Buy Your Next Home in Dubai With a Clear Plan

Yes. Non-residents can buy freehold property in Dubai in designated freehold areas (Dubai Marina, Downtown, Palm, JVC, etc.). You don't need a UAE residence visa to own, and the title deed is in your name. You can't buy everywhere – some areas are reserved for UAE/GCC nationals – but most of the popular expat communities are open to foreign buyers. We'll confirm exactly what you're buying before you commit.

As a rough guide, budget around 7–8% on top of the purchase price if you're using a mortgage, slightly less if you're paying cash. The main costs are: Dubai Land Department (DLD) transfer fee – 4%, Trustee / registration fees (paid at the transfer office), Agency fee – typically 2% of the price + 5% VAT, Developer NOC fee, If financed: bank processing and valuation fees, mortgage registration, After handover: DEWA connection and ongoing service charges. For any specific property, we prepare a line-item cost breakdown, so you know your real total, not just the advertised price.

For ready residential property, current rules mean most expat buyers should expect: 20% down payment for a first home up to AED 5M, 30%+ down payment for more expensive or higher-risk cases, Higher down payments (around 40%) on second / investment properties. For UAE nationals, down payments are slightly lower. Important: your cash needs to cover both the down payment and the fees (DLD 4%, agency, trustee, bank fees). The bank does not finance those. When we run scenarios with you, we work off total cash required, not just the LTV headline.

For a ready property: Cash purchase: usually around 2–4 weeks from signed MOU to transfer, With mortgage: typically 4–6 weeks, sometimes longer, depending on bank approvals and documentation. The basic steps are: 1) Agree price and terms, sign the MOU / Form F, pay the deposit, 2) (If financed) Bank valuation and final loan approval, 3) Seller obtains developer NOC, 4) Both parties attend the Trustee office for transfer and title issuance. We'll map out a realistic timeline upfront based on your situation so there are no surprises.

It depends on your timeline, risk tolerance and cash flow. Ready property is usually better if you want to live in the home or rent it out soon, prefer to see the actual building, view and community before you commit, or are comfortable with more cash up front but less uncertainty. Off plan can make sense if you have a longer horizon (2–4 years to completion), like staggered payment plans, or understand and accept construction and delivery risk. For many first-time buyers in Dubai, a good ready property in a proven community is the safer starting point, but we'll walk you through both options with real numbers, not just brochures.

Dubai's typical brokerage fee on sales is 2% of the purchase price + 5% VAT. Who pays that depends on the deal structure. With RE/MAX HUB: In many resales and most off-plan transactions, our fee is paid by the seller or developer. If there is any buyer-side fee, we: Tell you upfront, Confirm it in writing (Form B / brokerage agreement), Do not add hidden or duplicate charges. In short: you'll know exactly what we earn and who pays it before you sign anything.

Yes. A large part of our buyer work is with clients who aren't in Dubai full-time. We typically: Do live video viewings from shortlisted properties, Share floor plans, service charges and recent comparable sales/rents, Handle on-ground checks (building quality, surroundings, access, etc.), Coordinate banks, sellers and Trustee offices. For the final transfer, you can either fly in for a short trip or appoint a Power of Attorney through your chosen lawyer. We work alongside you and your legal/finance partners so you can buy confidently even if you're not here for every step.