Written by Hammad Roshan — CEO, Tahani Real Estate Brokers LLC, Dubai.
RERA-licensed brokerage · ORN 25557 · LinkedIn
RERA-licensed brokerage · ORN 25557 · LinkedIn
Yes, a non-resident can buy property in Dubai's designated foreign-ownership areas. A purchase does not itself grant a residence visa, a mortgage or tax residency. Check the particular title, your funding and the transfer requirements before paying a deposit.
The UAE Government's ownership guidance distinguishes freehold ownership from usufruct and leasehold rights of up to 99 years in the designated areas. Non-resident foreigners can purchase; the DLD sale-registration service accepts a valid passport for non-resident individuals. Do not infer a specific unit's ownership rights from its neighbourhood name. Check its title and eligibility with DLD or a registered trustee. Our freehold and leasehold guide explains the distinction.
Off-plan purchases need different checks: verify the developer, registered project, project escrow details, sale agreement, interim registration and contractual payment schedule. A developer payment plan is separate from a bank mortgage. Read our off-plan handover checks before committing.
A representative may be able to complete a transfer under an accepted power of attorney. Before arranging one, ask the trustee, developer and lender whether they accept the proposed wording, scope and execution method. Overseas documents may need notarisation, legalisation and translation; requirements depend on the document and country. Do not assume that every bank step can be completed remotely. A property representative cannot apply for the DLD Golden Visa on your behalf under the current service terms.
For a remote purchase, request a live walkthrough of the actual unit and independent inspection where appropriate. Obtain quotations for inspection, representation and currency transfer rather than relying on a fixed low-cost estimate.
Separate the deposit and remaining purchase price from registration and professional costs. DLD's sale service lists 2% of the sale value for the seller and 2% for the buyer. Confirm the allocation in the signed agreement; if you agree to fund both shares, budget the full 4%. The service-partner fee is AED 4,000 plus VAT for a sale of AED 500,000 or more, or AED 2,000 plus VAT below that threshold. Additional title, map and other listed charges depend on the transaction. See the current DLD fee schedule.
Add the agreed brokerage commission and applicable VAT, any lender valuation, processing, insurance and mortgage-registration charges, and any inspection, legal, representation or currency-transfer costs. Commission and bank charges are not universal government tariffs. Budget separately for service charges and ongoing ownership expenses. Our buying-cost guide and rent-versus-buy comparison help organise the figures; use current written quotations for your own transaction.
Some lenders offer non-resident loans; Emirates NBD's home-loan page, for example, identifies a non-resident option. That is evidence that a product exists, not approval or a quotation for you. Ask the lender to confirm eligibility for your residence country, income, currency, property and intended use, together with its document list, valuation basis, deposit and total charges.
Do not use a resident expatriate owner-occupier ceiling as a promised overseas-investor loan. The CBUAE 2020 amendment sets an 80% maximum for an expatriate's first owner-occupied home at or below AED 5 million and 70% above that value. The mortgage regulations separately set 60% for expatriate second/subsequent or investment homes and 50% for off-plan mortgage finance. These are regulatory ceilings, subject to classification and underwriting; a lender may offer less or decline. Get written assessment before committing to an unconditional purchase. See our mortgage document and affordability guide.
Ownership and visa approval are separate. The DLD investor service describes an application for a renewable ten-year residence permit for property with a purchase value of at least AED 2 million. It requires title evidence and supporting documents. For mortgaged property, its description asks for a bank letter evidencing AED 2 million paid; its terms also require a bank NOC stating the paid amount and balance. The page does not set the old guide's blanket 50% mortgage cap.
Confirm how the service centre will assess your particular title, ownership share and financing before buying for a visa. Current DLD terms require the applicant to be inside the UAE and attend personally; a representative cannot apply. Fees, medical checks and approval remain separate from buying the property. Our property Golden Visa guide provides further context; the current government service requirements control eligibility.
The FTA's Real Estate Investment guide for natural persons explains that qualifying personal real-estate investment income falls outside UAE Corporate Tax when the activity is neither conducted nor required to be conducted through a licence. That can cover personal rental and sale income. A company, licensed business or activity requiring a licence can have different treatment; licensed holiday-home activity is one example. The exclusion does not mean that all property transactions, services and ownership structures are free of tax or fees.
Check VAT treatment and any tax or reporting obligation in your country of tax residence with a qualified adviser. Property ownership or a UAE residence visa does not by itself determine tax residency or remove foreign-country obligations. Include registration fees, service charges and other ongoing costs in your budget.
Source check: 28 October 2026. This is general guidance, not a mortgage offer, visa approval or legal/tax advice. Tahani Real Estate Brokers, RERA ORN 25557, can discuss your Dubai property requirements through our contact form.
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Yes. Non-resident foreigners can buy in designated foreign-ownership areas. Verify the particular title and eligibility. DLD accepts a valid passport for non-resident individuals; ownership does not itself grant residency.
An accepted power of attorney may allow a representative to complete a property transfer. Confirm its wording, execution and supporting documents with the trustee, developer and lender first. The DLD Golden Visa application requires the applicant to attend personally inside the UAE.
Foreign ownership is permitted in designated areas. Check the specific title and rights with DLD or a registered trustee rather than relying only on the community name. Freehold, usufruct and leasehold rights differ.
DLD lists a 2% seller share and a 2% buyer share of the sale value. Confirm the contract allocation, trustee and other registration charges, agreed commission and any finance, inspection, representation and currency-transfer costs. There is no single closing-cost percentage for every purchase.
Some lenders offer non-resident loans, subject to their own eligibility and underwriting. Resident owner-occupier ceilings are not a guaranteed overseas-investor loan. Ask for written assessment of your residence, income, property, intended use, deposit and fees before committing.
A qualifying property can support a separate Golden Visa application; approval is not automatic. DLD describes a purchase-value threshold of AED 2 million and requires title and supporting documents. Mortgaged cases require bank evidence; confirm the paid-amount and NOC requirements with the service centre.
Qualifying personal real-estate investment income is outside UAE Corporate Tax when the activity is neither conducted nor required to be conducted through a licence. Companies and licensed activities can differ. Check applicable VAT, registration fees and home-country tax and reporting obligations; ownership is not proof of tax residency.