Question 1

Can foreigners own freehold property in the UAE?

Accepted Answer

Yes — in designated freehold areas. Dubai under Law No. 7 of 2006 (and amendments) permits non-GCC foreign nationals to own freehold in designated areas including Downtown, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, JBR, Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills, JLT, JVT, JVC, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Arabian Ranches, Damac Hills, Dubai Hills Estate, Mohammed Bin Rashid City and many others. Outside designated areas, foreigners can hold long-term leasehold (typically up to 99 years) or usufruct rights. Abu Dhabi has the parallel framework under Law No. 19 of 2005, as amended by Law No. 13 of 2019, designating investment areas where foreigners may own freehold. GCC nationals can typically own freehold across the UAE without designated-area restrictions.

Question 2

What ownership structures are available to foreign buyers?

Accepted Answer

Four principal options. (1) Direct ownership in personal name — simplest and lowest cost at acquisition, but exposes the buyer to UAE inheritance default rules and creates succession friction. (2) UAE-onshore LLC or free-zone entity — useful for active commercial property; corporate succession; some additional cost and ongoing licence renewal. (3) DIFC or ADGM Foundation — the most common HNW structure: combines liability protection, succession control, tax efficiency and asset protection; set-up cost AED 15-30k plus annual maintenance. (4) Offshore SPV (Cayman, BVI, Jersey) — historically common, increasingly disfavoured because of substance and UBO disclosure requirements globally. We map structure choice to the buyer's overall objectives — succession, tax position, liability, future divestment plan — at the first consultation.

Question 3

Can foreign buyers obtain a mortgage in the UAE?

Accepted Answer

Yes. UAE banks offer mortgages to foreign residents and to non-resident foreign buyers, subject to the Central Bank LTV caps: typically 80% for UAE nationals, 75% for expat residents, lower for non-residents and second properties (typically 65-70%). Mortgage products are available in conventional and Sharia-compliant (Diminishing Musharaka or Ijarah Muntahia Bittamleek) structures. Mortgage registration is constitutive — the security is perfected at the moment of DLD registration, not at facility documentation execution. We act on mortgage origination on the buyer side, including coordination with bank credit teams, valuation challenges, and DLD mortgage registration.

Question 4

Does buying UAE property qualify for the Golden Visa?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and this is one of the most common pathways. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on Entry and Residence of Foreigners, real-estate investment of AED 2 million or more in UAE property qualifies for a 10-year renewable Golden Visa. The investment can be in a single property or across multiple properties; mortgaged property qualifies provided the buyer's net equity (purchase price minus mortgage) meets or exceeds AED 2 million. The Golden Visa includes spouse and dependent children, allows full work and business rights, and critically does not require continuous residence in the UAE — there is no minimum-day requirement. We coordinate the property acquisition and the Golden Visa application as a single workstream.

Question 5

What is the practical step-by-step process for a foreign buyer?

Accepted Answer

Twelve steps: (1) determine ownership structure (personal, LLC, Foundation); (2) if Foundation: incorporate the DIFC or ADGM Foundation in advance; (3) identify property in designated freehold area; (4) due-diligence — title verification, encumbrance check, ejari status (if rented), service-charge status (the JOPOA will not consent to transfer without clear status), maintenance status; (5) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and 10% deposit; (6) NOC from the master developer (where applicable); (7) full SPA — RERA-compliant; (8) mortgage origination if financing — bank pre-approval, valuation, facility documentation; (9) DLD transfer appointment and fee payment (typically 4% of purchase price + admin fees); (10) DLD title-deed issuance in the chosen ownership name; (11) ejari registration if rented out; (12) Golden Visa application if AED 2m threshold met. We project-manage the full sequence including remote-instructed transactions where the buyer is not in the UAE.

Structure	Best for	Pros	Cons
Personal name	Single property, no succession sensitivity	Lowest cost, simplest	Inheritance-default risk; succession friction
UAE LLC / free-zone	Active commercial property	Corporate succession; lender-friendly	Annual licence + corporate-tax considerations
DIFC / ADGM Foundation	HNW; multi-property; succession-driven	Liability, succession, tax, asset protection	AED 15-30k set-up + annual maintenance
Offshore SPV	Legacy structures; specific tax positions	Confidentiality (limited)	UBO disclosure; substance requirements

Buying UAE property as a foreign national — the complete legal guide.

Ownership-structure decision matrix

The 12-step buyer process

Determine ownership structure

Incorporate Foundation (if applicable)

Property identification

Due diligence

MOU + 10% deposit

Master-developer NOC

Full SPA

Mortgage origination (if financing)

DLD transfer appointment

Title-deed issuance

Ejari registration (if rented)

Golden Visa application (if AED 2m+)

Frequently asked questions

Buying UAE property?