Yes. Foreigners can buy off-plan property in Dubai, including buyers who do not currently live in the UAE, provided the property is within an area where ownership by non-UAE nationals is permitted and the transaction complies with Dubai’s property-registration rules.

Dubai’s legal framework expressly allows non-UAE nationals to acquire freehold property without a time restriction in areas designated for foreign ownership. It also allows usufruct or leasehold rights for periods of up to 99 years in qualifying locations.

For an international buyer, one of the most important practical details is that UAE residency is not generally required simply to register an off-plan purchase. Dubai Land Department’s current Initial Sale Registration requirements accept a valid passport for a non-resident purchaser.

That makes Dubai’s off-plan market accessible to buyers living in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and elsewhere.

However, foreign ownership is not unrestricted across every plot of land in Dubai.

The exact property must be eligible for foreign ownership, the project should be properly registered, purchaser payments should operate through the applicable project escrow framework, and the sale should be provisionally registered through Dubai Land Department.

Foreigners Buying Dubai Off-Plan Property at a Glance

Question	Answer
Can foreigners buy off-plan property?	Yes, in qualifying areas
Must the buyer live in the UAE?	No, not generally for initial off-plan registration
Can a non-resident use a passport?	Yes
Can foreigners own freehold?	Yes, in designated ownership areas
Is freehold ownership time-limited?	No, qualifying freehold ownership is without time restriction
Can foreigners buy through a company?	Possible in qualifying structures, subject to DLD requirements
Must the project be registered?	Yes, qualifying off-plan sales operate within DLD’s framework
Should payments go through escrow?	Qualifying off-plan projects use project-specific escrow accounts
Is Oqood registration important?	Yes
Can foreigners resell before handover?	Potentially, subject to developer NOC and applicable terms
Can foreigners obtain a mortgage?	Potentially, subject to lender approval
Maximum off-plan mortgage LTV	50% regulatory ceiling
Does buying automatically provide residency?	No
Can property support a Golden Visa?	Potentially, if the current eligibility requirements are met

The Legal Basis for Foreign Property Ownership in Dubai

Dubai’s Law No. 7 of 2006 provides the foundation for real property ownership.

Article 4 states that, subject to the applicable approvals, non-UAE nationals can be granted in designated areas:

freehold ownership without time restriction
usufruct rights
leasehold rights for up to 99 years.

Dubai Land Department is the authority responsible for registering real property rights in the emirate. The same law provides that transactions creating, transferring, amending or extinguishing real property rights must be recorded in the Property Register.

For foreign investors, the key point is therefore not simply:

“Can foreigners own Dubai property?”

They can.

The more precise question is:

“Is this exact property within the ownership framework available to non-UAE nationals?”

That should be checked before committing funds.

Can Foreigners Buy Off-Plan Property Without UAE Residency?

Yes, qualifying non-resident foreigners can register off-plan purchases.

Dubai Land Department’s current Initial Sale Registration requirements list:

Sale and Purchase Agreement
UAE ID where applicable
valid passport for non-residents.

That is strong official confirmation that a foreign buyer does not have to become a UAE resident before entering every qualifying off-plan purchase.

This distinction is important.

Property ownership

and:

UAE residency

are related in some circumstances, but they are not the same thing.

A foreign buyer may be able to purchase property without first obtaining UAE residency.

Do Foreign Buyers Need an Emirates ID?

A non-resident purchaser can use a valid passport for DLD’s initial off-plan registration process.

Therefore, a person living overseas should not assume they must first obtain:

Emirates ID
UAE employment
UAE residence visa

simply to become the purchaser of a qualifying off-plan property.

However, other services may have their own eligibility or identification requirements.

For example, banking, financing and residency applications are separate processes.

Where Can Foreigners Buy Off-Plan Property in Dubai?

Foreign ownership is permitted in areas designated for non-UAE nationals.

The UAE Government describes these as Dubai’s designated freehold areas.

The important word is:

designated.

Foreign buyers should not assume that every property marketed in Dubai automatically carries foreign freehold ownership rights.

Dubai’s ownership map has also evolved through later resolutions adding land to areas available for ownership by non-UAE nationals. For example, additional land was formally added under resolutions issued in 2019 and 2022.

For that reason, relying on an old online list of “Dubai freehold areas” is not ideal.

How to Verify Whether a Property Is Freehold

Dubai Land Department’s Real Estate Data platform includes specific fields showing whether:

land is freehold
a unit is freehold
a unit is leasehold
a building is freehold.

This makes project-level verification much more useful than relying solely on community names.

A foreign purchaser should verify:

exact development → exact building → exact unit

where possible.

A community may contain different plots, phases or ownership structures.

Freehold vs Leasehold for Foreign Buyers

The distinction is important.

Freehold

The buyer acquires ownership rights without a fixed ownership time limit, subject to the applicable Dubai ownership framework.

Leasehold or usufruct

The buyer acquires a long-term right to use or occupy the property, potentially for up to 99 years.

For most international investors considering mainstream Dubai apartment, townhouse or villa investments, freehold property tends to be the more familiar ownership model.

But the legal status of the actual property should still be checked rather than assumed.

Can Foreigners Buy Dubai Off-Plan Property From Overseas?

The DLD initial-sale registration framework explicitly accommodates non-resident purchasers using passports.

That means the purchaser may live outside the UAE when entering a qualifying transaction.

In practice, international buyers should pay additional attention to:

identity verification
signing procedures
international payment instructions
source-of-funds requirements
currency conversion
banking limits
powers of attorney where needed

These can vary according to the developer, financial institution and purchaser’s circumstances.

The legal ability to purchase does not mean every transaction has identical administrative requirements.

Can Foreigners Buy Off-Plan Property Through a Company?

Dubai Land Department’s current Initial Sale Registration requirements include procedures for companies, including foreign companies, subject to the specified corporate documentation.

The requirements listed for a foreign company include items such as:

valid trade licence
identification of the licence holder
power of attorney where applicable
translated Memorandum of Association and amendments
required legalisation/ratification
shareholder documentation.

DLD’s FAQ also explains that property available to non-UAE nationals may be registered in the names of qualifying companies owned by non-UAE citizens where the company meets the applicable Dubai/free-zone structure requirements.

Corporate ownership can have legal, tax, succession and banking implications, so it should be structured carefully rather than chosen simply because it sounds more sophisticated.

Foreign Buyers Are Already a Major Part of Dubai Real Estate

International buyers are not a small niche within Dubai’s property sector.

Dubai Land Department reported that foreign real estate investment reached AED148.35 billion in Q1 2026, up 26% year on year. The number of foreign investments increased 11% to 48,445.

Across the entire property market, Q1 2026 recorded:

AED252 billion in real estate transactions
60,303 transactions
AED173 billion in property investments
48,448 investors.

That international participation helps explain why Dubai’s buying and registration systems specifically provide routes for non-resident purchasers.

How a Foreigner Buys Off-Plan Property in Dubai

The process can be broken into several stages.

Step 1: Establish Your Budget

Start with the total investment rather than the booking amount.

Suppose an apartment costs:

AED1,500,000

and the developer asks for:

AED150,000

to begin the transaction.

Your investment is not AED150,000.

It is:

AED1.5 million

plus applicable transaction, registration and future ownership costs.

A foreign buyer should also account for:

currency exchange
international bank charges
registration costs
later instalments
handover balance
furnishing
service charges after completion

Step 2: Confirm the Property Is Available for Foreign Ownership

Before falling in love with the project, confirm that the property is within the ownership framework available to non-UAE nationals.

DLD’s Real Estate Data allows users to filter and inspect freehold status across transaction, land, unit and building information.

Do not rely exclusively on statements such as:

“This is a freehold community.”

Verify the actual property.

Step 3: Research the Developer

Foreign investors buying remotely should be particularly careful because they may not be able to visit existing buildings easily.

Research:

developer registration
completed projects
handover history
construction quality
maintenance quality
previous communities

A strong marketing campaign is not evidence of construction quality.

Look at what the developer has already delivered.

Step 4: Verify the Off-Plan Project

Dubai’s off-plan regulatory system operates at project level.

Before purchasing, check:

project name
developer
project number
project status
completion percentage where construction has started
escrow account

DLD’s Real Estate Data currently includes fields covering developer name, project value, escrow account number, project status, completion percentage and total units.

This can be particularly useful for international buyers doing their initial research remotely.

Step 5: Verify the Project Escrow Account

Dubai’s Law No. 8 of 2007 defines the real estate development escrow account as the bank account into which payments from purchasers of off-plan units or project financiers are deposited.

The law applies to developers selling units off-plan and receiving payments toward those units.

The developer must operate within the applicable project escrow framework.

For a foreign buyer transferring money internationally, this verification is particularly important.

Confirm that you understand:

who the beneficiary is
what project the payment relates to
whether the account details correspond with the formal purchase instructions

Never let urgency replace payment verification.

Step 6: Choose the Exact Unit

Do not buy only:

“one bedroom in Project X.”

Know exactly what you are purchasing.

Check:

tower
unit number
floor
size
balcony
orientation
view
parking
floor plan

An investor may pay materially more for:

waterfront
park frontage
high floor
corner unit

Make sure the premium is justified.

Step 7: Compare the Price With Other Property

International buyers can sometimes become overly focused on a single launch.

Compare it with:

Other off-plan projects

and:

Ready properties nearby

For example:

Off-plan one-bedroom:

AED1.6 million

Comparable completed one-bedroom:

AED1.2 million

Off-plan premium:

AED400,000

or:

33.3%

That premium might be justified.

But the buyer should know why.

A long payment plan is not automatically evidence of good value.

Step 8: Review the Payment Plan

Off-plan plans can spread payments across several years.

A hypothetical AED1.5 million property might require:

Stage	Percentage	Amount
Booking	10%	AED150,000
Construction	50%	AED750,000
Handover	20%	AED300,000
Post-handover	20%	AED300,000

A foreign investor should determine how each instalment will be funded before signing.

Do not assume:

exchange rates will remain favourable
future mortgage approval is guaranteed
the property can definitely be resold
future income will automatically cover payments

Step 9: Review the SPA

The Sale and Purchase Agreement is central to the transaction.

Review provisions covering:

purchaser details
property details
price
payment schedule
completion provisions
extensions
handover
assignment
purchaser default
developer obligations

The SPA is more important than the sales brochure.

For unclear or financially material contract terms, appropriate independent legal advice may be useful.

Step 10: Complete Oqood/Provisional Registration

Dubai Land Department’s Initial Sale Registration service is used to register qualifying off-plan sales in the provisional register through the Oqood portal.

Current DLD terms require the SPA to be registered in the provisional register within 90 days from signing.

DLD then issues a:

Provisional Registration e-Certificate.

This is important for foreign and local purchasers alike.

Do not confuse:

developer booking confirmation

with:

formal DLD provisional registration.

What Documents Does a Foreign Non-Resident Need?

For individual purchasers, DLD’s current Initial Sale Registration service lists:

copy of the Sale and Purchase Agreement
copy of valid UAE ID where applicable
valid passport for non-residents.

This keeps the core DLD registration documentation relatively straightforward for overseas individual purchasers.

The developer, bank or other parties may require additional compliance documentation for their own processes.

Can a Foreign Minor Be a Purchaser?

DLD’s current Initial Sale Registration terms specifically address purchasers who are minors.

Where the purchaser is a minor, the SPA must be signed by the guardian, and a copy of the guardian’s passport or ID must be attached.

This is a specific procedural requirement and should be handled through the formal DLD/developer process rather than informal arrangements.

What Are the DLD Fees for an Off-Plan Purchase?

DLD’s current Initial Sale Registration schedule formally lists:

seller: 2% of sale value
purchaser: 2% of sale value
Knowledge fee: AED10
Innovation fee: AED10
developer self-registration fee for provisional sale: AED1,000.

The AED1,000 entry is described by DLD as the developer’s self-registration fee.

Buyers should check the actual SPA and commercial offer to understand which transaction costs they are expected to bear.

Example: AED1.5 Million Foreign Buyer Purchase

Property price:

AED1,500,000

DLD’s formally listed purchaser portion:

Calculation:

AED1,500,000 × 2%

= AED30,000

That is separate from:

the purchase price
future instalments
other applicable expenses

unless the specific commercial arrangement says otherwise.

This is why the advertised deposit should never be treated as the total cash requirement.

Do Foreigners Pay More DLD Registration Fees Than UAE Buyers?

DLD’s Initial Sale Registration page lists the purchaser portion at 2% and does not show a higher initial-sale registration percentage simply because the individual purchaser is a non-resident foreigner.

However, international buyers can face other costs unrelated to the DLD percentage, such as:

foreign-exchange costs
international transfer fees
document legalisation where relevant
financing-related costs

These depend on the transaction.

Can Foreigners Get a Mortgage for Off-Plan Property?

Potentially, but financing should be treated separately from the legal right to purchase.

The Central Bank of the UAE’s current mortgage rules set the maximum loan-to-value ratio for property being purchased off-plan at 50% regardless of purpose, value or purchaser category.

That is a regulatory maximum.

It does not mean every foreign purchaser will receive a 50% mortgage.

Actual lending can depend on:

lender
residency status
income
credit profile
developer
project
construction stage
valuation

Non-residents should therefore confirm financing before building an investment strategy around it.

Do Not Assume a Future Mortgage Will Solve the Handover Payment

Consider:

Property price:

AED2 million

Paid during construction:

60%

= AED1.2 million

Handover balance:

40%

= AED800,000

A foreign purchaser may plan to mortgage the AED800,000.

That strategy should be researched early.

If financing is unavailable or smaller than expected, the SPA payment obligation does not simply disappear.

A safer strategy is to have a credible alternative funding plan.

Can Foreigners Buy Property Without a UAE Bank Account?

A UAE bank account is not listed among the individual purchaser documents required by DLD for Initial Sale Registration; non-residents can use a valid passport for that registration process.

However, this should not be interpreted to mean that every developer accepts every international payment method.

Payment arrangements can vary.

International buyers should establish:

accepted currencies
transfer method
beneficiary bank
escrow details
bank charges
payment reference requirements

before sending money.

Can Foreigners Pay From Overseas?

International property buyers commonly need to fund purchases from outside the UAE, but the exact payment process is determined by the project, developer, banking and compliance arrangements.

The critical safety principle is to verify payment instructions against the formal project and escrow information.

Dubai’s escrow legislation requires qualifying off-plan project payments to operate through the project’s regulated escrow structure.

Do not transfer large amounts based solely on informal payment instructions.

Can Foreigners Sell an Off-Plan Property Before Handover?

Potentially.

Dubai Land Department’s current FAQ states that assignment or resale before transfer to the final property register is possible after obtaining a No Objection Certificate from the developer.

However, this should not be interpreted as unrestricted flipping.

The developer and SPA may impose conditions concerning:

amount already paid
assignment procedure
fees
NOC
timing

A foreign investor intending to resell before handover should establish those rules before purchasing.

Does Buying Dubai Off-Plan Property Give a Residence Visa?

Buying property and qualifying for a residence permit are separate matters.

A foreign person does not automatically receive UAE residency merely because an off-plan SPA has been signed.

Dubai Land Department operates specific investor-residence services with their own requirements.

This distinction is especially important where property is marketed internationally with residency language.

Always verify the current visa route separately.

Can Dubai Property Qualify for the Golden Visa?

Potentially, subject to the current requirements.

DLD’s current Golden Visa Investor service states that the property value must be at least AED2 million, wholly owned by the applicant across one or more properties. Mortgaged property can also be considered under the service subject to the required bank documentation.

The current service also requires:

passport
e-Certificate of Title/title deed
personal photo
UAE ID if available
current residence permit if available.

It also states that the applicant must be inside the UAE when applying.

Important off-plan distinction

An off-plan SPA should not automatically be treated as an immediate Golden Visa entitlement.

The current DLD service specifically requires an e-Certificate of Title/title deed.

Therefore, buyers should verify whether their particular property’s registration stage satisfies current visa requirements rather than buying purely on the assumption that signing an off-plan contract immediately produces a Golden Visa.

Is the Golden Visa a Reason to Buy a More Expensive Property?

It should usually be treated as a separate benefit rather than a reason to overpay.

Suppose:

Property A:

AED1.7 million

Excellent investment fundamentals.

Property B:

AED2.1 million

Much weaker rental economics.

Buying B solely because it crosses a residency threshold can result in allocating an additional AED400,000 to a weaker asset.

The property itself should still make financial sense.

Are Foreign Buyers Protected by Dubai’s Escrow Laws?

Yes, the project escrow framework applies to qualifying off-plan development transactions; it is not limited to UAE-national purchasers.

Law No. 8 defines escrow by reference to payments made by purchasers of units sold off-plan and regulates developers receiving those payments.

The system helps ring-fence project funds through project-specific accounts.

Foreign buyers should still verify the exact escrow information before transferring money.

Are Foreign Buyers Protected by Oqood?

Qualifying off-plan transactions are provisionally registered through DLD’s system, and the Initial Sale Registration service expressly accommodates non-resident purchasers.

That means overseas ownership is not based merely on a private agreement with the developer.

Formal DLD registration is part of the process.

How Foreign Buyers Can Reduce Off-Plan Risk

International purchasers should take particular care with remote transactions.

A strong process includes:

Verify the ownership status

Confirm that the property is available for foreign ownership.

Verify the developer

Use official DLD information and research completed developments.

Verify the project

Check project status and registration.

Verify escrow

Cross-check project escrow details before transferring funds.

Verify the broker

Use DLD’s licensed broker records where an intermediary is involved.

Check the SPA

Understand what you are legally committing to.

Confirm Oqood registration

Make sure the sale is formally provisionally registered.

Monitor construction

Do not disappear after paying the deposit.

Retain records

Keep bank transfers, receipts, SPA and registration certificates.

Avoid Sending Money Before These Checks

A foreign buyer should be particularly cautious if:

the project cannot be verified
the escrow information is unclear
payment is requested to an unrelated account
the beneficiary changes suddenly
the broker refuses to provide licence details
the SPA has not been provided
ownership eligibility is unclear
the unit cannot be clearly identified
there is extreme pressure to pay immediately

Losing a preferred unit is inconvenient.

Sending money incorrectly can be much more serious.

Foreign Buyers Should Compare Ready and Off-Plan Property

Being allowed to buy off-plan does not mean off-plan is always the best investment.

Imagine:

Off-plan apartment

Price:

AED1.5 million

Handover:

2029

Projected rent:

AED95,000

Projected gross yield:

6.33%

Ready apartment

Price:

AED1.2 million

Current rent:

AED90,000

Gross yield:

7.5%

The off-plan apartment may still outperform.

But the buyer needs a reason for paying AED300,000 more and waiting for income.

Possible reasons include:

better location
superior quality
scarcity
infrastructure
stronger long-term demand

A payment plan alone is not enough.

Foreign Buyers Should Watch Currency Risk

An international investor earning in another currency can experience changes in the effective cost of future instalments.

Suppose your property requires payments over four years.

The AED value of your obligations remains contractual.

But the amount of:

pounds
euros
shillings
rupees
dollars in other currency systems

needed to obtain those dirhams may change.

Long payment plans therefore introduce currency exposure for investors whose income is not denominated in dirhams or a closely linked currency.

This is another reason to retain a financial buffer.

Foreign Buyers Should Plan for Handover Early

An overseas buyer should know well before completion whether the plan is to:

move into the property
rent it
sell it
finance the remaining balance
hold it vacant temporarily

Handover can involve additional practical requirements, including:

outstanding contractual payments
inspection
documentation
furnishing
property management
future service charges

Planning should begin long before the completion notice arrives.

What Happens After the Off-Plan Property Is Completed?

Off-plan provisional registration is an intermediate stage.

Dubai’s property-registration framework ultimately records ownership rights through DLD. Law No. 7 establishes DLD as the authority responsible for property-right registration and title deeds.

Once the development is completed and contractual requirements are satisfied, the property moves toward the appropriate final registration/title framework.

The buyer should retain:

SPA
Oqood/provisional registration
payment receipts
handover documentation
title documentation

as part of the property record.

Foreign Buyer Checklist Before Reserving

Before buying Dubai off-plan property from overseas, confirm:

property is eligible for foreign ownership
exact freehold/leasehold status
developer identity
developer registration
project registration
project escrow account
broker licence
exact unit
unit number
floor
size
layout
view
purchase price
price per square foot
payment plan
handover balance
transaction costs
SPA
completion provisions
assignment conditions
Oqood registration
realistic future rent
future service charges
surrounding supply
financing plan
currency exposure
exit strategy

A foreign buyer should understand the investment just as clearly as someone who lives in Dubai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners buy off-plan property in Dubai?

Yes. Non-UAE nationals can purchase qualifying off-plan property in areas designated for foreign ownership, subject to Dubai’s registration rules.

Can a non-resident foreigner buy Dubai property?

Yes. DLD’s Initial Sale Registration service accepts a valid passport from non-resident purchasers.

Do I need a UAE residence visa to buy Dubai off-plan property?

Not generally for the initial off-plan purchase itself. DLD explicitly accommodates non-resident purchasers using passports.

Do I need an Emirates ID?

DLD’s current Initial Sale Registration requirements accept a valid passport for non-residents.

Can foreigners own Dubai property permanently?

Qualifying freehold ownership by non-UAE nationals in designated areas is without a time restriction.

Can foreigners buy property anywhere in Dubai?

No. Foreign ownership applies in areas designated for non-UAE nationals. The exact property should be verified rather than assuming all Dubai land has the same ownership status.

How can I check if a property is freehold?

DLD’s Real Estate Data includes “Is Free Hold?” fields across its land, unit, building and transaction datasets.

Can a foreign company buy off-plan property?

Potentially, subject to DLD’s corporate ownership and documentation requirements. DLD’s initial registration process includes a documentation route for foreign companies.

Can a minor be the purchaser?

DLD’s current terms state that where the purchaser is a minor, the guardian signs the SPA and the guardian’s passport or ID must be attached.

Is an escrow account required for off-plan developments?

Dubai’s escrow law applies to developers selling units off-plan and receiving purchaser or project-financier payments, with payments deposited into the relevant project escrow account.

What is Oqood?

Oqood is used in DLD’s provisional registration process for qualifying off-plan sales. The current DLD service requires the SPA to be registered within 90 days of signing.

What documents does a non-resident need for initial registration?

DLD lists the SPA and a valid passport for a non-resident individual purchaser.

How much is DLD registration for off-plan property?

DLD currently lists seller and purchaser portions of 2% each for Initial Sale Registration, plus AED10 Knowledge and AED10 Innovation fees.

Do foreign buyers pay a special higher DLD rate?

The current Initial Sale Registration service does not list a higher percentage purely because the purchaser is a foreign non-resident.

Can foreigners get an off-plan mortgage?

Potentially, depending on bank and borrower eligibility. CBUAE currently caps LTV on off-plan property at 50%, regardless of purchaser category.

Can foreigners sell off-plan property before handover?

Potentially. DLD says resale can occur after obtaining the developer’s NOC, subject to the relevant transaction requirements.

Does buying property automatically give UAE residency?

No. Property ownership and residency are separate processes with different eligibility requirements.

Can property qualify for a Dubai Golden Visa?

Potentially. DLD’s current investor service uses a minimum AED2 million property value and requires an e-Certificate of Title/title deed, among other requirements.

Does simply booking an AED2 million off-plan property guarantee a Golden Visa?

No. DLD’s current Golden Visa service has separate eligibility and documentation requirements, including an e-Certificate of Title/title deed.

Why Dubai Remains Accessible to Foreign Off-Plan Buyers

Dubai’s foreign-property framework is relatively straightforward at its core.

A foreigner does not necessarily need to relocate to the UAE before buying.

A non-resident purchaser can use a valid passport for initial off-plan registration.

Non-UAE nationals can obtain freehold ownership without a time restriction in designated areas.

Qualifying off-plan developments operate within a project escrow framework.

And the purchaser’s transaction is formally entered into Dubai’s provisional registration system rather than existing solely as an agreement in the developer’s internal records.

Those features help explain why international capital remains such an important part of the market. DLD recorded AED148.35 billion in foreign property investment during Q1 2026 alone.

But foreign buyers should not interpret accessibility as a reason to skip due diligence.

The most important sequence remains:

verify ownership eligibility → check developer → verify project → confirm escrow → analyse the exact unit → compare pricing → review payment plan → read SPA → confirm Oqood registration → monitor construction.

And if residency is part of the objective, treat it as a separate analysis rather than assuming that any off-plan purchase automatically creates a visa entitlement.

For an international investor, the best Dubai property is not simply the project that is easiest to reserve from overseas.

It is the property whose ownership is clear, registration is verifiable, payments are secure, pricing makes sense and long-term rental or resale demand supports the investment.

HAMZ International Real Estate can help international buyers compare qualifying Dubai off-plan properties, assess developers and projects, review payment-plan structures and understand the practical buying process before committing to a purchase.

Sources & Fact-Checking

UAE Government — Expatriates Buying Property in the UAE
Confirms that foreigners and expatriate residents can acquire qualifying freehold ownership in Dubai’s designated foreign-ownership areas.

Dubai Legislation Portal — Law No. 7 of 2006 Concerning Real Property Registration
Primary legal basis for freehold ownership by non-UAE nationals in designated areas and for DLD’s authority over property registration.

Dubai Land Department — Initial Sale Registration
Confirms that non-resident purchasers can use valid passports and provides current Oqood registration, fee and SPA-registration requirements.

Dubai Land Department — Real Estate Data
Provides freehold/leasehold indicators and official data on projects, units, buildings, developers, escrow accounts and construction progress.

Dubai Legislation Portal — Law No. 8 of 2007 on Real Estate Development Escrow Accounts
Supports Dubai’s project-specific escrow framework for qualifying off-plan purchaser and development-financing payments.

Dubai Land Department — Frequently Asked Questions
Supports foreign-company ownership guidance and the ability to assign/resell qualifying off-plan property subject to developer NOC.

Central Bank of the UAE — Mortgage Loan Regulations
Supports the current maximum 50% LTV ceiling for mortgages on property being purchased off-plan.

Dubai Land Department — Golden Visa Application for Property Investors
Provides current Golden Visa property-value, documentation and application requirements.

Dubai Land Department — Q1 2026 Real Estate Market Performance
Supports current market figures, including AED148.35 billion of foreign real estate investment during Q1 2026.

Dubai Legislation Portal — Resolution No. 6 of 2022 Adding Land for Ownership by Non-UAE Nationals
Demonstrates that Dubai’s designated foreign-ownership areas have continued to evolve through later resolutions.