How to buy property in Dubai: Steps, costs and timeline

This guide explains how to buy property in Dubai from start to finish, whether you live here, are moving here or are buying as a foreigner from abroad. It covers who can buy, each step for ready and off-plan homes, the full cost on a real price, how long each stage takes and what to check before you sign.

Quick answer: Agree a price, sign Form F (the MOU) with a 10% security cheque, wait while the seller gets the developer NOC and your bank finishes any mortgage, then transfer ownership at a DLD registration trustee office. With cash, a ready home can transfer in as little as 2 to 3 working days. Most cash purchases take about 2 to 4 weeks from signing Form F to transfer. With a mortgage, it usually takes 30 to 60 days. On top of the price, budget about 6% to 7% in fees and commission for a cash purchase (about 6.3% on an AED 2,000,000 home), and a little more with a mortgage.

Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?

Yes. Buying property in Dubai as a foreigner is common and fully legal. Non-UAE nationals can buy freehold property in Dubai’s designated freehold areas, which include Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay, Dubai Hills Estate, Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Creek Harbour and many more. The home is registered in your name with the Dubai Land Department (DLD), and your title deed is your proof of ownership. For an off-plan home, your proof of ownership until completion is the Oqood, DLD’s interim registration.

You do not need a UAE residence visa to buy. DLD accepts a valid passport for buyers who are not UAE residents, so you can buy property in Dubai without residency and, as explained below, without being in Dubai at all.

Buying property in Dubai at a glance

Here is the Dubai property buying process for a ready (completed) home, in order, with who handles each step.

The steps for a ready home, who does them and how long they take

How to buy a ready property, step by step

A ready property is a completed home bought from its current owner. These are the steps in the order they happen.

1. Set your budget and get pre-approval. Work out the full cash you need (see the worked example below), not just the deposit.
2. Find the right home with a RERA-registered agent. Sign Form B, the buyer agreement with your agency.
3. Agree the price and sign Form F. Give the 10% security cheque.
4. Wait for the developer NOC. The seller applies for it.
5. Finalise your mortgage, if you are borrowing.
6. Transfer at a registration trustee office. Payments are made and the title deed is issued in your name.
7. Take the keys and register utilities in your name.

1. Set your budget and get mortgage pre-approval

If you are borrowing, a pre-approval tells you how much a bank is likely to lend before you start making offers. It also shows sellers you are a serious buyer. Read our guide to getting mortgage pre-approval, or see how much you can borrow. If you have not picked an area yet, start with the best areas to buy property in Dubai or the most affordable areas to buy.

2. Find a home with a RERA-registered agent

Every property advert in Dubai should show a valid advertising permit number (Trakheesi), and your agent should be RERA-registered. Before your agent starts working for you, you sign Form B, the buyer agreement, which sets out the agency commission you will pay.

3. Agree the price and sign Form F (the MOU)

Form F is the memorandum of understanding between buyer and seller. It records the price, the transfer date and what happens if either side does not go ahead. When you sign Form F, you give a security cheque for 10% of the price. The seller’s agency usually holds this cheque until transfer. Read the Form F terms carefully so you know what happens to the cheque if either side pulls out.

4. The seller gets the developer NOC

The developer’s no objection certificate (NOC) confirms that the developer has no objection to the sale, which normally means the service charges on the home are paid up. The seller applies to the developer for the NOC and pays its fee; when we act for the seller, we help them apply. The developer NOC usually takes 2 to 3 working days. If the seller has a mortgage, their bank issues a liability letter and the loan is cleared as part of the transfer.

5. Your mortgage is finalised

If you are borrowing, the bank values the property and, once it is happy, issues a final offer letter. Your bank then prepares a manager’s cheque for the loan amount for transfer day.

6. Transfer day at a registration trustee office

Buyer and seller, or the people holding their power of attorney, meet at a DLD registration trustee office. The balance is paid by manager’s cheque, along with the DLD fees, and the new title deed is issued in your name. Houzon’s in-house conveyancing team can handle this part for you: working out the fees, preparing the list of manager’s cheques, booking the trustee office and attending on transfer day.

7. Handover

You collect the keys and access cards and set up DEWA, cooling (where the building has a separate provider) and internet in your name. If the home already has tenants, read our guide to buying a tenanted property in Dubai before you agree the price.

How to buy off-plan property

An off-plan home is bought from the developer before it is finished. The steps are different from a resale:

1. Reserve the unit with the developer and pay the booking amount set out in the payment plan.
2. Sign the sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with the developer.
3. Register the sale on Oqood, DLD’s interim register for off-plan property. You also pay the 4% DLD fee, unless the developer is offering to cover it; your SPA says when it is due.
4. Pay instalments into the project’s escrow account as set out in the payment plan.
5. Take handover. On completion you pay any balance, receive your keys, and your Oqood registration is replaced by a full title deed.

How off-plan buyers are protected

Under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007, developers must be registered with the DLD, and each project must have its own escrow account. Buyers’ payments go into that account, and the money can be used only to build that project. This does not remove every risk, as projects can still run late, so check the developer’s track record and the handover date in the SPA. You can see current off-plan launches on our projects page.

How much does it cost to buy property in Dubai?

On top of the price, a cash buyer of a ready home pays the 4% DLD transfer fee, about AED 4,800 in title deed and trustee fees (less below AED 500,000), and 2% agency commission plus VAT. On an AED 2,000,000 home that is about 6.3% in total, and a little more on a cheaper home. A mortgage adds the mortgage registration fee and the bank’s valuation fee, and you will need a deposit.

Costs of buying a ready home in Dubai and who usually pays them

On a resale, the buyer and seller each pay their own agency. The buyer pays 2% of the agreed price plus 5% VAT under Form B, and the seller pays 2% plus 5% VAT under Form A. If you buy off-plan direct from a developer, there is usually no buyer’s commission. The registration trustee office fee is paid once per transaction, even when there is a mortgage. Government fees are set by the DLD and can change, so check the exact figures for your purchase before you sign.

Worked example: cash vs mortgage on an AED 2,000,000 home

Here is the cost of buying property in Dubai on one real price: an AED 2,000,000 ready apartment, bought either with cash or with an 80% mortgage as an expat buying a first home.

Cash needed for an AED 2,000,000 ready apartment

How the mortgage figures work: the mortgage registration fee is 0.25% of the AED 1,600,000 loan, which is AED 4,000, plus AED 290 to 520. The total cash with a mortgage is the AED 400,000 deposit plus AED 126,780 in fees and commission, plus mortgage registration and the bank valuation. Neither column includes conveyancing or the bank’s own processing fee, so ask your bank and conveyancer for those.

If this were a second home or an investment, an expat could borrow up to 60%, so the deposit would be AED 800,000 and the total cash needed about AED 932,570 to 933,450. For a smaller budget, our guide to the most affordable areas to buy works through the same sums on an AED 800,000 apartment.

Buying with a mortgage

The UAE Central Bank sets the most a bank can lend as a share of the property’s value. Each bank then applies its own rules on income, age and the property itself.

Maximum loan-to-value under UAE Central Bank rules

The longest mortgage term allowed is 25 years. For non-residents, each bank sets its own limits, and most banks lend around 50 to 60%. Budget to pay the purchase costs from your own money, on top of the deposit. To see what you could borrow, speak to our mortgage team, who can compare offers from several banks.

Buying property in Dubai from abroad

You can buy property in Dubai from abroad without flying in for each step. Houzon helps buyers who cannot come to Dubai, and this is how it usually works:

• Signing the MOU: you can sign Form F digitally, so you do not need to be in Dubai when you agree the purchase.
• Transfer day: someone you trust attends the trustee office for you, using a notarised power of attorney. If you sign the power of attorney outside the UAE, it must also be attested for use in the UAE, which can take time, so start early.
• Payments: the balance and fees are usually paid by manager’s cheque on transfer day. Plan ahead for moving funds, and talk to us early about how your payments will be arranged.
• Mortgage: banks lend less to buyers who live abroad, so plan for a larger deposit.
• Title deed: the title deed is issued in your name, and your conveyancer can send you a copy.

Our conveyancing team works with buyers abroad as well as in Dubai, from preparing the cheque list to attending on transfer day.

Documents you need

• Your passport (and Emirates ID if you live in the UAE)
• Signed Form B with your agency, and signed Form F (ready home) or the SPA (off-plan)
• Manager’s cheques for the balance and the fees
• For a mortgage: proof of income such as a salary certificate, recent bank statements and the bank’s application forms
• If someone signs for you: a notarised power of attorney, attested for use in the UAE if signed abroad

How long does it take to buy property in Dubai?

With cash, a ready home can transfer in as little as 2 to 3 working days. Most cash purchases take about 2 to 4 weeks from signing Form F to transfer. The developer NOC usually takes 2 to 3 working days. With a mortgage, it usually takes 30 to 60 days, because the bank needs time to value the home and issue its final offer, and a seller’s mortgage needs a liability letter and clearing. Banks, developers and the DLD each control part of this, so treat these as typical times rather than guarantees.

Typical time to transfer

Buyer’s checklist

Run through this list before you sign anything and again before transfer day.

• The advert shows a valid permit number, and your agent is RERA-registered.
• You have signed Form B and know what commission you will pay.
• You have mortgage pre-approval, if you are borrowing.
• You know the yearly service charges for the building or community; see our guide to service charges in Dubai.
• You have seen the seller’s title deed, or the Oqood for an off-plan resale.
• Form F shows the agreed price, transfer date and terms for the 10% security cheque.
• You know whether the seller has a mortgage, and the NOC has been applied for.
• Your manager’s cheques match the final figures for the price and fees.
• You have a plan to move DEWA, cooling and internet into your name.

Owning property and UAE residence visas

2-year investor visa

The DLD offers a 2-year investor residence visa for property owners. A sole owner can apply whatever the property’s value, and a joint owner can apply if their share is worth at least AED 400,000. You need a title deed, so this applies to ready homes. The fee for the investor’s own 2-year visa, as listed by the DLD, is AED 10,212.50.

10-year Golden Visa

You may be eligible for a 10-year Golden Visa if you own property bought for AED 2 million or more.

• Off-plan: one or more off-plan properties with a total value of at least AED 2 million can qualify, if they are bought from a developer approved by the authorities and registered with the DLD on Oqood.
• Mortgaged homes: these can qualify too, but the property must be worth at least AED 2 million, and the DLD asks for a bank letter confirming at least AED 2 million has been paid, plus a no-objection letter showing the amount paid and the balance. For example, an AED 3 million home with AED 2 million paid can qualify.

For the full details, read our guide to the Golden Visa through property.

Why buy with Houzon

Houzon is a RERA-registered agency rated 4.9 on Google from more than 280 client reviews. We help with the search and the negotiation, and our in-house mortgage and conveyancing teams can take care of the financing and the transfer, so you deal with one team from first viewing to keys. If you are still deciding whether to buy at all, read rent vs buy in Dubai.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy property in Dubai without a residence visa?

Yes. Foreigners can buy freehold property in Dubai’s designated freehold areas without a UAE residence visa. The DLD accepts a valid passport for buyers who are not UAE residents, and the home is registered in your name.

Can I buy property in Dubai from abroad?

Yes. You can sign Form F (the MOU) digitally, and someone you trust can attend transfer day for you using a notarised power of attorney. If you sign the power of attorney outside the UAE, it must also be attested for use in the UAE. Houzon helps buyers who cannot come to Dubai.

How much deposit do I need to buy in Dubai?

With a mortgage, an expat buying a first home under AED 5 million needs at least 20% of the price, and a UAE national at least 15%. For a second home or investment, the minimum is 40% for expats and 35% for UAE nationals, and for off-plan it is 50%. On top of the deposit, you pay the purchase costs from your own money.

What are the total costs of buying property in Dubai?

For a cash purchase of a ready home, budget about 6% to 7% on top of the price: the 4% DLD transfer fee, AED 580 in title deed and admin fees, the registration trustee office fee and 2% agency commission plus VAT. On an AED 2,000,000 apartment that is AED 126,780. A mortgage adds the mortgage registration fee and the bank valuation fee.

What is Form F (MOU) and how much is the deposit?

Form F is the memorandum of understanding between buyer and seller. It sets out the price, the transfer date and what happens if either side does not go ahead. When you sign it, you give a security cheque for 10% of the price, which the seller’s agency usually holds until transfer.

How long does a property transfer take in Dubai?

With cash, a ready home can transfer in as little as 2 to 3 working days. Most cash purchases take about 2 to 4 weeks from signing Form F to transfer. With a mortgage, it usually takes 30 to 60 days.

Can I get a mortgage as a non-resident?

Yes, some UAE banks lend to buyers who live abroad. Each bank sets its own limits for non-residents, and most banks lend around 50 to 60% of the property’s value. The longest term allowed is 25 years.

Is buying off-plan in Dubai safe?

Off-plan buyers have legal protection. Under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007, developers must be registered with the DLD, and each project must have its own escrow account that can be used only to build that project. Projects can still run late, so check the developer’s track record and the handover date in your SPA.

Ready to start? Browse homes for sale, speak to our mortgage team about what you can borrow, or ask our conveyancing team to guide you through transfer day.

Related guides

• How much should you earn to buy property in Dubai?
• Best areas to buy property in Dubai
• Buying a tenanted property in Dubai
• Rent vs buy in Dubai

Sources

• Dubai Land Department: Property sale registration (checked 13 November 2026)
• Dubai Land Department: Registering the sale of a mortgaged property (checked 13 November 2026)
• Dubai Land Department: Request for investor visa (checked 13 November 2026)
• Dubai Land Department: Golden Visa application – investor (checked 13 November 2026)
• UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism: What are the conditions for granting a Golden Visa to an investor in real estate? (checked 13 November 2026)
• Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook: Regulations regarding mortgage loans (checked 13 November 2026)
• Dubai Legal Portal: Law No. (8) of 2007 concerning escrow accounts for real estate development in the Emirate of Dubai (2007)

Information checked on 13 November 2026.