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Dubai property guides

Our Dubai property guides explain how buying, renting, selling and letting work in practice. They cover costs, contracts, Ejari, rent-increase rules, off-plan checks and more. Each guide is researched against official sources such as DLD and RERA, dated, and reviewed when rules change. Guides explain processes. They do not forecast prices or promise returns.

Buying

Questions and answers Dubai property questions, answered This page answers the questions buyers, tenants, landlords and investors ask us most about Dubai property, in two or three sentences each, with a l… Buyer guide How to buy property in Dubai To buy a ready property in Dubai you set a budget (and get mortgage pre-approval if borrowing), choose a freehold property through a RERA-licensed… Buyer guide Buying property in Dubai as a foreigner Foreign nationals can buy freehold property in Dubai's designated freehold areas, whether or not they live in the UAE. You need a valid passport (a… Buyer guide Dubai property buying costs Beyond the purchase price, Dubai buyers pay the DLD transfer fee of 4% of the price, title-deed and admin fees, a trustee office fee, agency commis… Buyer guide DLD transfer fee explained The DLD transfer fee is 4% of the purchase price, paid to the Dubai Land Department when ownership is registered. In resale deals it is paid at the… Buyer guide Mortgages in Dubai for expats Expats can borrow from UAE banks to buy freehold property in Dubai. Lenders assess income, debts and residency, and the maximum loan-to-value is ca… Buyer guide Mortgage pre-approval in Dubai Mortgage pre-approval in Dubai is a bank's conditional, in-principle confirmation of how much it will lend you, based on your income, debts and cre… Buyer guide Title deed and Oqood explained A Dubai title deed is the DLD-issued record proving ownership of a completed property. Oqood is DLD's interim register for off-plan sales: the Oqoo… Buyer guide Developer NOC explained A developer NOC (no-objection certificate) is a letter from the master or project developer confirming it has no objection to a property being tran… Buyer guide Property viewing checklist When viewing a Dubai property to buy, check the condition of the unit (walls, ceilings, AC, plumbing, windows), the building (lifts, parking, commo… Buyer guide Snagging checklist Snagging is inspecting a newly built property for defects before or at handover, then reporting them to the developer to fix. Check finishes, doors… Buyer guide Freehold areas in Dubai Freehold areas are districts where Dubai law (Law No. 7 of 2006 and related regulations) allows non-UAE nationals to own property outright and regi… Buyer guide Buying property with a power of attorney You can buy Dubai property without attending by giving someone a specific power of attorney to sign and complete for you. The POA must clearly auth… Buyer guide Conveyancing in Dubai Conveyancing in Dubai is the legal and administrative work of moving ownership from seller to buyer: checks, clearances, payments and DLD registrat… Buyer guide First-time buyer guide to Dubai First-time buyers in Dubai should settle five decisions before viewing: whether buying beats renting for their time horizon, the full budget includ… Off-plan vs ready property in Dubai

Investing & off-plan

Investor guide Rental yield in Dubai explained Gross rental yield is annual rent divided by the purchase price, times 100. Net yield deducts running costs — service charges, maintenance, managem… Investor guide Off-plan due diligence checklist Before buying off-plan in Dubai, verify that the developer and project are registered on the Dubai REST app with an escrow account, pay only into t… Investor guide RERA escrow accounts explained In Dubai, off-plan buyers' payments go into a project-specific escrow account regulated under Dubai law and overseen by RERA/DLD. The developer can… Investor guide Golden Visa through property Property investors can apply for a UAE Golden Visa when their Dubai property meets the value threshold DLD lists — AED 2 million. Rules on mortgage… Investor guide Short-term rental investment in Dubai Short-term (holiday home) letting in Dubai is legal with a permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and only where building and com… Investor guide Service charges in Dubai explained Service charges are annual fees owners in jointly owned buildings and communities pay for maintaining common areas, shared services and reserve fun… Investor guide How to verify a developer on Dubai REST Dubai REST is the Dubai Land Department's official app for property services. Before buying off-plan, use it to confirm the developer is registered… Investor guide Off-plan payment plans explained An off-plan payment plan sets when you pay a developer for a property under construction: a booking amount, instalments by date or construction mil… Investor guide Selling or assigning off-plan before handover You can usually sell (assign) an off-plan Dubai property before handover, but only on the developer's terms. Most developers require a minimum shar… Best areas to invest in Dubai

Renting

Renter guide How to rent in Dubai Renting in Dubai follows a clear sequence: set a budget that includes deposit and set-up costs, view with a RERA-licensed agent, agree rent and che… Renter guide Ejari registration for tenants Ejari is the Dubai Land Department system that registers tenancy contracts. As a tenant you need an Ejari certificate to connect DEWA, support fami… Renter guide Rent cheques in Dubai Dubai rent is usually paid with post-dated cheques covering the year, split into one, two, four, six or more payments by agreement. Fewer cheques c… Renter guide Security deposits in Dubai A security deposit is a refundable sum a Dubai tenant pays at signing to cover unpaid bills or damage beyond normal wear. By common market practice… Renter guide Rent increase rules in Dubai Dubai rent increases at renewal are capped by Decree No. 43 of 2013 and the RERA rental index. If your rent is up to 10% below the index average th… Renter guide Tenant rights in Dubai Dubai tenants are protected by Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended. Key rights: rent increases capped by the RERA index, at least 90 days' notice of any… Renter guide Moving-in checklist for Dubai Before you move into a Dubai rental, make sure the contract is signed and on Ejari, DEWA and any chiller or gas accounts are in your name, the buil… Renter guide DEWA connection for tenants Tenants connect electricity and water through DEWA once their tenancy is registered on Ejari. You apply online or in the DEWA app with your Ejari n… Renter guide Early lease termination in Dubai Breaking a Dubai lease early depends mainly on your contract. If it has an early termination clause, follow its notice period and penalty exactly… Renter guide Renting with a company lease A company lease is a tenancy where the employer, not the employee, is the tenant. The company signs the contract, pays the rent, and registers Ejar…

Landlords

Landlord guide Ejari registration for landlords Landlords should register every Dubai tenancy contract on Ejari, the Dubai Land Department system. Registration gives the lease official standing… Landlord guide The 90-day renewal notice explained In Dubai, a landlord who wants to change tenancy terms at renewal, including the rent, must notify the tenant in writing at least 90 days before th… Landlord guide 12-month eviction notice rules A Dubai landlord can end a residential tenancy at expiry only on specific grounds, such as selling the property, needing it for personal or immedia… Landlord guide Rental Dispute Centre process The Rental Dispute Centre (RDC) is Dubai's forum for tenancy disputes, from unpaid rent to eviction and rent increases. A landlord files with the r… Landlord guide Holiday home permit in Dubai Letting a Dubai home to short-stay guests requires a holiday home permit from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Owners can register… Landlord guide Tenant screening in Dubai Good tenant screening in Dubai means confirming identity and residency, checking that the rent is affordable from verifiable income, speaking to a… Landlord guide Furnished vs unfurnished letting Unfurnished letting is the norm for long-term family tenancies in Dubai and keeps costs and wear low. Furnished letting suits smaller apartments, n… Landlord guide Mollak and service charge disputes Service charges in Dubai's jointly owned buildings are governed by Law No. 6 of 2019 and administered through Mollak, the Dubai Land Department sys… Landlord guide Setting the right rent in Dubai The right rent in Dubai is the figure that secures a good tenant quickly, based on current comparable lets in your building, adjusted for floor, vi… Landlord guide Landlord maintenance obligations In Dubai, the landlord is generally responsible for maintaining the property and repairing defects that affect its use, unless the tenancy contract… Landlord guide: renting out property in Dubai

Owning a home

Owner and tenant guide Chiller fees explained Many Dubai apartment buildings are cooled by a district cooling system rather than individual air-conditioning units. The provider usually bills a… Owner guide Home insurance in Dubai In Dubai apartment buildings, the owners association usually insures the structure and common areas through service charges. Owners still need cove… Owner guide DEWA setup for owners Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) supplies electricity and water to most Dubai homes. New owners open an account in their name after tra… Owner guide Annual property maintenance calendar Dubai's climate shapes a home's maintenance year. Service air conditioning before the summer heat, check waterproofing and drainage before the occa… Landlord and tenant guide Tenancy contract addendum explained A tenancy contract addendum adds terms to Dubai's standard tenancy contract, such as maintenance splits, pet permission, early termination or furni… Landlord and tenant guide Renewing a tenancy in Dubai Most Dubai tenancies renew on similar terms. If a landlord wants to change rent or terms, written notice is needed at least 90 days before expiry… Owner guide Handover checklist for new owners Handover is when a Dubai property becomes yours to use. For off-plan homes it follows completion, final payment, snagging and title deed issue; for… Overseas buyer guide Dubai property terms for overseas buyers Buying Dubai property from abroad introduces terms a resident buyer rarely meets: power of attorney, attestation and legalisation, manager's cheque… Owner guide Understanding service charge budgets In Dubai's jointly owned buildings and communities, service charges fund a budget prepared by the management company and administered through Molla…

Selling

Seller guide How to sell property in Dubai Selling property in Dubai follows a set path: confirm your title and any mortgage, price the home against recent DLD-registered sales, sign a Form… Seller guide Form F MOU explained Form F is the standard RERA memorandum of understanding signed by buyer and seller once a Dubai resale price is agreed. It records the parties, pro… Seller guide Selling a mortgaged property in Dubai You can sell a Dubai property that still has a mortgage. The outstanding loan must be settled before or at transfer, usually from the buyer's funds… Seller guide Pricing your property to sell Price a Dubai property from evidence, not hope. Start with recent DLD-registered sales of comparable units in the same building or community, adjus… Seller guide Preparing your home for viewings Prepare a Dubai home for viewings by fixing small faults buyers notice first, servicing the air conditioning, deep-cleaning, clearing clutter, and… Seller guide Choosing a listing agent in Dubai Choose a Dubai listing agent who holds a valid RERA licence, can show recent sales evidence for your building or community, explains an asking pric…

Buying from abroad

Overseas buyer guide Buying Dubai property from Pakistan Buyers living in Pakistan can purchase freehold property in Dubai's designated areas without being resident in the UAE. The practical steps are: ta… Overseas buyer guide Buying Dubai property from India Buyers in India can own freehold property in Dubai's designated areas without UAE residency. Before committing, get written advice from a qualified… Overseas buyer guide Buying Dubai property from the UK UK residents can buy freehold property in Dubai's designated areas with no UAE residency requirement. Take advice from a UK tax adviser before buyi… Overseas buyer guide Sending money for a Dubai property purchase To fund a Dubai purchase from abroad, use regulated banks or authorised payment providers, keep a complete paper trail of where the money came from… Overseas landlord guide Managing a Dubai rental from abroad Managing a Dubai rental from abroad means arranging tenant screening, Ejari registration, rent cheque collection and deposit, maintenance, DEWA and… Overseas buyer guide Planning a property buying trip to Dubai A productive Dubai buying trip starts weeks before you fly. Agree your budget and goals, get home-country tax advice, line up finance, and pre-shor…

Market & data

Market guide Dubai rental index explained The Dubai rental index is DLD's official reference for average rents by area, property type and size. On renewal, it determines whether a landlord… Market guide Reading DLD transaction data DLD transaction data is the official record of registered property deals in Dubai. You can access it through DLD's open data pages and the Dubai RE… Market guide Dubai property glossary Dubai property has its own vocabulary. Ejari registers tenancies, Oqood registers off-plan sales, and the title deed proves ownership. Forms A, B a… Market guide Smart Rental Index building ratings Since January 2025, DLD's Smart Rental Index considers building classification and star ratings, not just area and unit type, when setting the aver… Market guide Shared housing rules in Dubai Dubai Law No. 4 of 2026 introduced a formal framework for shared housing, including a dedicated rental index for shared accommodation. Landlords wh… Market guide How the Dubai property market works Dubai's property market is regulated by the Dubai Land Department and its regulator RERA. Foreigners can buy freehold in designated areas. Supply c…

Families

Family living guide Family communities in Dubai There is no single best family community in Dubai. Established villa suburbs such as Arabian Ranches, The Springs and The Meadows offer gardens and… Family living guide Choosing a community near schools In Dubai, most children attend private schools, and admission is not usually tied to a home address the way catchment works in many countries. Secu… Family living guide Pet-friendly communities in Dubai Whether you can keep a pet in a Dubai home depends on three layers of rules: the community or building's owners association rules, your tenancy con… Family living guide Commuting from Dubai suburbs Suburban communities give Dubai families more space for the budget, but the daily journey can erase the benefit. Before committing, drive or ride t…

Commercial

Commercial guide Renting an office in Dubai To rent an office in Dubai, first confirm which authority licenses your business, because a mainland company generally needs a mainland office and… Commercial guide Buying an office in Dubai You can buy freehold office space in Dubai's designated areas, either to occupy or to let. The process mirrors a residential purchase: RERA forms… Commercial guide Retail space leasing in Dubai Leasing retail space in Dubai starts with your licence activity: the unit must be approved for what you will sell or serve. Choose between malls, c… Commercial guide Commercial Ejari explained Commercial Ejari is the registration of a business tenancy contract on DLD's Ejari system. For mainland Dubai businesses, the Ejari certificate is…

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