The process of buying a property includes four basic legal steps that need to be followed in Dubai.
1. Establishing buyer and seller agreement
Once you have found a property that you want to invest in, you must consult a real estate agent. They will help you communicate, negotiate and outline the terms of sale with the owner.
2. Signing an agreement for sale
Once all the details are finalized, it’s time to sign the agreement of sale, also known as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). In Dubai, this document is entitled ‘Contract F’ and is available on the Dubai Land Department’s website, under the ‘Contracts’ page. Upon signing this contract, it is standard practice in Dubai for the buyer to pay a 10% deposit of the property value to the seller.
3. Applying for a No Objection Certificate (NOC)
To allow for the transfer of ownership you must apply and pay for a No Objection Certificate from the developer of the unit you are purchasing. This will allow for the transfer of ownership. Once all outstanding service charge payments are finalized the developer will be able to provide an NOC.

It takes approximately 30 days to complete a real estate transaction in Dubai from the date of signing the sales agreement.

The basic market purchase fee at all DLD registrar offices is 4.000 AED for transactions worth more than 500.000 AED, and 2.000 AED for transactions worth less than this amount. Fees are paid in cash and paid by the parties as agreed upon. For secondary market purchases, the total fees include a 2% commission (going to the sales agent or broker), NOC fees (about AED 5.000 max) and transportation appointment fees (AED 4.000).

You must apply for a mortgage through a bank in the UAE. The real estate loan registration fee that must be added to the amount of the Dubai Property Department is 0.25% of the loan value, in addition to 290 dirhams as a standard fee.
Below are the documents required from UAE residents to obtain approval for a real estate loan:
Passport and visa copy of the purchaser.
Copy of Emirates ID.
Proof of current address such as Ejari and Dewa bill.
Salary certificates or evidence of regular income.
Bank account statements for three to six months, which reflect the corresponding salary credit.
MoU for the sale of the property.
Title deed of the property to be purchased.
Seller’s passport copy.
No Objection Certificate from the developer.

The UAE government has imposed a value-added tax of 5%, effective January 1, 2018. The VAT Law stipulates that all real estate transactions, except for the sale of vacant commercial property and commercial property leases, are either not subject to tax or are exempt from it. In other words, VAT is not imposed on the rental of residential property, but it is possible for the tenant of the residential property to benefit from other services, either included in the rental agreement or added to the agreement, that are subject to VAT.

Investors, homeowners and professionals, such as doctors and engineers, can obtain UAE residency visas valid for up to 10 years according to the law announced by the UAE government in May 2018. The current real estate visa represents a two-year renewable real estate investor visa issued by the Dubai Land Department to obtain freehold properties with a value of one million dirhams or more on the title deed.

The most famous areas include Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, and Business Bay.

Real estate agents assist with property searches, negotiations, and paperwork, ensuring a smooth buying or renting process.

Dubai properties offer world-class amenities, including schools, shopping malls, parks and recreational facilities within residential communities.