Anyone can buy an apartment in Dubai's freehold areas. You need a passport, not a residence visa.
The buying itself takes about 30 days on a ready home. Most of the work is choosing the right building and knowing the real costs before you sign.
- apartment sales in 12 months
- 151,135
- typical ready 1 bedroom
- AED 1.02M
- of apartment sales were off-plan
- 77%
- buying costs on top of the price
- about 7%
Prices: Dubai Land Department apartment sales, August 2025 to July 2026. Typical means the middle sale.
What apartments sell for in Dubai
| Size | Ready home | Off-plan | Typical size, ready |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 560,000 | AED 728,900 | 437 sq ft |
| 1 bedroom | AED 1,020,000 | AED 1,321,000 | 791 sq ft |
| 2 bedrooms | AED 1,950,000 | AED 2,428,900 | 1,275 sq ft |
| 3 bedrooms | AED 3,575,000 | AED 4,228,900 | 1,896 sq ft |
44% of ready apartments sold for under AED 1 million. Another 31% sold between AED 1 and 2 million, and 25% above AED 2 million.
The busiest areas for apartment sales were Jumeirah Village Circle (13,183 sales), Business Bay (8,432), Dubai World Central (8,393), Dubai Land Residence Complex (7,491) and Majan (6,016). See prices by bedroom in our JVC guide and Dubai Marina guide.
Can a foreigner buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Foreigners can own outright in freehold areas such as Dubai Marina, Downtown, Business Bay, JVC, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Creek Harbour. The title deed is in your name.
You can buy from abroad. A Power of Attorney lets an agent or lawyer sign the transfer for you.
UAE residents can borrow up to 80% of the price on a first home under AED 5 million, under Central Bank rules. Banks set their own limits for buyers who live abroad and usually ask for a bigger deposit.
How to buy an apartment in Dubai, step by step
- 1
Set your budget, then get mortgage pre-approval
Plan for the deposit plus about 7% in fees, paid in cash. A pre-approval letter shows sellers you can close.
- 2
Pick the area and the building
Compare real sale prices, not asking prices. Check the building's service charge and what similar flats rent for.
- 3
Agree the price and sign Form F
Form F is the RERA sale contract between buyer, seller and the agents. The buyer usually pays a 10% deposit cheque, held until transfer.
- 4
The seller gets a No Objection Certificate
The developer issues it once the seller has paid all service charges. It usually costs the seller AED 500 to 5,000.
- 5
The bank values the home and issues the final offer
Skip this step if you pay cash.
- 6
Transfer at a Dubai Land Department trustee office
You pay the 4% transfer fee and hand over manager's cheques for the price. The new title deed is issued the same day.
- 7
Move in or rent it out
Open your DEWA account. If you rent it out, register the lease on Ejari.
Buying off-plan works differently
You buy from the developer and pay in stages. The contract is registered with DLD as an Oqood, and the 4% fee is usually due at booking.
By law, your payments go into an escrow account tied to the project. The developer draws on it only as construction progresses.
Fees for buying property in Dubai
| Fee | Amount | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of the price | Buyer, by custom |
| Title deed and admin fees | about AED 600 | Buyer |
| Trustee office fee | AED 4,000 + VAT (AED 2,000 + VAT under AED 500,000) | Buyer |
| Agency commission | usually 2% + 5% VAT | Buyer |
| Mortgage registration | 0.25% of the loan + AED 290 | Buyer with a mortgage |
| Bank valuation | about AED 2,500 to 3,500 + VAT | Buyer with a mortgage |
| Developer NOC | AED 500 to 5,000 | Seller |
Worked example: a typical ready 1 bedroom
| Cost | With an 80% mortgage | Cash buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | AED 1,020,000 | AED 1,020,000 |
| DLD transfer fee (4%) | AED 40,800 | AED 40,800 |
| Agency (2% + VAT) | AED 21,420 | AED 21,420 |
| Trustee office | AED 4,200 | AED 4,200 |
| Title deed and admin | AED 600 | AED 600 |
| Mortgage registration | AED 2,330 | none |
| Valuation | AED 3,150 | none |
| Total fees | AED 72,500 (7.1%) | AED 67,020 (6.6%) |
| Cash you need on the day | AED 276,500 | AED 1,087,020 |
Buying for a Golden Visa
28%
of all apartment sales in the last 12 months were at AED 2 million or more, the level for the 10-year Golden Visa.
A property valued at AED 2 million or more can qualify you for the 10-year visa. Homes bought with a mortgage or off-plan can also count, under rules eased in 2026.
The rules on how much of an off-plan price must be paid have changed more than once. Confirm the current list with DLD before you choose a unit for the visa.
Questions buyers ask
Do I need a UAE visa to buy property in Dubai?
No. You need a valid passport. You can buy from abroad and sign through a Power of Attorney.
How much are the fees for buying property in Dubai?
About 7% of the price with a mortgage and about 6.6% for a cash buyer. The largest part is the 4% DLD transfer fee.
What is the cheapest way to buy an apartment in Dubai?
Ready studios sold for a typical AED 560,000. 44% of ready apartments sold for under AED 1 million in the last 12 months.
How long does it take to buy a ready apartment?
Usually about 30 days from signing Form F to transfer. A cash purchase can close faster.
Is it better to buy ready or off-plan?
Ready homes cost less per bedroom and can be rented out at once. Off-plan spreads payments over the build, but you wait for handover. Our rent or buy guide shows what owning costs a year.
How we worked this out
- Prices are the middle value of every residential apartment sale registered with the Dubai Land Department from August 2025 to July 2026. Gifts, mortgage records and sales under AED 10,000 are left out.
- Ready means a completed home sold by its owner. Off-plan means a unit sold before completion, by the developer or an earlier buyer.
- Fees are the published DLD amounts as of October 2026 and the usual market rates for agency and valuation.
Sources
- Dubai Land Department open data: sales transactions
- Dubai Land Department: services and fees
- Central Bank of the UAE: regulations on mortgage loans
Written by the team at Candle Real Estate, a licensed brokerage in Bay Gate Tower, Business Bay (licence 1265901). Published 30 October 2026. This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check fees and visa rules with the Dubai Land Department or your bank before you commit.