Foreigners can own property outright in the UAE, with no local partner, in the freehold areas of Dubai and the investment zones of Abu Dhabi, on a passport alone. The purchase takes four to eight weeks for a ready property bought with cash and eight to twelve weeks with a mortgage. Budget 7 to 9 percent of the price on top in Dubai and 4 to 6 percent in Abu Dhabi, all payable in cash because since February 2025 UAE banks may not finance fees. This guide lists where you can buy, itemises every cost with a worked AED 2,000,000 example for both cities, walks through the process from offer to title deed, and gives you the questions to ask before you sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
At a glance
| Item | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Who can buy freehold | Any nationality, resident or not, in designated freehold areas | Any nationality, resident or not, in designated investment zones (full freehold since 2019) |
| Land registry | Dubai Land Department (DLD) | DMT, overseen by ADREC; DARI platform |
| Transfer fee | 4% of price, paid by buyer in practice | 2% of price, paid by buyer in practice |
| Agent commission | 2% plus 5% VAT, buyer pays on resale; usually nil on off-plan from developer | 2% plus VAT, buyer pays on resale |
| Registration and trustee fees | Trustee AED 4,200 (above AED 500,000); title deed AED 250–580; admin AED 580 | Registration and title fees, typically AED 1,000–2,500 in total |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of loan plus AED 290 | 0.1% of loan, minimum AED 1,000 (confirm at DMT) |
| Developer NOC on resale | AED 500–5,000, seller usually pays | AED 500–3,000 |
| Can fees be financed? | No, since CBUAE rule of February 2025 | No |
| Property tax | None | None |
| Timeline, cash buyer | 4–8 weeks | 4–8 weeks |
| Timeline, mortgage buyer | 8–12 weeks | 8–12 weeks |
Sources: DLD, ADREC, DMT, UAE Central Bank. Reviewed September 2026. Fees change; confirm the current schedule with the DLD or DMT before completion.
The main ones, grouped by lifestyle:
Waterfront and city: Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai Creek Harbour, Bluewaters, Dubai Harbour, Port de la Mer, Al Jaddaf, Dubai Maritime City.
Family villa communities: Arabian Ranches 1 to 3, Dubai Hills Estate, The Springs, The Meadows, The Lakes, Emirates Hills, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Damac Hills 1 and 2, Mudon, Town Square, Villanova, Tilal Al Ghaf, The Valley, Damac Lagoons, Jumeirah Village Circle and Triangle, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Islands, Al Furjan, Dubai South, Dubailand communities.
Established apartment districts: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, The Greens and Views, Motor City, Sports City, Discovery Gardens, Silicon Oasis, International City, Mirdif Hills, Al Barsha South.
Newer master plans: Expo City, Dubai South, Palm Jebel Ali, Rashid Yachts and Marina, Dubai Islands, Sobha Hartland, MBR City districts.
Areas outside the freehold list, such as most of Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al Barsha 1 and Mirdif proper, are restricted to UAE and GCC nationals or offer long leasehold only. The DLD map on the Dubai REST app confirms a plot's status.
Al Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Al Raha Beach, Al Reef, Masdar City, Al Ghadeer, Hydra Village, Al Jurf, Ramhan Island, Jubail Island, Nurai Island, Al Shamkha (Al Reeman, Alreeman 2, Reeman Living), Zayed City (Bloom Living), Khalifa City (selected developments), Al Falah, Lea and Noya on Yas, Fahid Island, Saadiyat Lagoons, Saadiyat Reserve, Yas Acres and Yas Golf Collection. Al Ain has designated zones too.
Outside these, ownership by foreigners is not permitted.
| Item | Rule | AED |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | 20%, CBUAE minimum for expats on a first property under AED 5,000,000 | 400,000 |
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of price | 80,000 |
| DLD admin fee | Fixed | 580 |
| Title deed issuance | Fixed | 250 |
| Trustee office fee | AED 4,000 plus VAT for property above AED 500,000 | 4,200 |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of loan (AED 1,600,000) plus AED 290 | 4,290 |
| Bank arrangement fee | Typically 0.5–1% of loan plus VAT | 8,400–16,800 |
| Property valuation | Bank panel valuer | 2,500–3,500 |
| Agent commission | 2% plus VAT | 42,000 |
| Developer NOC | Usually seller, sometimes shared | 0–5,000 |
| Building insurance, year one | Required by lender | 1,500–3,000 |
| Life insurance, year one | Required by most lenders, roughly 0.3–0.5% of loan per year | 5,000–8,000 |
| Conveyancing lawyer (optional, recommended) | Fixed fee | 5,000–15,000 |
| Total cash on completion excluding down payment | About 149,000–178,000 | |
| Total cash including down payment | About 549,000–578,000 |
Cash buyers remove the mortgage lines and land at about AED 129,000–146,000 on top of the price, or 6.5–7.3 percent.
| Item | Rule | AED |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | 20% | 400,000 |
| Transfer fee | 2% of price, buyer pays in practice | 40,000 |
| Registration and title fees | DMT schedule | 1,000–2,500 |
| Mortgage registration | About 0.1% of loan, confirm | 1,600–2,000 |
| Bank arrangement, valuation, insurance | As Dubai | 17,000–30,000 |
| Agent commission | 2% plus VAT | 42,000 |
| Developer NOC | Seller or shared | 0–3,000 |
| Conveyancing lawyer (optional) | Fixed fee | 5,000–15,000 |
| Total cash on completion excluding down payment | About 107,000–135,000 |
Abu Dhabi's lower transfer fee saves a buyer around AED 40,000 on an AED 2,000,000 purchase against Dubai.
Why the fees must be in cash. In February 2025 the UAE Central Bank directed banks to stop including the DLD transfer fee, agent commission and related costs inside the mortgage. Previously some lenders financed them. Now the down payment and every fee are paid from your own funds. On AED 2,000,000 that moves the cash requirement from about AED 400,000 to about AED 550,000 for a mortgaged buyer.
Launched in July 2025 by the DLD and the Department of Economy and Tourism, the programme gives UAE residents aged 18 and over who have never owned freehold property in Dubai priority access to launches, developer discounts, and preferential mortgage terms from participating banks, on properties priced up to AED 5,000,000. Registration is through the Dubai REST app. It does not reduce the DLD fee. It is worth registering before you start viewing, because some developer allocations are only released to registered members.
Do you need a lawyer? Not by law. In practice, yes for a first purchase, any purchase involving a power of attorney, an existing mortgage, a tenanted unit or a company buyer. A conveyancing fee of AED 5,000–15,000 is small against a 10% deposit at risk. Our verified partner Davidson and Co provides property and conveyancing advice across the UAE.
Non-residents can buy in both cities. You will need a UAE bank account to pay from, or you can pay through the trustee from an overseas account with the trustee's confirmation. Powers of attorney signed abroad must be notarised, attested by the UAE embassy and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE, then translated into Arabic.
Companies can own property in the freehold areas if they are registered in the UAE (mainland or free zone, subject to DLD approval) or through certain offshore structures approved by the DLD. Ownership through a company can have inheritance and tax advantages for some nationalities. Take advice; our UAE Wealth Management guide explains why succession planning matters for expat-owned assets in the UAE.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Service charges | AED 12–30 per sq ft per year in apartments; AED 3–10 per sq ft in villa communities. Published per building on the DLD Service Charge Index |
| Building insurance | Included in service charges for most apartments; owner's responsibility for villas |
| Contents insurance | AED 500–2,000 per year |
| DEWA or ADDC | AED 300–1,500 per month depending on size and season |
| District cooling capacity charge | Often fixed and paid by the owner even when vacant |
| Maintenance reserve | 1% of value per year is prudent |
| Property management if let | 5–8% of rent |
| Corporate tax | Not on personal rental income. Company-owned property may be within scope. See our UAE Taxation Guide |
| Selling later | Expect 2% plus VAT to the agent, the developer NOC, and 4–8 weeks to complete. If you sell within the holding period attached to a property visa (3 years in Dubai, 2 in Abu Dhabi) the visa may be cancelled. No capital gains tax in the UAE, but your home country may tax the gain if you remain tax resident there. |
Frequently asked questions
We will tell you whether the fees, the timeline and the area make sense for your situation, at no cost. For viewings, our verified partner Altura Property. For contracts and conveyancing, Davidson and Co. For mortgages, HSBC. All independently vetted by Relocate2UAE.
Trust
Relocate2UAE, Abu Dhabi, reviewed by property and conveyancing professionals operating in both emirates.
DLD, ADREC, DMT and UAE Central Bank schedules. Fee review September 2026.
Independent. Relocate2UAE does not earn from your purchase or your mortgage.
What changed since the last version: first publication. Fee schedules, the February 2025 Central Bank rule and the First-Time Home Buyer Programme reviewed September 2026.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Fees and rules change. Always verify the current schedule with the DLD or DMT and take professional advice before signing.
