How to Buy Property in Dubai (DLD Transfer, Fees & Oqood)
Foreigners may buy freehold property in Dubai's designated freehold areas. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) issues the title deeds. A sale of a ready property is completed at a Real Estate Registration Trustee centre. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes. A mortgaged sale has extra bank steps. Off-plan purchases are registered in the provisional register through Oqood.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Sale fee 2% seller + 2% purchaser + title deed AED 250 + trustee fee
- Total time:
- 15–30 minutes at a trustee centre (ready sale); 1 business day (Oqood initial sale)
- Steps:
- 7 steps
- Where to apply:
- u.ae
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked annually · next review due October 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UAE sources(October 2026).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go Self-check
Check you can buy freehold, and the ownership type
In Dubai, foreigners (non-residents) and expatriate residents can get freehold ownership rights in designated freehold areas. They can also get usufruct rights, or leasehold rights for up to 99 years. There is no age limit to own property in Dubai.
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- Before You Go Varies
Agree the sale
The buyer and the seller agree on the price and the terms. The sale agreement and any deposit are a private agreement between the two sides. DLD's published pages do not state a standard deposit percentage. So check the current DLD procedure and requirements at the trustee centre before you sign.
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- Go 25–30 minutes (ready sale)
Attend a Real Estate Registration Trustee centre
Both parties go to a trustee centre. Or their representatives can go, under a POA. They submit the documents. The registrar enters the transaction and audits it.
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- Submit & Pay At the trustee centre 4% of sale value + AED 250 + trustee fee
Pay the transfer fees
DLD states the sale fee like this: the seller pays 2% and the purchaser pays 2% of the sale value. That is 4% in total. Issuing the title deed costs AED 250. Maps cost AED 100 for a land plot outside Dubai Municipality jurisdiction. A unified land plot map with Dubai Municipality costs AED 225. A building or apartment map costs AED 250. The Knowledge fee is AED 10 and the Innovation fee is AED 10, per drawing. The trustee or service-partner fee depends on the price. If the price is under AED 500,000, the fee is AED 2,000 + VAT, which is AED 2,100 with VAT included. If the price is AED 500,000 or above, the fee is AED 4,000 + VAT, which is AED 4,200 with VAT included.
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- Receive 25–30 minutes (ready sale)
Transfer completes + title deed
DLD audits the transaction. Then it sends you the registration certificate link by email. You get a Certificate of Title / Title deed, a Map, and Payment Receipts.
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- Follow Up 15–20 minutes Mortgage-release AED 1,290 + registrar AED 315
Mortgaged property: extra bank steps
If the property is mortgaged, the bank indebtedness cheque is given to the seller. After the mortgage-release letter is submitted, the sale and the mortgage release are completed. A new mortgage is also completed, if there is one. Extra fees apply. The mortgage-release procedure costs AED 1,290. The registrar fee to release the mortgage is AED 315. The mortgage fee, if any, is 0.25% of the mortgage value. The service time is 15 to 20 minutes.
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- Follow Up Varies — confirm on the DLD Oqood portal 4% + AED 1,020
Off-plan: Oqood provisional registration
The developer registers units sold off-plan in the provisional register. The developer also registers land plots that are not fully paid. This is done through the Oqood portal. Log in. Select provisional sale registration. Select the property. Fill in the details. Attach the documents. Select the payment. Then submit online. The fees are: seller 2% plus purchaser 2% plus Knowledge AED 10 plus Innovation AED 10 plus developer self-registration AED 1,000. The SPA must be signed by the developer and the purchaser. It must be registered within 90 days of signing. The output is a Provisional registration e-certificate. The service time varies. Check it on the DLD Oqood portal.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreigner buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Foreigners and expatriate residents can get freehold ownership in designated freehold areas. They can also get usufruct rights, or leasehold rights for up to 99 years. The Land Department issues the title deeds.
Who pays the 4% sale fee?
DLD states it as a split. The seller pays 2% and the purchaser pays 2% of the sale value.
How is an off-plan purchase registered?
Through Oqood. The developer registers the sale in the provisional register. You get a Provisional registration e-certificate. The SPA must be registered within 90 days of signing.
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