004, 814
Emirates Hills 2	001, 049
Emirates Hills 3	001
Jebel Ali	051, 074, 081, 082, 083, 084, 142, 143, 391
Al Jaddaf	003, 007, 008
The World Islands	001
Ras al Khor	165
Al Rowyah	063, 065
Sheikh Zayed Road	118, 147
Sofouh 1	069
Sofouh 2	005
Al-Qouz 3	005, 006
Al-Qouz Industrial Area 2	010, 030
Al-Qouz Industrial Area 3	028
Mirdif	143, 144
Dubai Marina	007, 014, 015, 033
Palm Jebel Ali	001
Palm Jumairah	001
Nad al-Sheba	209, 215, 222
Warsan 1	002

Article 4 of the same Regulation treats plot 224 in Nad al-Sheba differently: there, non-UAE nationals may acquire only usufruct or leasehold rights for up to 99 years.

This 2006 list is the starting point, not the full current map. On 19 January 2025, DLD announced that owners of 457 plots, 128 along Sheikh Zayed Road (from the Trade Centre Roundabout to the Water Canal) and 329 in Al Jaddaf, could convert to freehold ownership open to all nationalities, for a conversion fee of 30% of the property's valuation.

Read area names with care. Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah appear in the 2006 text, but as specific plots. Downtown Dubai is not named in it at all, so the 2006 Regulation alone does not establish its status. Confirm the individual property with DLD and do not rely on a list. The Dubai area pages and the off-plan directory describe communities and projects.

How to buy property in Dubai as a foreigner: the ready-property sequence

A completed property changes hands at a Real Estate Registration Trustee centre, where DLD's system records the sale and issues an electronic title deed. DLD's Property Sale Registration page lists an expected completion time of 20 minutes. Off-plan purchases follow a different route, set out in the off-plan buying guide.

1. Check the property. DLD's property status inquiry returns the status of a property from its area and land number. It is available on the DLD website and in the Dubai REST app, and the result is immediate.
2. Check the broker. DLD's FAQ page says a broker must be registered in the brokers registry and hold a broker card from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency. DLD publishes a searchable list of licensed real estate brokers.
3. Arrange the money. Article 3 of the Central Bank of the UAE's Regulations Regarding Mortgage Loans caps lending to expatriates at 80% of the property value for a first home worth less than AED 5 million, 70% above AED 5 million, and 60% for a second home or investment property. See the non-resident mortgage guide and the mortgage eligibility calculator.
4. Obtain the developer's e-NOC. In freehold areas, DLD requires a no-objection e-certificate from the developer, issued through the Dubai REST app.
5. Attend the trustee centre. Seller and buyer, or their legally authorised representatives, submit documents for verification. Individuals need an Emirates ID, or a valid passport for non-resident foreigners.
6. Pay the fees. DLD lists ePay, Dubai Pay, the Noqodi wallet and manager's cheque as payment methods. Buyers planning to fund the price from digital assets should read the guide to buying with cryptocurrency first.
7. Receive the title deed. DLD issues an electronic title deed and electronic map, sent by email.

Buyers who cannot travel have two options on DLD's FAQ page. A representative can act under a power of attorney, which is valid for five years from notarisation for a purchase. A power of attorney issued abroad must be ratified by a notary public and the foreign ministry in the country of origin, the UAE Embassy there, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. See the power of attorney guide. DLD also describes recorded video call registration through the trustee's office for parties outside the country.

A second channel, the Dubai Now app, is not open to non-resident buyers: DLD's page says it serves only individuals holding a UAE ID, and only for mortgage-free subdivided units in freehold areas.

What does DLD charge to register a sale?

DLD's Property Sale Registration page lists the fee as 2% of the sale value from the buyer and 2% from the seller, 4% in total, plus fixed fees. Executive Council Resolution No. 30 of 2013 says the fee is shared equally by seller and purchaser "unless agreed otherwise", so the sale contract decides who actually pays.

Fee	Amount	Paid to
Buyer's registration fee	2% of the sale value	DLD
Seller's registration fee	2% of the sale value	DLD
Title deed certificate issuance	AED 250	DLD
Map, villas and apartments	AED 250	DLD
Knowledge fee	AED 10	DLD
Innovation fee	AED 10	DLD
Service partner fee, sale value of AED 500,000 or more	AED 4,000 + VAT	Trustee centre
Service partner fee, sale value under AED 500,000	AED 2,000 + VAT	Trustee centre

Mortgage registration, broker commission and service charges are separate: see the guide to buying costs and the buying costs calculator.

Can I get residency in Dubai by buying a home?

Not automatically, but ownership makes the owner eligible to apply. DLD's services catalogue lists two property-linked permits.

Permit	Property condition	DLD's listed fee for the owner
Investor residence (Taskeen), 2 years	Individual owner: any property value. Co-owner: share of not less than AED 400,000.	AED 10,212.50
Golden Visa for investors, 10 years, renewable	Purchase value of AED 2 million or more, in one or more properties in the applicant's name. A mortgaged property needs a bank letter.	AED 9,884.75 in total

Both list a completion time of 7 to 10 business days, and the applicant must attend in person. Official pages do not fully agree on the Golden Visa term. DLD's service page describes a 10 year renewable permit, while the summary table on the federal u.ae portal lists real estate investments at 5 years. DLD's own FAQ page also describes other thresholds, including a five year residency above AED 2 million. Confirm current terms with DLD, and see the Golden Visa guide for property investors.

What are the disadvantages of buying property in Dubai as a foreigner?

The main limits are legal, and each comes from the official sources above.

• Location is restricted. Article 4 limits the rights of non-UAE nationals to the areas the Ruler has determined. Under Article 26 of Law No. 7 of 2006, an agreement that breaches or tries to circumvent the law is null and void.
• An unregistered deal does not count. A sale is not deemed effective unless recorded in the Real Property Register.
• A term right ends. Usufruct and leasehold cannot exceed 99 years. The laws read for this guide do not say what happens at expiry. Article 25 of Law No. 7 of 2006 applies the federal Civil Code to matters the law does not cover, so ask a lawyer how your contract treats the end of the term.
• Inheritance runs through the courts. DLD's FAQ page says it registers the property of a deceased foreign owner on a letter approved by Dubai Courts. A lawyer can advise on a will.
• The Arabic text prevails. The official English translations published by the Supreme Legislation Committee state that the Arabic original governs in a conflict.

To compare buying with renting, use the rent vs buy calculator.

What this does not cover

This guide does not cover off-plan purchases, mortgage registration, or the rules a buyer's home country applies to sending money abroad and to tax on foreign property. It is general information, not legal or financial advice. A UAE-licensed lawyer or conveyancer can advise on a specific purchase.