Yes. Foreign nationals can buy property in designated freehold zones and investment areas across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah. Ownership is available to all nationalities in approved areas — there is no restriction based on country of origin. The exact framework, registration authority, and title structure differ by emirate and project.

The DLD registration fee in Dubai is 4% of the property purchase price, paid at the time of registration. This applies to both completed and off-plan purchases and is non-negotiable. It is one of the largest transaction costs to model. Additional admin charges of AED 430–580 also apply depending on property type.

A 10-year UAE Golden Visa is available to property investors who acquire UAE real estate at a minimum value of AED 2,000,000. The property must be in the buyer's own name, and the outstanding mortgage balance (if any) must not reduce the owned equity below the threshold. A 2-year investor visa is available at AED 750,000. Both visas cover the buyer, spouse, and children. Conditions should be confirmed with ICA or the relevant emirate authority at the time of purchase.

UAE VAT is 5%, introduced in January 2018. The first sale of residential property by a developer is generally zero-rated for VAT. Resale of residential property is generally exempt. Commercial property transactions typically attract 5% VAT. Most property-related services — management fees, maintenance, agency fees, professional services — attract 5% VAT. Confirm VAT treatment on your specific transaction with a UAE-qualified legal advisor before signing.

Service charges vary widely by emirate, community, and building type. In Dubai, established towers in Downtown or Dubai Marina can carry AED 20–40+ per sq ft per year. More affordable communities run AED 10–15 per sq ft. Branded residences and beachfront developments typically carry the highest charges. Service charges in Abu Dhabi investment zones and RAK communities tend to be lower, but must be confirmed per project. Modelling service charges correctly is critical to calculating realistic net yields.

Oqood is the interim property registration system in Dubai for off-plan purchases. When a buyer signs an SPA for an off-plan property, the developer is legally required to register the transaction with the DLD via Oqood within 60 days. This creates an official record of the buyer's ownership rights during the construction period. Buyers should confirm their Oqood certificate has been issued — it is the primary document protecting off-plan purchase rights in Dubai.

Dubai has the largest number of designated freehold districts, the deepest secondary market, and the most established off-plan regulatory framework (RERA, escrow, Oqood). Transactions are registered with the DLD at 4%. Abu Dhabi operates through designated investment zones — Yas Island, Saadiyat, Al Reem, Al Maryah, Masdar — with ADREC as the registration authority. Title structures in Abu Dhabi include freehold, musataha, and long leasehold, which carry different resale implications.

RAK offers lower entry prices than comparable Dubai assets, tourism-led demand driven by hospitality infrastructure (including the upcoming Wynn resort on Al Marjan Island), and a coastal lifestyle positioning that is still in an earlier growth phase. The resale market is less liquid and the buyer pool is shallower than Dubai. A longer holding horizon is appropriate — buyers who need fast exit flexibility are better suited to Dubai.

Confirm RERA registration (Dubai) or equivalent project approval; escrow account details and how payment tranches are held; developer delivery history on comparable projects; Oqood registration within 60 days of SPA (Dubai); full SPA terms including specification, inclusions, delay provisions, and defect liability; handover process and snagging rights; and the timeline to title deed issuance after completion.

Annual service charges (AED 10–40+ per sq ft in Dubai, lower in Abu Dhabi and RAK); property management fees of 5–10% of annual rental income for long-let management; short-stay management fees of 15–25% if using platforms like Airbnb; insurance; maintenance; and furnishing or refurbishment costs. There is no annual property tax in the UAE. Total annual ownership costs vary widely by asset type — model carefully before accepting any net yield figure.

Net rental yields for well-located, well-managed UAE properties typically run 5–7% per annum in Dubai, 5–6% in Abu Dhabi, and vary widely in RAK depending on hospitality linkage and management quality. Developer-quoted yields are almost always gross figures before service charges, management fees, vacancy, and VAT on services. A 15–20% vacancy allowance should be applied before accepting any income projection.

Yes. Dubai in particular has an established ecosystem of property management operators, short-stay platforms, and long-let management companies. Abu Dhabi and RAK have fewer operators but established management options in major communities. Management quality varies significantly — review the operator's track record, fee structure, reporting, and occupancy history before appointing them. Most international buyers manage their UAE properties remotely with occasional visits.

Yes. We advise international buyers across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah — covering emirate selection, ownership structure, developer review, SPA analysis, cost and service charge modelling, Golden Visa eligibility, and ongoing advisory to handover. We are bilingual in French and English and serve buyers from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Ocean region. Contact us via WhatsApp at +230 5256 5725.