Joint ownership of Dubai property

How joint ownership works in Dubai

When a property is transferred at a Dubai Land Department trustee office, the title deed can list more than one owner. Each owner's share is recorded. Spouses often buy in equal shares, but shares can reflect each person's actual contribution. Foreign nationals can co-own in designated freehold areas, as explained in our freehold areas guide.

All registered owners usually need to sign or be represented at transfer, at a mortgage registration and on any later sale. If one co-owner lives abroad, a properly attested power of attorney may be needed; see buying with power of attorney.

Decisions to agree before you buy

• Shares: who owns what percentage, and why.
• Funding: who pays the deposit, DLD transfer fee and other costs.
• Mortgage: whose income supports the loan, and what happens if one person stops paying.
• Running costs: service charges, maintenance and insurance, and how they are split.
• Use: whether either owner may live in it, and on what terms.
• Letting: who decides on tenants, rent and a property manager.
• Exit: what happens if one owner wants to sell, including a right to buy the other out.

Write these points into a co-ownership agreement prepared or reviewed by a qualified lawyer. It is far easier to agree them at the start than during a dispute.

Joint mortgages

Banks lend to co-owners jointly, and each borrower is typically responsible for the full debt, not only their share. Lenders assess all applicants' income and credit. Read our mortgage guide for expats and ask your bank how it treats joint applications, including residents and non-residents applying together.

Inheritance and the death of a co-owner

Many buyers assume that if one co-owner dies, the other automatically inherits their share. Do not rely on that. Succession in the UAE depends on the deceased's circumstances, the law that applies to them and whether a registered will exists. A co-owner's share may pass under a court process, and bank accounts and the property can be affected in the meantime.

Each co-owner should consider their own will. Our guide to wills and inheritance for Dubai property explains the high-level options.

Company and structured ownership

Some buyers hold property through a company or other structure for tax, succession or business reasons. Whether a structure can hold property, and in which areas, depends on the entity type and current DLD rules. This is specialist territory; take legal and tax advice in Dubai and in your home country before committing.

If the purchase involves a mortgage, the lender must also agree to the borrower being a company or structure, and many lenders treat this differently from personal applicants.

Selling or buying out a co-owner

A sale needs every registered owner, or their attorney, to consent and sign. If one owner wants to stay, a buy-out of the other's share can be registered with DLD; fees and the current procedure should be confirmed with DLD or a trustee office. Our selling guide and conveyancing guide cover the transfer steps.