Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?

Yes. Foreigners are allowed to purchase property in Dubai's freehold regions. Property can be purchased as freehold with no time restriction or for a maximum of 99 years in the case of leasehold (Law 7 of 2006). Property purchases do not require residence in the UAE and all transactions are recorded by the Dubai Land Department which provides the title deed to the property.

A title deed costs AED 580 and a transfer charge of 4% is applied, paid by the buyer. Trustee and agency fees are also charged. For expats a mortgage is also available. For a first time property purchase of up to AED 5 million 80% can be financed by the bank according to the policy of the UAE Central Bank. For all properties valued more than AED 5 million a loan of 70% can be obtained. For non-residents a higher deposit is generally required.

If a property is valued at AED 2 million or more, the holder of the property can be granted the 10 year Golden Visa whether or not it is mortgaged.