Category · Q&A index
Real Estate
DLD transfer fees, off-plan, freehold areas, property registration.
4%
DLD transfer fee rate on property sales
100%
Freehold ownership allowed for UAE citizens
50%
Minimum deposit required for off-plan purchase
30DAYS
Standard property registration processing time
Start here
01
I want to buy property in Dubai
Learn about freehold vs leasehold options, foreigner eligibility, off-plan purchases, and the Oqood registration process required for all property transactions in Dubai.
02
I need to finance a property purchase
Understand mortgage loan options available to residents and expats in the UAE, including eligibility requirements, loan terms, and how to apply through local banks and financial institutions.
03
What are my ongoing costs as a property owner
Discover service charges, maintenance fees, registration duties, and other financial obligations that apartment and villa owners must pay annually in Dubai.
8 answered questions
- Provisional
Can a Foreigner Buy Freehold Property in Dubai?
Yes, foreign nationals can buy freehold property in Dubai's designated areas like Marina and Downtown. Transfer fees are 4%, and pro
- Provisional
Off-Plan Property Dubai: What You Need to Know
Off-Plan Property Dubai: What Buyers Actually Need to Know If you're eyeing an off-plan property Dubai launch — the glossy brochures, the 70/30 payment plans, the post-handover financing — pause before you sign. The market favours developers, the contracts are dense, and most b
- Provisional
What Mortgage Loans Can You Get in UAE?
Mortgage Loan in UAE: What You Actually Qualify For If you're eyeing a property in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and wondering what a mortgage loan in UAE actually involves, here's the short version: the rules are tighter than most expats expect, the deposit is bigger, and the bank will c
- Provisional
What's the Dubai Land Department Contact Number?
Dubai Land Department contact number: +971 4 222 2253 or toll-free 8004488; WhatsApp +971 4 203 0407. Open Mon–Thu 7:30am–3:30pm, Fri 7:30am–12pm.
- Provisional
Dubai Off Plan Properties: What You Need?
Off-plan property in Dubai means buying before construction completes. You pay 24% upfront (20% down, 4% DLD fees, AED 3,000 Oqood), with installments held in RERA escrow until handover in 2–4 years.
- Provisional
What Is Oqood in Dubai Real Estate?
Oqood Explained: Off-Plan Property Registration in Dubai If you're buying an off-plan property in Dubai, you'll hear the word "oqood" within five minutes of signing anything. It's the interim registration that protects your purchase before the building actually exists. Here's w
- Provisional
What Are Dubai Service Charges for Apartment Owners?
Service Charge Dubai: What Owners Actually Pay If you're buying or already own an apartment in Dubai, the annual service charge is the bill nobody explains before you sign. It's not rent, it's not tax, and it's not optional. Here's what you're actually paying and to whom. Q
- Provisional
How Do I Transfer Car Ownership in Dubai?
Transferring car ownership in Dubai takes about 30 minutes at an RTA testing centre: roughly AED 350 transfer, AED 170 inspection, AED 420 new card.