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.
Yes, foreigners can buy property in Dubai, in areas designated for foreign ownership. Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 on real property registration, non-UAE nationals may be granted freehold ownership, or usufruct or leasehold rights, in areas determined by the Ruler. You do not need to live in the UAE to buy, and the UAE government portal states that there is no age limit to own property in Dubai.
The rest of this guide explains what those rights mean, how the designated areas are set, and how to check that a specific property is one you can own.
Dubai’s real property registration law sets two tiers of ownership. 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.
In the designated areas, subject to the Ruler’s approval, non-UAE nationals may be granted freehold ownership without time restriction, or usufruct or leasehold rights for a term capped by the law.
The law applies to “non-UAE nationals”, so it covers foreign residents of the UAE and buyers living abroad alike. The UAE government portal confirms this: foreigners who do not live in the UAE and expatriate residents may both acquire freehold ownership in the designated areas. See expatriates buying a property in the UAE.
Ownership is registered with the Dubai Land Department (DLD), which is the only body authorised to register real property rights in Dubai. The law gives the property register absolute evidentiary value, and transactions that create or transfer property rights are not valid unless they are recorded in it. You can read the law on the Dubai Legal Portal.
The law names three kinds of right a foreign buyer may hold in a designated area.
| Right | What it means in general terms |
|---|---|
| Freehold | Full ownership of the property, without a time limit. You can sell, lease, mortgage or leave it to heirs, subject to the law and the community’s rules. |
| Usufruct | The right to use the property and benefit from it for a fixed term, while someone else owns it. |
| Leasehold | A long lease registered with DLD, for a fixed term. |
The maximum term for usufruct and leasehold is set in Article 4 of the law. Always confirm which right you are buying. The sale and purchase agreement (SPA) and, after completion, the title deed state it. If the right is usufruct or leasehold, ask how long the term is and what happens when it ends.
The Ruler designates areas for foreign ownership. The first designation was Regulation No. 3 of 2006, which lists specific land plots across several communities, shown on maps issued by DLD. Later resolutions have added further land since then.
Because the designations are made plot by plot and have been added to over time, we do not publish a list of freehold areas. An area name alone does not prove that a particular building or plot is designated. The reliable way to check is to look at the specific property.
How to check a specific project:
Our guide to verifying a project and broker walks through these checks, and our guide to choosing an area in Dubai helps you compare communities against your goals.
No. Owning property in Dubai does not depend on holding a UAE residence visa, and non-residents can register a purchase using a passport. DLD’s off-plan registration service lists a copy of a valid passport for non-residents among the documents for individual buyers.
Two related points:
You can buy in your own name, with others, or through a company. Each route has different paperwork and different consequences, so take advice on which suits you.
As an individual. This is the simplest route. You need your passport, or UAE ID if you are a resident, and the SPA.
Jointly. Two or more people can buy together, for example a couple or family members. Each owner’s name and identity documents go on the SPA and the registration. Decide the names and shares before signing, because the SPA and the DLD registration record them.
Through a company. DLD’s registration service lists separate document sets for sole establishments, limited liability companies, foreign companies and GCC companies. These include the trade licence, the memorandum of association with a legal translation into Arabic, a shareholder certificate and, for some companies, a no objection letter from the free zone. See DLD’s initial sale registration service. Buying through a company can change how tax, inheritance and residence applications work. Ask a lawyer and a tax adviser before choosing this route.
Our documents guide lists what each type of buyer should prepare.
Questions about your own purchase?
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If you are a citizen of a Gulf Cooperation Council member state, your rights are wider. Article 4 lets GCC nationals, and companies fully owned by them, own property across the emirate, not only in designated areas. DLD’s FAQ describes this as “ownership across all regions by Emirati or GCC citizens”. See our guide to buying property in Dubai from Saudi Arabia and the GCC.
Property ownership rules for foreigners are set by each emirate, and they differ. This guide covers Dubai only, and Next Reality advises on Dubai property. For an overview of the rules in other emirates, see the UAE government portal’s page on expatriates buying a property in the UAE.
If you are buying from abroad, start with our guides to buying property in Dubai from India and buying remotely. To talk through a specific project, our off-plan advisory service explains how we work. Every consultation is free, with no obligation.
General information only
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.
Yes. The UAE government portal states that foreigners who do not live in the UAE, as well as expatriate residents, can acquire freehold property in Dubai's designated areas. Non-resident buyers use a passport for DLD registration. Owning property can support some residence applications, but the purchase itself does not require one.
It is an area where the Ruler has allowed non-UAE nationals to own property. Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 gives that power, and Regulation No. 3 of 2006 designated the first set of land plots. Later resolutions added more. In these areas, foreigners may hold freehold ownership without time limit, or usufruct or leasehold rights for a limited term.
Dubai law defines real property to include land, and the regulation designating areas for foreign ownership lists land plots. So foreigners may hold rights over land, not only apartments, but only where that land falls in a designated area. Whether a specific plot can be sold to you depends on its designation and its developer's terms, so check before you commit.
The UAE government portal states that there is no age limit to own property in Dubai. For a buyer who is a minor, DLD's off-plan registration terms say the sale and purchase agreement is signed by the guardian, with a copy of the guardian's passport or ID. Banks set their own age rules for mortgages.
Official sources used on this page. Each was checked on the date shown.
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