Yes, a resident Indian can buy freehold property in Dubai, and RBI allows money for it to be sent under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme within a yearly limit of USD 250,000. This guide explains the Dubai ownership rules, how remittance works in general terms, how to pay into a project escrow account from India, signing remotely, and where Indian tax questions should go. It is general information, not tax or FEMA advice.
Written by Next Reality Research11 min read
Key points
Non-UAE nationals, including Indian citizens, may own freehold property in areas of Dubai designated by the Ruler under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 on real property registration.
RBI says a resident individual can send money under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme to buy property abroad, within a combined limit of USD 250,000 per financial year.
Off-plan payments go only into the project's escrow account, never into a broker's account. You can check the escrow bank and project status on DLD's own services.
The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals, but Indian tax may apply to you. Check with a tax adviser in India before you commit.
Much of the process can be done from India, but some steps, such as a Golden Visa application, need you in the UAE.
Yes, you can buy property in Dubai from India. Dubai law allows non-UAE nationals to own freehold property in designated areas, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allows a resident individual to send money abroad to buy property under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). The details differ depending on whether you live in India or abroad, and Indian tax may apply in either case.
This guide explains the Dubai side in detail and the Indian side in general terms. We are a Dubai brokerage, not a tax or foreign exchange adviser. For anything about Indian tax or the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), speak to your bank and a tax adviser in India.
Who this guide is for
Indian rules on overseas property depend on your residential status, so start by working out which group you are in.
Resident Indians live in India for Indian law purposes. If you send money from India to buy property abroad, the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme is the main route, and your bank applies its conditions.
Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are, in RBI’s definition, citizens of India who are resident outside India. If you live and earn in the UAE or another country, you may pay from funds you hold abroad. The LRS is a scheme for residents of India, so it is not the rule that governs money you already hold outside India.
Some families include both. For example, one spouse may live in Dubai while parents in India want to co-own. In that case, each person’s part of the payment follows the rules that apply to them. RBI’s property FAQ also lists buying “jointly with a relative who is a person resident outside India” as one of the ways a resident can acquire property abroad.
If your status is about to change, for instance because you are moving back to India, ask a tax adviser before you buy. RBI states that a person resident in India can continue to hold property abroad that was acquired while they were resident outside India.
Can an Indian resident own property in Dubai?
Yes, in designated areas. The Dubai side and the Indian side each have their own rules.
The Dubai side. Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 on real property registration, the right to own property across the whole emirate is limited to UAE and GCC nationals and certain companies. Non-UAE nationals, which includes Indian citizens wherever they live, may be granted freehold ownership, or usufruct or leasehold rights, in areas determined by the Ruler. The UAE government portal confirms that foreigners who do not live in the UAE and expatriate residents can both acquire freehold property in these areas, and that there is no age limit to own property in Dubai. See expatriates buying a property in the UAE.
There is no single official list of every freehold area that we can reproduce here, because the original regulation has been added to over time. The practical step is to check the specific project on DLD's Project Status Enquiry (Mashrooi) on the DLD website and in the Dubai REST app, which shows a registered project’s status, developer and escrow bank. Our guide on whether foreigners can buy property in Dubai explains freehold, usufruct and leasehold in more detail.
The Indian side. Under FEMA, a resident of India can acquire property abroad only through the routes RBI permits. RBI’s FAQ asks, “Can a resident individual send remittances and purchase property outside India?” Its answer is direct. Yes, LRS may be used to buy immovable property abroad. RBI also lists other permitted routes, such as inheritance and purchase from foreign exchange held in an RFC account. Read the RBI FAQ on purchase of immovable property and ask your bank which route applies to you.
Sending money: the Liberalised Remittance Scheme in brief
The LRS lets resident individuals in India remit money abroad for permitted current and capital account transactions. Your bank, as an authorised dealer, carries out the remittance and checks it against the rules. What follows is a summary of the RBI’s published FAQ, not advice on your case.
Annual limit and permitted purpose
RBI states that all resident individuals, including minors, may remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year (April to March). Three points matter for a property purchase:
The limit is shared. It covers all your LRS remittances in the year, such as travel, education and investments, not property alone. Money you have already sent for other purposes reduces what is left.
Remittances can be made in instalments. RBI says there is no restriction on how often you remit, as long as the year’s total stays within the limit. That suits an off-plan payment plan, where payments fall due over time. Plan each instalment against the limit for the financial year in which it falls due.
The scheme is for individuals. RBI states that it is not available to corporates, partnership firms, HUFs or trusts.
RBI also sets out what your bank will ask for. You need a Permanent Account Number (PAN) for all LRS transactions. For capital account remittances, which include buying property, you designate one bank branch for the remittances, and RBI says the bank should check that you have held the account for a minimum period first. You declare the purpose on Form A2 and state that the funds are your own. The bank may ask for a bank statement or tax return to understand your source of funds. RBI notes that the final responsibility for following FEMA rules is the remitter’s.
Indian tax rules may apply to money you send abroad, and your bank may collect an amount at the time of remittance. We do not state the rates or thresholds on this site. They are set by Indian law, they can change, and the treatment can depend on your circumstances.
Before you plan a payment schedule, ask your remitting bank what it will collect on each instalment and how it will be reported. Ask a tax adviser in India how any amount collected relates to your own tax position. The Income Tax Department of India is the authority on these rules.
Pooling remittances within the family
A single person’s yearly limit may not cover a full payment plan. RBI addresses this directly: remittances for acquiring property outside India from a person resident outside India “may be consolidated in respect of relatives if such relatives, being persons resident in India, comply with the terms and conditions of the Scheme”. RBI’s FAQ uses the definition of “relative” in the Companies Act, 2013.
In general, family members who contribute should be named as co-owners where the bank requires it. Each person’s remittance counts against their own limit, and each person must meet the scheme’s conditions. How the property is held, and in whose names, also affects Dubai registration, so settle this before the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) is signed. Your bank and a tax adviser in India can confirm what is acceptable for your family.
Paying into escrow from India
For off-plan property in Dubai, buyer payments go into a dedicated escrow account for that project under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007 on escrow accounts. The money in that account can only be used for building that project. This is the most important protection you have as an overseas buyer, so the payment step deserves care. Our guide to escrow accounts and buyer protection explains how it works.
A practical sequence for paying from India:
Confirm the escrow details from official sources. The SPA or the developer’s payment request should name the project escrow account. Check the project on DLD’s Project Status Enquiry or the Dubai REST app, which shows the escrow account number and payments due for off-plan projects.
Give your bank the full payment details. Your bank will need the beneficiary name, account number and bank as stated in your SPA, the purpose of the remittance, and supporting documents such as the SPA or booking form. Purpose codes and document lists are set by the bank, so ask them early.
Send the payment yourself. Remit directly from your account to the project escrow account. Dubai rules back this up. Brokers must pay off-plan buyer money straight into the project escrow account, without deducting commission. No broker should ask you to send off-plan money to their own account.
Keep the proof. Save the bank’s remittance advice, the developer’s receipt and any LRS paperwork. You will need them later for registration, for Indian tax filings and when you sell.
Be alert to payment fraud, such as an email or message that gives you changed bank details. If you receive new account details, stop and verify them with the developer through a contact you already have, and check them against the escrow details on DLD’s service before sending anything.
On top of the price, budget for DLD fees. For an off-plan sale, DLD lists these Oqood registration fees: 4% of the sale value (2% from the seller and 2% from the buyer), an AED 10 knowledge fee and an AED 10 innovation fee, and AED 1,000 when the developer registers the sale in Oqood itself. Our cost of buying off-plan guide lists every fee, and the purchase cost calculator gives an estimate. Remember that your LRS limit must cover these amounts too if you pay them from India.
Signing and registering remotely
You do not always need to be in Dubai to buy. For off-plan property, the developer registers the sale on DLD’s interim register through the Oqood portal, within 90 days of signing the sale and purchase contract. For individuals, DLD’s required documents include a copy of the SPA and a copy of a valid passport for non-residents, and the registration certificate is sent to the purchaser by email. See DLD’s initial sale registration service.
Some developers offer electronic signing of the SPA. This depends on the developer, so ask before you book. Where you cannot attend a step in person, a representative holding a power of attorney may be able to act for you. Preparing and attesting a power of attorney from India is a legal step, so use a notary or lawyer.
On the UAE side, the official position for individuals has two parts.
Tax on individuals.There is no income tax on individuals, and their real estate investment income is not subject to Corporate Tax.
Income an individual earns from UAE real estate, per the Federal Tax Authority.It is not subject to UAE Corporate Tax, whatever the amount, when the individual does not need a licence for it.
Property held through a company, or let as a licensed holiday home, can be treated differently. Our guide to UAE property taxes for individuals explains this.
That is only half the picture. Indian tax may apply to rental income from a Dubai property, to gains when you sell, and to the remittance itself, depending on your residential status and Indian tax law. Questions about relief where the same income could be taxed in two countries are also a matter of Indian law. We do not give Indian tax advice and do not summarise those rules here.
Check with a tax adviser in India before you buy. For official guidance, start with the Income Tax Department of India page on double taxation relief.
Keep a clean paper trail
Keep copies of every remittance advice, the SPA, the Oqood certificate, payment receipts and, after completion, the
title deed. Your tax adviser in India and your bank may ask for them, and you will need them again when you sell.
Financing options
If you pay from savings, an off-plan payment plan spreads the cost over time, so you can send instalments under the LRS as they fall due. If you want a mortgage, the main option is a UAE bank. Lending is regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE, and for property bought off-plan the maximum loan-to-value is 50% of the property value, so you need substantial funds of your own. Individual banks may lend less, and their criteria for non-residents vary.
Whether you can borrow in India for a property abroad, and whether repaying a UAE loan from India counts against your LRS limit, are questions for your Indian bank. Our guide to UAE mortgages for non-residents explains what UAE banks typically look at.
Golden Visa for Indian investors
Owning property in Dubai can open a path to UAE residence, but it is never automatic. Under the criteria set by the authorities, a real estate investor may qualify for the Golden Visa with property worth at least AED 2 million, subject to conditions set by ICP, GDRFA Dubai and DLD. The DLD service also states that the applicant must be inside the UAE to apply.
Next Reality is a Dubai brokerage with a team of 30 working in 7 languages: English, Arabic, Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam and Punjabi. For buyers in India, we plan around Indian timelines and paperwork.
What we do:
Explain each step of the Dubai process in your language, and help you check a project and its escrow account on DLD’s official services.
Map the developer’s payment plan against your financial year, so you and your bank can plan remittances.
Coordinate signing and registration with the developer, and tell you which steps need you, a representative or nothing at all.
Refer you to a lawyer, notary or tax adviser when a question goes beyond property advice.
What we do not do: we do not give Indian tax or FEMA advice, we do not handle your money, and we do not arrange remittances. Payments go from your bank to the project escrow account.
We work Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 Dubai time. Every consultation is free, with no obligation. See our remote buying service for how a purchase from India runs end to end.
This page is general information, not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. Rules and fees are set by the authorities and can change. Confirm the details with the authority or a licensed adviser before you act. Read our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Can a resident Indian buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Dubai law lets non-UAE nationals hold freehold property in designated areas, and RBI states that a resident individual can send remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme to buy immovable property outside India. You must follow the scheme's conditions through your bank, and Indian tax rules may apply to you, so speak to your bank and a tax adviser in India first.
How much can I send abroad under LRS for property?
RBI sets a combined limit of USD 250,000 per financial year for each resident individual, across all LRS purposes, not just property. RBI also allows remittances for property to be consolidated for relatives who are resident in India and each comply with the scheme. Your bank applies the rules, so confirm your available limit with them before you sign.
Is tax collected on money sent abroad for property?
Indian tax rules may apply to foreign remittances, and the rates and thresholds are set by Indian law and change over time. We do not advise on Indian tax. Ask your remitting bank what it will collect, and check with a tax adviser in India and the Income Tax Department before you plan your payment schedule.
Will rental income from Dubai be taxed in India?
The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals, but whether income or gains from a Dubai property are taxable in India depends on your residential status and Indian tax law. This is a question for a tax adviser in India. The Income Tax Department publishes guidance on relief from double taxation.
Can I buy without travelling to Dubai?
Often yes for the purchase itself. Developers register off-plan sales on DLD's Oqood system, and non-residents can use a passport. Signing may be electronic where the developer offers it, and some steps can be done through a representative. Some services, such as applying for a Golden Visa, require you to be in the UAE.
Sources
Official sources used on this page. Each was checked on the date shown.
You can buy off-plan property in Dubai without visiting. Developers register sales online with DLD, electronic signing may be available where the developer offers it, and payments go by bank transfer to the project's escrow account. A few steps may need you in person or a representative with a power of attorney. This guide explains what can be done from abroad, how to view and verify a project, how to pay safely, and how to handle handover and leasing from overseas.
Non-residents can borrow from some UAE banks to buy property in Dubai, but whether a bank lends to you, and on what terms, is the bank's decision. The Central Bank's limits on loan size, term and affordability still apply. This guide explains those limits, the documents banks usually ask for, how off-plan lending works and the alternatives. It does not quote rates or name banks.
Yes. Dubai law lets non-UAE nationals own property in areas designated by the Ruler, as freehold without time limit or as usufruct or leasehold for a limited term. You do not need to live in the UAE, and the UAE government says there is no age limit to own. This guide explains freehold and leasehold, how the designated areas are set, how to check a specific project, and how individuals, joint buyers and companies can buy.
Book a free consultation
Every consultation is free, with no obligation. Our team speaks 7 languages.
