Investor guides
Buying property in Dubai, step by step
MOU to DLD transfer in as little as thirty days: the stages, the NOC, and the costs at each.
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There is a quiet confidence in owning where the rules are settled and the market is deep. Two decades of open freehold, a transparent registry and a resale market you can actually move in, all in a place the world already wants to live.
Reviewed by Omnia's advisory team
Yes. Foreign buyers can own freehold in designated areas across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, with title in your own name. It is one of the longest-established foreign-ownership frameworks in the Gulf.
It is the most mature and liquid property market in the Gulf, with settled freehold, a transparent registry and a deep resale market. The appeal is liquidity and transparency. The trade-off is a fast-moving, sometimes cyclical market where the building and location you choose matter a great deal.
Dubai leads for liquidity, choice and rental income, Abu Dhabi for prime island living, Palm Jumeirah and prime Dubai for branded beachfront scarcity, and Ras Al Khaimah for value and emerging growth.
Entry varies by city and type. Apartments begin around £200,000, Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island from roughly £350,000, while prime Dubai, Palm and branded residences typically start near £1m. Tell us your budget and we will shortlist to it.
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