How to Buy Off-Plan Property in Dubai as a Foreigner
A foreigner can buy off-plan property in Dubai without living in the UAE. Non-residents and expatriate residents hold the same freehold rights in Dubai's designated areas. Every step of the purchase can be checked on a Dubai Land Department service, from the developer's approval to the project's completion. A buyer abroad pays by international transfer and can sign through a power of attorney. The sale is registered in Oqood and every payment goes into the project's escrow account. We sell off-plan in Dubai at zero commission, and the developer pays us.
Fact sheet
| Who can own | Foreigners living abroad and expatriate residents, in Dubai's designated freehold areas |
|---|---|
| Residency needed | None |
| Age limit | None |
| Legal basis | Law No. 7 of 2006 and Regulation No. 3 of 2006, which sets out the freehold areas |
| Documents, non-resident | Passport, mobile number, email and address |
| Documents, UAE resident | Emirates ID and UAE residence visa, passport, mobile number, email and address |
| Off-plan register | Oqood, at the Dubai Land Department, within 90 days of signing |
| Payments | International transfers accepted, into the project's escrow account |
| Registration | 4% of the price, plus AED 1,000 Oqood and AED 20 in DLD fees |
| Mortgage on off-plan | Up to 50% of the value |
| Income tax | None on individuals in the UAE |
| Golden Visa | From AED 2 million, once the down payment is made |
| Commission to us | Zero |
The steps, and how to check each one
Each step a foreign buyer takes has an official check behind it, run by the Dubai Land Department.
| Step | What happens | How to check it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose the project | Pick a project in a freehold area from a registered developer | The developer is on the Dubai Land Department's list of approved developers |
| 2. Check the project | Look up the project before you reserve | Project Status Enquiry shows the completion percentage and project details |
| 3. Check the broker | Confirm who is selling to you | The broker is on the licensed brokers list, and the licence verifies on Trakheesi |
| 4. Reserve and sign | Pay the booking amount and sign the sale and purchase agreement | The agreement names the buyer, the unit and the dated payment plan |
| 5. Register in Oqood | The developer registers the sale on the provisional register within 90 days of signing | The Oqood e-certificate reaches the buyer by email, in one business day |
| 6. Pay the instalments | Pay on the dated schedule, from any country | The developer allocates each payment to the buyer's account in the project's escrow |
| 7. Take handover | The home is completed and handed over | The sale moves from Oqood to the land registry, and the title deed is issued |
Steps 1 to 3. The developer, the project and the broker
The Dubai Land Department publishes its list of approved developers on its website. The Project Status Enquiry service returns a project's completion percentage once you enter its land number, project number or name. It runs on the Dubai Land Department website and app, and on WhatsApp at 8004488.
Brokers are listed on the Dubai Land Department's licensed brokers list. The Verify License and Permits service checks the e-copy of any licence or permit issued through Trakheesi.
Steps 4 and 5. Reserve, sign and register
The booking amount follows each project's payment plan, and the developer and the buyer then sign the sale and purchase agreement that names the unit and the dated schedule.
The developer then registers the sale in Oqood, the Dubai Land Department's register for off-plan sales, within 90 days of signing. Oqood records the contract before the home moves to the land registry, which protects the buyer's rights. The buyer receives a provisional registration e-certificate by email.
Steps 6 and 7. Escrow and handover
Every developer selling off-plan in Dubai must hold buyer payments in the project's escrow account. The Real Estate Regulatory Agency approves the banks that manage these accounts, and the Dubai Land Department publishes the list. The developer tracks each instalment and allocates it to the buyer's account inside the escrow.
On completion, the sale moves from the Oqood register to the land registry. The Dubai Land Department then issues the title deed in the buyer's name.
Ask an advisor about the fees on a specific home.
Speak to an advisorWho can buy, and what you need
Foreigners who do not live in the UAE and expatriate residents can both buy freehold in Dubai. No visa is needed. In the designated areas they may hold freehold ownership without restriction. They may also hold usufruct rights, or leasehold rights of up to 99 years.
The designated areas are set out in Article 3 of Regulation No. 3 of 2006, issued under Law No. 7 of 2006. There is no age limit to own property in Dubai. Every Dubai project we sell is freehold to all nationalities.
Documents for an individual buyer
| Buyer | What to provide |
|---|---|
| Living outside the UAE | Passport, mobile number, email and home address |
| UAE resident | Emirates ID and UAE residence visa, passport, mobile number, email and address |
The Oqood registration itself takes a copy of the signed sale and purchase agreement. It adds the buyer's UAE ID, or a valid passport for a buyer living abroad.
Buying through a company
A company can be registered as the buyer in Oqood. It provides a valid trade licence and the UAE ID or passport of the licence holder, with a power of attorney if one is used. A limited liability company adds its Memorandum of Association with a legal translation into Arabic, and its share certificate. A foreign company adds its translated Memorandum of Association ratified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its shareholder certificate.
Buying from abroad
A buyer can complete an off-plan purchase in Dubai without travelling to the UAE.
Paying from overseas
Developers accept international bank transfers for the booking and every instalment. Each payment lands in the project's escrow account, and the developer allocates it to the buyer's account there.
The power of attorney
A buyer can also appoint someone in Dubai to sign. A power of attorney signed outside the UAE is accepted in Dubai once it is ratified in four steps:
- A notary public in the country where it is signed.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country.
- The UAE Embassy in that country.
- The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Your records
The Oqood e-certificate is emailed to the buyer. Dubai REST is the Dubai Land Department's app for owners. It holds each property in a real estate wallet, with its current price, service charges and rental information.
A will for your Dubai property
The DIFC Courts Wills Service runs an online Property Will for eligible persons. One Property Will can cover up to five properties in the UAE, or shares in up to five.
What you pay
Fees at registration and handover
| When | Fee | AED |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Dubai Land Department fee | 4% of the price |
| Registration | Oqood registration | 1,000 |
| Registration | Knowledge and innovation fees | 20 |
| Handover | Title deed, map, knowledge and innovation fees | 520 |
| With a mortgage | Mortgage registration | 0.25% of the loan |
| Any time | Commission to NARVA | 0 |
The 4% is paid once. The Oqood record converts to a title deed for the AED 520. VAT does not apply to the price of a new home, which is zero rated. Our guide to off-plan costs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi sets out every fee at four price points.
The booking payment
The booking payment is set by each project's plan. On the Dubai homes we sell it runs from 5% of the price.
| Project | Developer | From (AED) | Booking | Booking (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Central Private Residences | Nakheel | 2,500,000 | 20% | 500,000 |
| Inaura Hotel & Residences | Arada | 3,620,000 | 10% | 362,000 |
| Sobha Sanctuary | Sobha | 4,160,000 | 20% | 832,000 |
| Dubai Harbour Residences | H&H for Shamal | 7,168,667 | 5% | 358,433 |
| Athlon Villas | Aldar | 13,582,780 | 10% | 1,358,278 |
Mortgages
UAE banks can lend up to 50% of the value of a home bought off-plan, whatever the buyer's category. On a completed first home, an expatriate can borrow up to 80% below AED 5 million and up to 70% above it. The longest mortgage term is 25 years.
Tax
The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. For corporate tax, the Federal Tax Authority does not treat real estate investment income as a business activity for an individual. The UAE also has agreements with other countries to avoid double taxation on investments overseas.
Our guide to off-plan and ready buying costs in Dubai totals every fee at three prices.
After you buy
Selling before handover
An off-plan home in Dubai can be resold before handover once the developer issues a No Objection Certificate. Each developer sets the payment threshold for it.
Residency through property
A property worth AED 2 million or more qualifies its owner for the UAE's 10-year Golden Visa. In Dubai, an off-plan buyer is eligible once the down payment is made on a project from an approved developer. The application runs through the Dubai Land Department, with investor fees of AED 9,884.75 and processing in 7 to 10 business days.
Dubai also issues a 2-year investor visa to property owners at any value, with a co-owner's share at AED 400,000 or more. Owners aged 55 or over with AED 1 million in property paid in full qualify for a 5-year visa. Our guide to the Golden Visa through property covers every condition.
Where to start
Our Dubai off-plan hub lists every project we sell in Dubai, with its prices, payment plan and handover date. Buyers comparing Dubai with Abu Dhabi will find both emirates side by side in our guide to buying off-plan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
How to Buy Off-Plan Property in Dubai as a Foreigner — Questions buyers ask
Can a foreigner buy off-plan property in Dubai?
Yes. Foreigners can own freehold in Dubai's designated areas, under Law No. 7 of 2006 and Regulation No. 3 of 2006.
Can I buy property in Dubai without being a resident?
Yes. Foreigners who do not live in the UAE hold the same freehold rights as expatriate residents.
What documents does a foreign buyer need?
A buyer living abroad provides a passport, mobile number, email and address. A UAE resident adds an Emirates ID and residence visa.
Can I buy off-plan in Dubai without visiting?
Yes. Payments go by international transfer, and a power of attorney ratified in four steps lets someone in Dubai sign for you.
Can I pay from outside the UAE?
Yes. Developers accept international transfers, and the developer allocates each payment to your account in the project's escrow.
Is it safe to buy off-plan property in Dubai?
Yes. The sale is registered in Oqood within 90 days of signing. Every payment is held in the project's escrow account at a bank approved by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency. Each project's completion percentage is public on the Dubai Land Department's Project Status Enquiry.
How do I check a developer and a project?
The developer is on the Dubai Land Department's approved list. Project Status Enquiry shows the project's completion percentage on the DLD website, app or WhatsApp at 8004488.
How do I check a real estate broker in Dubai?
On the Dubai Land Department's licensed brokers list, and through the Verify License and Permits service on Trakheesi.
What is Oqood?
The Dubai Land Department's register for off-plan sales. The developer registers each sale there, and the buyer receives the e-certificate by email.
How much does it cost to buy off-plan in Dubai as a foreigner?
The same as any buyer: 4% of the price, plus AED 1,000 Oqood and AED 20 in DLD fees. Handover adds AED 520 for the title deed and map.
Do foreigners pay tax on property in Dubai?
The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. Real estate investment income is not treated as a business activity for corporate tax, and VAT does not apply to the price of a new home.
Can a non-resident get a mortgage on off-plan in Dubai?
Yes. UAE banks can lend up to 50% of the value of an off-plan home whatever the buyer's category, over up to 25 years.
What is the difference between freehold and leasehold in Dubai?
Freehold is outright ownership without restriction. Leasehold gives the right to use the property for up to 99 years.
Does buying off-plan in Dubai give me residency?
At AED 2 million or more it qualifies for the 10-year Golden Visa, once the down payment is made. Dubai also issues a 2-year investor visa at any property value.
Can I buy through a company?
Yes. The company provides its trade licence and the ID or passport of the licence holder, and a limited liability company adds its translated Memorandum of Association.
Can I sell before handover?
Yes. Resale before handover needs a No Objection Certificate from the developer, issued once its payment threshold is met.
Can I make a will for my Dubai property?
Yes. The DIFC Courts Wills Service offers an online Property Will covering up to five properties in the UAE.
Do you charge commission?
No. The developer pays us, so you pay nothing.
Price your own deal
We sell in both emirates at zero commission. Send us the project and we will work out the whole bill — the percentage, the fixed fees, and the ones the tables get wrong.