United Arab Emirates

Market overview

Understanding the market.

The United Arab Emirates is a well-established destination for international property buyers. Dubai in particular offers apartments, townhouses and villas in designated freehold areas, alongside a large market for off-plan (under-construction) property sold directly by developers.

Each emirate sets its own property rules, so the right approach depends on where and what you want to buy, and whether you plan to live in, rent out or simply hold the property.

Before you buy

Ownership, costs and residency.

[REVIEW] The ownership, tax, visa and residency points below are a general draft summary. Have them checked by a qualified professional in United Arab Emirates and add any current figures you have verified before publishing.

• In Dubai, foreign nationals can generally buy freehold property in designated areas. Rules differ between emirates.
• Off-plan sales in Dubai are regulated, and buyer payments are typically made into a registered project escrow account. Check the project and developer registration before paying any deposit.
• Budget for purchase costs such as government transfer and registration fees, agency fees and ongoing service charges.
• Buying property above certain values may allow you to apply for a UAE residence visa, including longer-term visas. Thresholds and conditions are set by the authorities and change from time to time.

This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules and costs change; we will always point you to qualified local professionals before you commit.