Dubai Real Estate 101

Five steps from search to title deed, typical 30–60 day timeline.

• 1. Pick your area + property — use Floxcy Areas to filter by yield, growth, and freehold status.
• 2. Make an offer + sign Form F (Memorandum of Understanding). 10% deposit goes to the seller's agent.
• 3. NOC application — seller obtains a No Objection Certificate from the developer (1–5 days, AED 500–5,000).
• 4. Transfer at the DLD Trustee Office — 4% transfer fee + 2% agency + AED 4,200 trustee + 5% VAT on agency.
• 5. Receive the title deed (Oqood for off-plan, Mulkiya for ready). Register with Ejari to lease out.

Budget ~7–8% on top of the purchase price.

• DLD transfer fee: 4% of purchase price — flat, one-off.
• Agency commission: 2% of purchase price + 5% VAT on the commission.
• Trustee office fee: AED 4,200 (fixed).
• Mortgage registration: 0.25% of loan amount (only if financing).
• Property valuation: AED 3,000–3,500 (mortgage only).
• Annual service charges: typically 12–30 AED/sqft depending on building amenities.
• No annual property tax. No income tax on rent. No capital-gains tax on sale.

Freehold gives foreigners full ownership; leasehold is long-term rental.

• Freehold: 100% ownership, perpetual, transferable. Most Dubai investment districts are freehold (Marina, Downtown, JVC, Business Bay).
• Leasehold: long-term lease (10–99 years). Found in some areas restricted to GCC nationals or UAE citizens.
• Freehold is required for the Investor Visa (entry threshold AED 750K).
• When in doubt, check the title deed type or call DLD on 800 4488.

Cheaper entry, longer wait, developer risk.

• Off-plan = property purchased before completion, sold by the developer with a staged payment plan.
• Reward: typically 15–25% below ready-market price. Construction-linked payments reduce upfront cash.
• Risk: project delays (industry average ~12–18 months), developer financial stability, and on-handover quality.
• Mitigation: check the developer's track record (use Floxcy Building X-Ray), confirm escrow account #, and read the SPA carefully.
• RERA mandates an escrow account for every off-plan project — funds released to developer only on construction milestones.

Foreign nationals can borrow up to 80% LTV; UAE residents up to 85%.

• Max LTV: 80% for non-residents, 85% for residents (Central Bank caps).
• Term: typically 5–25 years; age cap usually 65–70 at maturity.
• Rates: ~4.5–6% (Q2 2026 indicative). Fixed for 1–5 years, then variable.
• Required documents: passport + visa, 6 months bank statements, salary certificate, mortgage pre-approval.
• Down payment must be from personal funds (not borrowed).
• Compare lenders: Emirates NBD, ADCB, FAB, Mashreq, HSBC, Standard Chartered.

2-year visa from AED 750K, 10-year Golden Visa from AED 2M.

• 2-year property investor visa: AED 750K+ freehold property (can be joint).
• 10-year Golden Visa: AED 2M+ freehold property OR AED 1M off-plan with handover ≤3 years.
• Renewable as long as you continue to own the qualifying property.
• Includes spouse + children (no age limit on children of investor).
• Processing: 2–4 weeks via Dubai Land Department + GDRFA.
• Property must be fully paid (or mortgage approved) at time of application.