Freehold vs Leasehold in Dubai: What Foreign Buyers Can Register

By Hammad Roshan, CEO · Tahani Real Estate Brokers · Published 2026-06-11 · Updated 7 November 2026

Freehold gives you ownership with no fixed end date. A long leasehold gives you the right to use the property for the term in your registered agreement. For buyers outside the UAE and GCC, the first check is whether Dubai allows you to register the specific right on the exact plot.

Where can foreign buyers register property rights?

Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 allows foreign ownership without a time limit and leasehold or usufruct for up to 99 years in designated areas. The 2006 designation regulation identifies specific plots, including in Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. Check the plot and unit with Dubai Land Department (DLD), even if the listing uses a familiar freehold community name.

What does each right give you?

• Freehold. You own the property described in the title. Check the title, building rules and any registered restrictions, and budget for applicable service charges.
• Long leasehold. The underlying ownership stays with the owner. Check the end date, any renewal option, rent or other payments, who pays for repairs, and whether assignment, subletting or alterations need consent.
• Usufruct. This is a right to use and benefit from someone else's property for a defined term. DLD's registration service distinguishes usufruct from musataha, a right to build on land and benefit from the building for a defined term.

What to check before paying a deposit

1. Identify the exact property and right. Ask for the DLD title or registration certificate, plot and unit details, and the agreement if the right has a fixed term.
2. Check the record and the seller's authority. Use DLD's Verify Title Deed and Property Status Enquiry. Ask DLD or a registration trustee how any mortgage or restriction will be handled and what the buyer can register. For an unfinished unit, use the off-plan checks for the project, interim registration and escrow details.
3. Price the right you are buying. For a fixed term, calculate the years remaining from the registered dates, then confirm renewal, assignment and lender terms in writing. Use DLD's completed-sale registration service for a sale and its specific registration service for a time-limited right. Ask for an itemised fee quote.

Does the purchase qualify for a Golden Visa?

The DLD property investor service describes an application for a renewable 10-year permit for eligible owners, with a purchase value of at least AED 2 million and title documents in the applicant's name. Dubai immigration's investor residence service also asks for property value certified by DLD. If your plans depend on residency, confirm how the exact registered right, ownership share and any mortgage will be treated before signing. A leasehold or usufruct agreement alone gives you no assurance of eligibility.

For the wider purchase process, see our first-time buyer guide.

Frequently asked questions

Written by Hammad Roshan — CEO, Tahani Real Estate Brokers LLC, Dubai.
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