How to buy property in Dubai — the full step-by-step
Buying property in Dubai is fast — most transactions close in 30 days — but the fee stack catches first-time buyers out. Here's the full process, the real numbers, and what to negotiate.
1. Decide on freehold vs leasehold
Non-GCC nationals can only own property in freehold zones. Dubai's freehold areas cover most of the city worth buying in — Marina, Downtown, Palm, JVC, Business Bay, Dubai Hills, Creek Harbour and more. Leasehold (typically 99-year) restricts ownership and resale to GCC nationals.
Verify before you put down a deposit: every Propora listing tags the tenure field — and we link to the DLD's freehold map on every listing detail page.
2. Get pre-approved
Even if you plan to pay cash, get a bank pre-approval. It signals you're serious and unlocks negotiation room. UAE banks underwrite based on:
- Salary multiplier — total loan ≤ 7× your annual net income
- DSR cap — all loan repayments ≤ 50% of net monthly income
- LTV cap — residents 80% (first property < AED 5M) / 70% (≥ AED 5M); non-residents 75% / 60%
Use Propora's mortgage calculator to see what each bank will say yes to before you walk in.
3. Make an offer + sign the MOU (Form F)
Offers in Dubai are typically verbal first, then formalised on an MOU (Form F) — the standard RERA contract. You'll pay a 10% deposit at signing, refundable only if the seller pulls out.
From here, you and the seller jointly visit the developer to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) — a one-page document confirming the seller has no outstanding service charges. NOC fees range AED 500 – 5,000 depending on the developer.
4. Transfer at the DLD trustee office
Both parties (or their POAs) attend a DLD-registered trustee office for the title transfer. You'll need:
- The MOU
- The NOC
- Original passport copies + Emirates ID
- A manager's cheque for the balance + DLD fees
The transfer itself takes ~30 minutes. You walk out with a new title deed in your name on the same day.
5. The full fee stack
On a sale price of AED P, budget roughly 7% all-in beyond the headline:
- DLD transfer fee: 4% of P + AED 580 admin
- DLD registration: AED 2,000 (< 500K) or 4,000 (≥ 500K) + 5% VAT
- Trustee office fee: AED 4,000 + 5% VAT
- Title deed issuance: AED 250
- Agency commission: 2% of P + 5% VAT
- Conveyancing (optional, recommended): AED 6,000 – 10,000
- NOC: AED 500 – 5,000
- If financed: mortgage registration 0.25% of loan + AED 290, plus bank processing fee
Propora's True Cost panel on every listing shows you these numbers live for the listing you're looking at — no surprises at the trustee office.
6. Watch for the gotchas
- Service charges: ask for the latest service-charge invoice. Marina + Palm towers run AED 18 – 30/sqft/year — that's AED 25k+ a year on a 1-bed.
- Rent in place: if there's a tenant, the contract transfers with the unit. You can't move in or raise rent until the lease ends.
- Off-plan units: handover dates slip. Build a 6 – 12 month buffer into your move-in plan.
- Trakheesi number: Dubai listings must carry one. No Trakheesi = the listing can't legally publish. Propora's Trust panel flags this automatically.
LTV caps, DSR rules, salary multipliers, Sharia vs conventional, and which UAE banks lend to non-residents in 2026.
What to verify before signing an off-plan SPA, how escrow accounts protect you, and the red flags that make a good payment plan turn ugly.
The UAE's freehold / leasehold split decides who can buy what — and resale value. Here's the zone map and the legal restrictions for every emirate.