Can a foreigner buy freehold property in Dubai?

Yes. Since Dubai Regulation No. 3 of 2006, foreign nationals (UAE residents and non-residents) can buy freehold property in designated freehold areas of Dubai. Examples include: Dubai Marina, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay, JLT, Arabian Ranches, Emirates Hills, Dubai Hills, and many more.

What "freehold" means

• Outright ownership of the unit and its proportionate share of common areas.
• Right to lease, sell, mortgage, or pass to heirs (subject to inheritance law / a registered will).
• Title is registered with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) on the Title Deed.

Costs of acquiring

• DLD transfer fee: 4% of the purchase price (split conventionally — but often the buyer pays in full in practice).
• Trustee office fee (~AED 2,000–4,000) for the transaction.
• Real-estate agent commission: typically 2% of the price + 5% VAT.
• Mortgage registration fee (if financed): 0.25% of the loan amount + AED 290.
• For off-plan: Oqood registration fee at the start; conversion to Title Deed at handover.

Mortgage

• UAE banks finance freehold properties to expat residents and non-residents subject to LTV caps under UAE Central Bank rules (commonly 75–80% for residents on first property; lower for non-residents).

Service charges

• Annual service charges to the building/community management. Verify before purchase — they vary widely (typical AED 8–25 per sq.ft).

Visa angle

• Property ≥ AED 750,000 (financed or owned) qualifies the owner for a 2-year residence visa under standard rules.
• Property ≥ AED 2,000,000 qualifies for the Golden Visa investor track.

For due diligence — checking the title, the developer's track record, the service-charge history, and any service charges in arrears that follow the property — engage a UAE-licensed real-estate lawyer or licensed conveyancer.