Property in the UAE for foreigners

Updated 6 October 2026

Apartments in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in freehold zones: we check the project and developer, handle Land Department registration and structure the purchase for an investor or golden visa.

In the UAE a foreigner can buy a home or commercial premises freehold, but only in zones designated by the emirates' authorities. In Dubai these zones are set by the 2006 real estate registration law and ruler's decisions; in Abu Dhabi by investment zones where foreigners have also held freehold since 2019. There is no annual tax on owning a home, and an individual's income from letting their own property is not taxed.

How much it costs to complete in Dubai

Dollar amounts at the fixed rate of 3.6725 dirhams per dollar.

• Land Department fee: 4% of the price. The contract decides who pays, usually the buyer. On a 2 million dirham flat, about $544,600, that is 80,000 dirhams, about $21,800.
• Registration trustee fee: 4,000 dirhams, about $1,090, plus VAT for properties over 500,000 dirhams, and 2,000 dirhams, about $545, below that.
• Mortgage registration: 0.25% of the loan amount if buying with a mortgage.
• VAT: resale of homes is exempt, the first sale of a new home is zero-rated, commercial property is 5%.

Buying off-plan

Payments for off-plan units in Dubai go only into the project's escrow account at a bank, and the developer receives money as construction progresses. The contract is registered with the Land Department in an interim register, and a title deed is issued on completion. Before buying, check that the project is registered and has an escrow account.

Property and residence

• 10-year golden visa for property worth at least 2 million dirhams, about $544,600. Several properties can be combined, and off-plan units from approved developers qualify.
• 2-year investor residence. On 29 April 2026 the Dubai Land Department removed the former 750,000 dirham threshold: a sole owner of a completed freehold home needs no minimum value. With several unrelated owners, each share must be worth at least 400,000 dirhams, about $109,000.

Residence gives access to a local bank account on standard terms and lets you become a UAE tax resident.

How the purchase works

1. Goal and budget. A home, rental income or residence decide the property and area.
2. Due diligence. Seller's title, project registration, developer escrow, service charge arrears.
3. Contract and deposit, usually 10%, on the resale market via the Land Department's standard form.
4. Developer's no-objection confirming no arrears, for resales.
5. Registration with the Land Department and payment of fees.

Risks

• An off-plan project without registration and escrow.
• High annual service charges that cut rental yield.
• Short-term letting without a permit from the emirate's tourism authority.

What we do

We shortlist a property for your goal, check the seller, developer and project, and support the contract, Land Department registration and residence application with locally licensed partners. If you need a UAE bank account, we open it in parallel.

Can a Russian citizen buy property in the UAE

Yes. The restrictions in the Emirates concern locations, not citizenship: a foreigner can buy freehold only in zones designated by the authorities, and outside them only long leases or usufruct rights. Russian citizens buy on the same terms as other foreigners and, after buying a completed home, can obtain a two-year investor visa.

The key check for Russians is the source of funds. The bank, the developer and the registration centre ask where the money comes from, so income documents are prepared before the deposit. Payments go through a UAE bank account or directly into the project's escrow account, while cash and crypto without a proven source cause problems at registration. How a Russian citizen can open an account is covered in our article on opening a bank account in the UAE.

Apartment prices in Dubai in 2026

According to Dubai Land Department transactions in the first half of 2026, the average apartment price was about 1,970 dirhams per square foot, roughly $5,800 per square metre, up 18% on a year earlier.

Dubai Marina, Downtown and the Palm cost well above average, districts further from the sea less. In Abu Dhabi foreigners buy in investment zones, and neighbouring Sharjah is cheaper but has different rules for foreign buyers. More on districts in our Dubai guide and our article on buying an apartment in Dubai.

Owner taxes and renting out

• Ownership. There is no annual tax on homes. The owner pays building service charges, and occupants pay the municipal fee with their utility bills.
• Rent. An individual's income from letting their own apartment is not taxed in the UAE. Long-term leases are registered in the emirate's tenancy system.
• Short lets. In Dubai a home can be let to tourists only with a tourism department permit, and many buildings ban it in their community rules.
• Sale. There is no capital gains tax for individuals; on resale the Land Department fee is paid again.

The double tax treaty between Russia and the UAE is in force: the new treaty entered into force on 18 July 2025 and applies from 2026. A Russian tax resident declares rental income in Russia, while moving and changing tax residence changes the picture. More on our page on taxes in the UAE.

How to buy property in the UAE remotely

A Dubai deal can be completed without being there: a representative with a power of attorney signs the contract and handles registration at the registration centre. A power of attorney made abroad is certified and legalised for the UAE and then translated into Arabic, or it is made by a notary in the Emirates during a short visit. New builds are often bought entirely remotely: the contract is signed electronically and payments go into the project's escrow account.

You need to come in person for the investor or golden visa: the medical test and biometrics take place in the country. Visa conditions are on our page on UAE residence by investment. To compare the Emirates with other countries, see our overview of where to buy property abroad.

New build or completed apartment

Most Dubai deals are apartments in buildings under construction: developers offer instalments during construction and sometimes after handover, and launch prices are lower. The downsides are clear too: handovers run late, and until completion there is neither rent nor the two-year investor visa, which goes to owners of completed homes. The 10-year golden visa can be obtained on an off-plan apartment from an approved developer if the value is from 2 million dirhams.

A completed apartment costs more upfront but earns rent at once and qualifies for the investor visa. Resale homes are checked for unpaid service charges: without the developer's no-objection certificate the deal will not be registered. For budgeting, add about 4.5% of the price: for a $410,000 apartment that is about $18,000 in Land Department and registration centre fees, plus the agent's commission under the agreement.

What we do

• Property shortlist for your investment goal
• Legal due diligence on the property
• End-to-end transaction support
• Ownership structuring (company, trust)
• Property management and letting

See also

Company formation · Business account · Personal account · All country programs

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