Buying Property in Dubai as an International Investor

Yes. Foreign nationals of any nationality can buy property with full freehold ownership in Dubai's designated freehold areas. There is no UAE residency requirement to purchase — you can own Dubai property while living entirely abroad.

Yes, remote purchase is supported. Viewings can be done by live video, and documents can generally be signed remotely; a power of attorney arrangement also exists for buyers who cannot attend in person. Because requirements can vary by transaction, we recommend engaging independent legal counsel to confirm the right route for your situation.

As of July 2026, budget for the DLD transfer fee of 4% of the purchase price plus an AED 580 admin fee, agency commission of typically 2% plus VAT, a registration trustee fee of roughly AED 2,100 to 4,200 including VAT, and — on secondary-market purchases — a developer NOC fee that usually ranges from AED 500 to 5,000. If you are financing, add a mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the loan amount.

As of July 2026, a property investment of AED 2 million or more can qualify an owner to apply for the UAE's 10-year Golden Visa. Eligibility criteria and application requirements are set by the UAE authorities and can change, so verify the current criteria through official channels before making the visa a deciding factor in a purchase.

Foreign buyers can own eligible Dubai property in areas designated for foreign ownership, subject to the specific title and land classification. Verify the project's ownership status before purchase.

Yes. Nationality alone does not prevent an eligible foreign buyer — Indian, Pakistani, British, American, Canadian or any other citizenship — from purchasing in Dubai's designated freehold areas. Home-country tax, reporting, banking and remittance rules still need separate consideration.

Companies can own eligible property when the entity, jurisdiction and Dubai Land Department requirements are satisfied. Corporate purchases should be checked with the DLD and qualified legal and tax advisers, because documentation differs from individual purchases.

Individuals generally need a valid passport and KYC/source-of-funds information, with UAE ID or residency documents if applicable. The Dubai Land Department's provisional registration service accepts a passport for non-resident buyers (see the DLD's Oqood portal at oqood.dubailand.gov.ae); developers and banks can require more.

Not always. Many overseas buyers can reserve and pay from foreign accounts, subject to KYC and banking requirements, although a UAE account can be useful for mortgages, rent collection and ongoing ownership.

Usually yes, where the developer or trustee account accepts the transfer and KYC/source-of-funds requirements are satisfied. Always verify beneficiary details directly through official developer channels.

Some UAE banks lend to non-residents, but eligible countries, income requirements and loan-to-value limits are bank-specific. Get current pre-approval before committing to a transaction that depends on finance.

Yes, where a bank offers financing for the eligible project and buyer, but off-plan financing is more limited. The Central Bank of the UAE's framework caps off-plan lending at 50% loan-to-value, while banks can apply stricter credit and project rules (see the Central Bank of the UAE at centralbank.ae).

Under the current Central Bank of the UAE framework, an expatriate's first owner-occupied home can have a maximum loan-to-value of 80% up to AED 5 million and 70% above AED 5 million; investment and subsequent properties have lower caps, and banks may be stricter (see the Central Bank of the UAE at centralbank.ae).