Question 1

Can I buy property in Dubai as a non-resident?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Foreign buyers can purchase freehold property in designated freehold areas without holding UAE residency. You need a passport and funds from a traceable source; residency is not a condition of purchase.

Question 2

What does the purchase process look like?

Accepted Answer

Agree terms, sign a Form F (MOU) and pay a deposit, obtain the developer NOC, then transfer at a DLD trustee office where the balance is paid and the title deed is issued. A straightforward cash transfer typically completes in a few weeks.

Question 3

Do I need to be in Dubai to complete?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Many clients complete through a notarised power of attorney, and viewings can be done on video. We will tell you plainly which steps genuinely benefit from you being present.

Question 4

What are the transaction costs?

Accepted Answer

Budget for the 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee plus admin charges, around 2% agency fee, the trustee office fee, a developer NOC fee, and mortgage registration if you finance. These are estimates and must be confirmed at transaction.

Question 5

What are service charges?

Accepted Answer

An annual charge per square foot set by the building's management and approved through DLD, covering common-area maintenance. It varies widely by building, so we check the current rate before you offer.

Question 6

Is my money protected when I buy off-plan?

Accepted Answer

Payments go into a project escrow account supervised by the Dubai Land Department, and your purchase is registered on the Oqood system. That reduces the risk of misused funds; it does not remove the risk of delay.

Question 7

What happens if handover is late?

Accepted Answer

Delays are common. Your remedies depend on the sale and purchase agreement, so we read the delay and compensation clauses with you before you sign, and we look at the developer's delivery record.

Question 8

Does buying property give me residency?

Accepted Answer

Property from AED 2M can support a 10-year Golden Visa application. Eligibility rules and thresholds change, so check the current position on the official UAE government portal before you plan around it.

Question 9

Does a Golden Visa make me tax resident in the UAE?

Accepted Answer

No. A residence visa and tax residency are separate questions, and your obligations in your country of residence do not disappear. Speak to a tax advisor in your own country.

Question 10

Can I rent my apartment out nightly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with a DTCM holiday-home permit and if the building allows it. Our partner DubaiasHome handles the permit, listing, pricing and guest operations.

Question 11

Is short-stay income passive?

Accepted Answer

No. It is an operating business with furnishing costs, permits, cleaning, maintenance and seasonality. Managed well it can outperform a long lease; it is not guaranteed to.

Question 12

Do you sell property outside the UAE?

Accepted Answer

Outside the UAE we advise and coordinate; the transaction runs through a named licensed local partner in that country. Where we have not yet signed a partner, that market is advisory only and we say so on its page.

Question 13

Can I own a villa in Bali outright?

Accepted Answer

No. Foreign buyers cannot hold Hak Milik freehold title. The usual structures are leasehold (Hak Sewa) or right-of-use (Hak Pakai) for a defined term, which changes what you are actually buying.

Questions we actually get

Buying

Fees & costs

Off-plan

Visas & residency

Short-stay

International markets