How to buy property in Dubai — the full step-by-step
Buying property in Dubai is fast — most transactions close in 30 days — but the fee stack catches first-time buyers out. Here's the full process, the real numbers, and what to negotiate.
1. Decide on freehold vs leasehold
Non-GCC nationals can only own property in freehold zones. Dubai's freehold areas cover most of the city worth buying in — Marina, Downtown, Palm, JVC, Business Bay, Dubai Hills, Creek Harbour and more. Leasehold (typically 99-year) restricts ownership and resale to GCC nationals.
Verify before you put down a deposit: every Propora listing tags the tenure field — and we link to the DLD's freehold map on every listing detail page.
2. Get pre-approved
Even if you plan to pay cash, get a bank pre-approval. It signals you're serious and unlocks negotiation room. UAE banks underwrite based on:
- Salary multiplier — total loan ≤ 7× your annual net income
- DSR cap — all loan repayments ≤ 50% of net monthly income
- LTV cap — residents 80% (first property < AED 5M) / 70% (≥ AED 5M); non-residents 75% / 60%
Use Propora's mortgage calculator to see what each bank will say yes to before you walk in.
3. Make an offer + sign the MOU (Form F)
Offers in Dubai are typically verbal first, then formalised on an MOU (Form F) — the standard RERA contract. You'll pay a 10% deposit at signing, refundable only if the seller pulls out.
From here, you and the seller jointly visit the developer to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) — a one-page document confirming the seller has no outstanding service charges. NOC fees range AED 500 – 5,000 depending on the developer.
4. Transfer at the DLD trustee office
Both parties (or their POAs) attend a DLD-registered trustee office for the title transfer. You'll need:
- The MOU
- The NOC
- Original passport copies + Emirates ID
- A manager's cheque for the balance + DLD fees
The transfer itself takes ~30 minutes. You walk out with a new title deed in your name on the same day.
5. The full fee stack
On a sale price of AED P, budget roughly 7% all-in beyond the headline:
- DLD transfer fee: 4% of P + AED 580 admin
- DLD registration: AED 2,000 (< 500K) or 4,000 (≥ 500K) + 5% VAT
- Trustee office fee: AED 4,000 + 5% VAT
- Title deed issuance: AED 250
- Agency commission: 2% of P + 5% VAT
- Conveyancing (optional, recommended): AED 6,000 – 10,000
- NOC: AED 500 – 5,000
- If financed: mortgage registration 0.25% of loan + AED 290, plus bank processing fee
Propora's True Cost panel on every listing shows you these numbers live for the listing you're looking at — no surprises at the trustee office.
6. Watch for the gotchas
- Service charges: ask for the latest service-charge invoice. Marina + Palm towers run AED 18 – 30/sqft/year — that's AED 25k+ a year on a 1-bed.
- Rent in place: if there's a tenant, the contract transfers with the unit. You can't move in or raise rent until the lease ends.
- Off-plan units: handover dates slip. Build a 6 – 12 month buffer into your move-in plan.
- Trakheesi number: Dubai listings must carry one. No Trakheesi = the listing can't legally publish. Propora's Trust panel flags this automatically.
Frequently asked questions
- Can foreigners buy property in Dubai? ›
- Yes. Non-GCC nationals can buy in Dubai's designated freehold zones — which cover most of the city worth buying in, including Marina, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, JVC, Business Bay, Dubai Hills and Creek Harbour. Outside freehold zones, ownership is restricted to GCC nationals.
- How much are the fees when buying property in Dubai? ›
- Budget roughly 7% on top of the sale price. The main items are the DLD transfer fee (4% + AED 580 admin), DLD registration (AED 2,000–4,000 + 5% VAT), trustee office fee (AED 4,000 + VAT), agency commission (2% + VAT), and optional conveyancing (AED 6,000–10,000). If you finance, add mortgage registration of 0.25% of the loan.
- How long does it take to buy property in Dubai? ›
- Most ready (secondary-market) transactions close in about 30 days from signed MOU to title transfer. The DLD title transfer itself takes around 30 minutes at a trustee office, and you receive the new title deed the same day. Off-plan purchases follow the developer's payment plan and handover schedule instead.
- Do I need a mortgage pre-approval to buy in Dubai? ›
- It's strongly recommended even for cash buyers, because it signals you're serious and speeds up negotiation. UAE banks underwrite on a 7× annual-income cap, a 50% debt-service ratio, and LTV limits of 80% for residents (first property under AED 5M) and 75% for non-residents.
- Does buying a property in Dubai give you a Golden Visa? ›
- Buying property worth AED 2 million or more qualifies you for a 10-year UAE Golden Visa, including mortgaged properties provided you hold at least AED 2M in equity. The visa can include your spouse, children and, under conditions, parents.
LTV caps, DSR rules, salary multipliers, Sharia vs conventional, and which UAE banks lend to non-residents in 2026.
What to verify before signing an off-plan SPA, how escrow accounts protect you, and the red flags that make a good payment plan turn ugly.
The UAE's freehold / leasehold split decides who can buy what — and resale value. Here's the zone map and the legal restrictions for every emirate.