Real estate
How to buy property in the UAE, step by step
Foreigners can buy in designated freehold areas without living in the UAE. Each emirate has its own registry and fees: 4% in Dubai, split between seller and buyer, 2% in Abu Dhabi and 2% from the buyer in Ajman. Budget roughly 4–5% of the price on top for fees and commission.
- Dubai Land Department fee, split seller and buyer
- 4%2
- Dubai Land Department fee, split seller and buyer
- Maximum loan, expatriate first home up to AED 5m
- 80%10
- Maximum loan, expatriate first home up to AED 5m
Ten steps in every emirate
- Check you can buy there: freehold area, approved project or investment zone.
- Set the budget: price, registry fees, commission and VAT.
- Get a mortgage pre-approval if you borrow.
- Use a licensed broker and check the licence.
- Agree the price and sign the sale contract.
- Get the developer’s no-objection certificate.
- Off-plan: pay only into the project’s escrow account.
- Register the sale with the emirate’s registry and pay the fees.
- Receive the title deed in your name.
- Connect the utilities and, from AED 2 million, apply for the Golden Visa.
Source: UAE Government Portal: Expatriates buying a property in the UAE; Dubai Land Department: Property sale registration; DARI: Registration of sale and purchase of land and real estate; Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook: Regulations regarding mortgage loans; Dubai Land Department: Licensed real estate brokers; Dubai Land Department: Dubai REST; Dubai Legislation: Law No. 8 of 2007 Concerning Escrow Accounts for Real Estate Development; ICP: UAE Golden Residency1,2,3,10,11,13,14,17
Registry and fees in each emirate
| Emirate | Registry | Main sale fee |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai Land Department | 4%, 2% seller and 2% buyer, plus trustee fee |
| Abu Dhabi | DARI | 2% of the contract value or valuation, plus AED 875 |
| Sharjah | Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department | 2% ownership fee for non-UAE, non-GCC buyers, plus registration fees |
| Ajman | AjmanRE | 2% buyer and 1% seller on a unit, plus AED 350 deed |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAK Municipality | 2% seller and 2% buyer on market value, plus AED 400 |
| Umm Al Quwain | Municipality Department | Not published online |
| Fujairah | Fujairah Municipality | Set by area and land use |
Source: Dubai Land Department: Property sale registration; DARI: Registration of sale and purchase of land and real estate; Sharjah Official Gazette: Executive Council Decision No. 30 of 2022 on real estate ownership by non-UAE and non-GCC nationals; Ajman Government: Real estate sale registration; RAK Municipality: Real estate sale service (ZL13); WAM: UAQ Ruler issues six laws to regulate the real estate sector; Umm Al Quwain Municipality Department: Services; Fujairah Municipality: Issuing ownership under a sale contract2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
A worked example
| Ready apartment in Dubai, AED 2,000,000, cash | Buyer pays |
|---|---|
| Land Department fee, buyer’s 2% | AED 40,000 |
| Title deed, map, knowledge and innovation fees | AED 520 |
| Trustee centre, with VAT | AED 4,200 |
| Broker’s commission, 2% with VAT | AED 42,000 |
| Total on top of the price | AED 86,720 |
Source: Dubai Land Department: Property sale registration; UAE Ministry of Finance: Value Added Tax; Investor Abu Dhabi Guide (UAE Government Portal)2,15,16
Try other prices, emirates and a mortgage in the online cost calculator: invest-emirates.ae/real-estate/how-to-buy-property.
Before you pay
- In Dubai, check the broker’s e-card and the project in Dubai REST.
- Off-plan, pay only into the project’s escrow account.
- With a loan, expect to put down at least 20% of a first home up to AED 5 million, and 50% off-plan.
- In Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, get written confirmation that the property can be registered in your name.
Source: Dubai Land Department: E-card verification; Dubai Land Department: Dubai REST; Dubai Legislation: Law No. 8 of 2007 Concerning Escrow Accounts for Real Estate Development; Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook: Regulations regarding mortgage loans; Sharjah Official Gazette: Executive Council Decision No. 30 of 2022 on real estate ownership by non-UAE and non-GCC nationals; WAM: UAQ Ruler issues six laws to regulate the real estate sector; Fujairah Municipality: Issuing ownership under a sale contract12,13,14,10,4,7,9
Sources
- UAE Government Portal: Expatriates buying a property in the UAE
- Dubai Land Department: Property sale registration
- DARI: Registration of sale and purchase of land and real estate
- Sharjah Official Gazette: Executive Council Decision No. 30 of 2022 on real estate ownership by non-UAE and non-GCC nationals
- Ajman Government: Real estate sale registration
- RAK Municipality: Real estate sale service (ZL13)
- WAM: UAQ Ruler issues six laws to regulate the real estate sector
- Umm Al Quwain Municipality Department: Services
- Fujairah Municipality: Issuing ownership under a sale contract
- Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook: Regulations regarding mortgage loans
- Dubai Land Department: Licensed real estate brokers
- Dubai Land Department: E-card verification
- Dubai Land Department: Dubai REST
- Dubai Legislation: Law No. 8 of 2007 Concerning Escrow Accounts for Real Estate Development
- UAE Ministry of Finance: Value Added Tax
- Investor Abu Dhabi Guide (UAE Government Portal)
- ICP: UAE Golden Residency
Figures checked 6 November 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
