International buyers

A Dubai purchase runs from a reservation form to a registered title deed.

What you sign, what each fee costs, who pays it, and when ownership is registered in your name.

Start my property brief

What happens in the deal itself, in order?

Reserve the unit
A reservation form and booking amount hold the unit; neither is ownership.
Sign the SPA
The sale and purchase agreement fixes price, terms, dates and completion.
Pay against milestones
Every payment ties to a signed obligation, a verified beneficiary and a receipt.
Register at a trustee centre
Dubai Land Department registers the transfer through an authorised trustee centre.
Take handover
Keys, meters, condition report and the electronic ownership record close the file.

Dubai Land Department, real estate registration trustee centres. Verified 3 August 2026.

Which fees actually apply, and who pays them?

Transfer fee: 4% of the sale value: 2% on the seller and 2% on the buyer.
Trustee centre fee: AED 4,000 plus VAT at a sale value of AED 500,000 and above, AED 2,000 plus VAT below it.
Title deed and map: Title deed, map, knowledge and innovation fees are charged separately from the transfer fee. Title deed
Mortgage registration: 0.25% of the registered mortgage value, on a financed purchase only.
Brokerage commission: On a direct developer purchase the developer pays it; on a resale the buyer does.

Official fees: Dubai Land Department, property sale registration. Verified 3 August 2026.

What do you actually need to start?

Passport
A valid passport and basic personal details start the purchase.
No residency
Non-residents buy in designated freehold areas with no visa.
Lawyer optional
Sale agreements are officially approved, so a lawyer is not required.
Payment route
Verify the beneficiary account and the registration order before transferring.

Hands signing Dubai property purchase documents at a desk

Which one fits, a completed unit or one under construction?

Ready property: Inspect it, verify the title deed, and let it from the transfer date.
Off-plan property: Payments follow construction milestones and the unit is pre-registered on Oqood.
What both need: Registered ownership evidence, a signed contract and a documented payment route.
Best for: Ready if the unit or the income is needed now; off-plan if a payment plan is needed.

Dubai buying questions

Who pays the brokerage commission?

On a new property bought directly from the developer, the developer pays the commission. On a resale, the buyer pays it.

What documents are needed to start?

In most cases a valid passport and basic personal details are enough to begin. The full list then depends on financing, ownership structure and whether the signing is remote.

Is there property tax in Dubai?

No. Dubai imposes no annual property tax, no capital gains tax and no income tax on rental income. Tax in the buyer's own country of residence is a separate question.

Is a lawyer required to buy?

No. Sale agreements and procedures are governed and approved by the official authorities, so a lawyer is not mandatory. A buyer who wants legal representation is free to appoint one.

Is there a minimum holding period before selling?

No. There is no mandatory holding period and an owner can sell at any time. Developer terms can still apply to an off-plan unit before handover.

Can a property be registered in two names?

Yes. Property in Dubai can be jointly owned and registered in more than one name. Partners and family members are recorded together on the same title deed.