Buying Dubai Off-Plan Property from Saudi Arabia and the GCC

GCC nationals and GCC residents

Ownership in Dubai depends on nationality, not on where you live.

• GCC nationals. Under Article 4 of Dubai’s real property registration law, the right to own property in the emirate is restricted to UAE nationals, nationals of the GCC member states, companies wholly owned by them and public joint stock companies. In short, UAE and GCC nationals may own property anywhere in Dubai (Article 4 of Law No. 7 of 2006); other foreigners only in designated areas. The Dubai Land Department’s own FAQ describes this as ownership across all regions for Emirati and GCC citizens.
• Residents of the GCC with other nationalities. Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 on real property registration, non-UAE nationals may own freehold property, or hold usufruct or long leasehold rights, in the areas designated for them. Where you live does not change this.

For both groups, a property’s title, the master community’s rules and the sales and purchase agreement still set what you can do with the unit. Read the full guide: Buying property in Dubai from Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

Buying remotely or in person

Dubai is close enough that many steps can be done either way. You choose what suits you.

From home:

• video viewings of the show unit, the site and the community;
• copies of your documents sent securely;
• payments by bank transfer into the project’s escrow account named in your sales and purchase agreement;
• construction progress and your payments due followed in the Dubai REST app.

On a short visit:

• viewings of the show unit and completed buildings by the same developer;
• signing the sales and purchase agreement in person, if the developer asks for it or you prefer it;
• the handover inspection, when the unit is complete.

Whether you can sign electronically depends on the developer. If someone will act for you, DLD requires a power of attorney issued outside the UAE to be ratified by a notary public and the foreign affairs ministry in your country, the UAE Embassy there, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Read the full guide: Buying property in Dubai remotely.

Documents

For an individual buyer, DLD’s interim registration asks for a copy of the sales and purchase agreement and a valid UAE ID, or a valid passport for non-residents. Developers and lenders may ask for more. Our checklist covers each stage: Documents you need to buy property in Dubai.

Financing

You can pay the instalments from your own funds or look at a UAE mortgage. Central Bank rules cap borrowing on an off-plan purchase at 50% of the property value. For completed homes, the caps differ between UAE nationals and expatriates. Which caps a lender applies to a GCC national is a question to put to the lender, as each lender decides whether to lend to you and on what terms. Rules in your home country on borrowing or investing abroad may also apply, so check them with your own bank and authorities.

Working with us in Arabic

Our team of 30 includes Arabic speakers, as well as members who speak English, Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam and Punjabi. You can compare projects, review payment plans and walk through the contract in Arabic, and we can plan viewings around a short visit to Dubai.