Dubai property questions, answered straight.

Yes. International buyers, including non-residents, can purchase freehold property in areas designated for foreign ownership. Exact ownership rules can vary by building and project, so confirm the designation for a specific property before relying on it.

Yes, in Dubai’s freehold areas. The UAE Government portal states that foreigners and expatriate residents may acquire freehold ownership rights over property without restriction, alongside usufruct or leasehold rights of up to 99 years. ProEstate works on freehold property, so check the ownership type on the title before you reserve.

Yes. A Dubai property can be registered in more than one name, and each owner’s share is recorded on the title deed. Agree the split before you reserve, because it is set at registration.

Yes. Freehold property in Dubai passes to heirs, and the route depends on the will and estate documents in place at the time. Put those documents in place while you own the asset, not after - a qualified lawyer confirms which instrument fits your family.

No, a lawyer is not mandatory. Sale contracts and transfers run through Dubai Land Department and registered trustee centres. Many buyers still use one for a power of attorney, joint ownership or succession - we tell you when we think it is worth it.

ProEstate provides property decision support and transaction coordination — legal, tax and mortgage questions go to a qualified lawyer, tax adviser or licensed mortgage broker, and we help identify when that’s needed.

Dubai Land Department’s sale-registration page shows a 2% seller fee and a 2% buyer fee against the sale value, plus title-deed, map and trustee charges. Brokerage is agreed in writing with the broker, not fixed by regulation. We put your exact numbers in writing before you sign.

No annual property tax, and the UAE Government portal states that the UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. What does exist is a Dubai Municipality housing fee on residential tenancy - 5% of the yearly rent, billed with electricity and water. Your own tax position at home is a question for a tax adviser.

On a new property bought directly from the developer, ProEstate is paid by the developer. On a resale, the buyer pays the brokerage fee. Dubai Land Department states the broker’s fee is agreed in advance with the customer, so it is in your paperwork either way.

Yes. Banks in Dubai lend to non-residents on both ready and off-plan property, subject to their own policy. The Central Bank sets maximum loan-to-value ceilings for expatriates; how much a non-resident is actually offered is the bank’s decision, not a published rule. Our mortgage guide sets out the ceilings and the documents.

Often, yes - owning property supports an application, but the decision and the document list are the bank’s. A local account makes rent collection and service charges simpler. We introduce you to the banks we work with; we do not open the account for you.

Yes, through property-linked long-term residency routes — but the minimum value and eligibility rules move, so we’ll confirm the current thresholds with you before you plan around a number. ProEstate is not a licensed immigration advisor.

Dubai Land Department’s FAQ publishes two property-linked routes: a three-year residency at a property value of AED 750,000 or more, and a five-year residency at AED 2 million or more, fully paid and not mortgaged. Those are DLD’s figures on the verification date - check the live page before you buy to a number.

The two official pages do not agree. ICP’s Golden Residency page describes a five-year real-estate category at AED 2 million with land-registration evidence for property without loans; Dubai Land Department’s investor service describes ten years and a bank-letter route for mortgaged property. Confirm the term with the authority that will receive your application.

ICP’s Golden Residency page describes evidence of ownership of one or more properties meeting the minimum capital investment. Whether your specific combination qualifies is decided by the authority on the documents, so get that confirmed before you buy a second unit for the visa.

Usually not. We coordinate viewings, paperwork and signing remotely for buyers every week. The one thing that varies by country is notarizing a power of attorney — we’ll tell you on the first call whether yours needs it.

To start, a valid passport and your personal details. The rest — including the source-of-funds paperwork and a power of attorney where a remote signing needs one — is collected with you in stages after you reserve the unit. We send you one checklist for your transaction before anything is due.

Off-plan payments are typically required to be held in a project escrow account managed by a licensed trustee, which ties payments to construction progress. That structure reduces some risk, but it does not guarantee a completion date, construction quality or an automatic refund. The project, developer and escrow details should be verified for that specific purchase.

No. ProEstate runs the letting and the day-to-day: tenant search, Ejari registration, rent collection, maintenance and the service-charge calendar. You get the reporting and stay the decision-maker.

There is an active resale market across most price ranges, and you can sell whenever you choose. What slows a sale is unit-specific - a developer NOC on an off-plan assignment, an outstanding mortgage, or a building with few recent transactions. We look at the exit before you buy, not after.

No. Dubai sets no mandatory holding period for an owner. The exception to read is your own off-plan contract - a developer can set its own condition before it approves a transfer of the unit.

Ownership sits on a public register: every sale is registered at Dubai Land Department and the title deed is issued in your name. Off-plan money is required into a project escrow account run by a licensed trustee, and tenancies are registered through Ejari. None of that removes market risk - it removes paperwork risk.

No personal income tax, international schooling, private healthcare, and a city built around the car and the metro. Summer is genuinely hot. Come for a few days before you buy - we build the itinerary.

Three things anyone can check: foreigners can hold freehold title without restriction, the UAE does not levy income tax on individuals, and off-plan payments are escrowed by regulation. The trade-off is a market moved by supply and delivery cycles, so the building and the handover date matter more than a headline yield.