Buying Property in Dubai: A Guide for Overseas Buyers

How foreign buyers can purchase in Dubai: where you can own, how titles and off-plan sales are protected, which fees apply and buying from abroad.

Can a foreigner buy property in Dubai?

Yes. Foreigners, including people who do not live in the UAE, may buy in the areas of Dubai set aside for them. Well-known examples include Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. Before you fall for a particular home, it is worth confirming that its location falls within one of these designated areas.

Our team at Wannabe Property can check this with you at the start and narrow the search to places you are actually allowed to buy in.

How ownership is recorded

Outside the Dubai International Financial Centre, which keeps its own register, a sale is valid only once the Dubai Land Department has recorded it. The Dubai Land Department is also the body that issues the title deed. In practice, the registration is the step that turns an agreement into legal ownership.

Buying off-plan: what protects you

Developers selling off-plan must be registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, part of the Dubai Land Department. Buyers' payments go into a project escrow account reserved for construction, rather than into the developer's general funds.

Every off-plan sale must also be entered in the interim property register, known as Oqood. A sale that is not recorded there is void. Ask us to confirm the developer's registration and the Oqood entry before you pay anything beyond the reservation.

Costs beyond the price

Budget for more than the purchase price. Buyers pay Dubai Land Department registration and title deed fees, plus a service fee to the registration trustee. If a broker is involved, a commission may also apply. Once you own, you pay service charges for the shared areas of the building or community.

Prices and official fees are quoted in UAE dirhams, the national currency, which is pegged to the US dollar. For orientation, the homes we present start from AED 598,500, and typical prices run around AED 700-4,800 per square foot, across 41 projects.

Buying from abroad

You do not have to travel to complete a purchase. A buyer who cannot attend can proceed through a representative holding a duly notarised power of attorney. Many of our clients start the conversation on WhatsApp, review options remotely and are supported through each step by our international buyer assistance.

How we help

Wannabe Property focuses on luxury property in Dubai and Jeddah for international buyers and investors. We offer investment consulting, help for buyers coming from overseas and professional marketing of luxury homes. Message us on WhatsApp with your budget and the kind of property you have in mind, and we will suggest where to look.

Updated October 2026 · Data: Palmera