How to Buy Property in Dubai: The Process Step by Step

Buying property in Dubai follows a clear sequence, whether you live in the UAE or abroad. Most delays and disputes come from doing the steps out of order. Here is the process for a ready (secondary market) home, with the off-plan differences at the end.

1. Set a budget that includes every cost

Start with the full cost, not the price. The Dubai Land Department’s sale registration service (Dubai Land Department, opens in a new tab) lists a registration fee of 2% of the sale value from the seller and 2% from the buyer, plus title deed and other fees. Agree in writing who pays what. Add agency commission, mortgage costs if you borrow, and a year of service charges. If you need a mortgage, get a pre-approval first: the Central Bank sets loan-to-value limits (Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook, opens in a new tab) that decide your deposit.

2. Check where you can buy

Foreigners can generally buy freehold property only in designated freehold areas (Dubai Legislation Portal, opens in a new tab). Confirm this for the exact plot before you make an offer.

3. Verify the property and the people

Confirm the seller owns the property using DLD’s title deed verification (Dubai Land Department, opens in a new tab), and check that your agent is licensed through DLD’s licence and permit check (Dubai Land Department, opens in a new tab). Ask whether the property is mortgaged or tenanted, and check the approved service charges (Dubai Land Department, opens in a new tab).

4. Agree the terms in writing

Buyer and seller sign a written sale agreement covering the price, the deposit, the transfer date and who pays each fee. Hold the deposit in a way your agreement specifies, and never pay into a personal account you can’t verify.

5. Get the developer’s NOC and settle any mortgage

In freehold developments, DLD requires a no-objection e-certificate (e-NOC) from the developer before the transfer, issued through the Dubai REST (Dubai Land Department, opens in a new tab) app. If the seller has a mortgage, it must be paid off and released first, following DLD’s process for selling a mortgaged property (Dubai Land Department, opens in a new tab).

6. Transfer ownership at a registration trustee

The sale is registered at a Real Estate Registration Trustee office, where the fees are paid and ownership passes to you. Your title deed is then issued in your name and recorded on the real property register (Dubai Legislation Portal, opens in a new tab).

What changes when you buy off-plan?

Off-plan purchases are recorded in the Interim Real Property Register (Dubai Legislation Portal, opens in a new tab) until the building is complete, and your payments go into the project’s escrow account. See off-plan vs ready property for the full comparison.