how to buy a property in dubai?
Foreign nationals and companies, wholly or partly owned by them, have the right to purchase / own property in many parts of Dubai, without the need for any type of residency or similar permit.
Procedures
The procedures to transfer ownership of property purchased with cash are as follows:
Buyer and seller agree terms
(with / without the assistance of a real estate broker or solicitor)
Agreement of sale or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed and deposit paid (usually 10%)
Developer issues NOC (fee payable) providing all service charges have been settled in full
Buyer and seller go to DLD (with NOC) to officially transfer ownership including:
- Registration fees paid and other duties
- Purchase price paid in the form of a manager’s cheque, payable to the seller on the date of transfer
- New title deed issued in the name of the buyer
If the seller has a mortgage, they must show their mortgage is paid up in full and show a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Time frame
30 days
From start to finish of an average cash property sale and purchase in Dubai. (This can take longer if the seller has a mortgage.)
Documents required
- Original title deed
- Original passport
Costs
There are certain standard costs incurred when selling and buying property in the UAE. The following fees apply to the sale and purchase of real estate in Dubai:
NOC fee – between AED 500 and AED 5,000, payable to the developer, usually by the seller, subject to mutual agreement.
Real estate agent’s commission – for the most part, paid by the buyer.
Registration fees – calculated at 4% of the purchase price plus administrative costs (currently does not exceed AED 5,000).
Mortgage registration fees (if applicable) – calculated at a rate of 0.25% of the registered loan amount and paid to the DLD.
Building service charges – buyers are required to pay building service charges in advance to the developer / owners association. These are on the basis of the participation quota of their property.
Additional fees – payable to the offices of the developer and the DLD in order to discharge a seller’s mortgage.
Tax
The UAE laws currently place no restrictions on the number of properties a foreign national can own and there is no Value Added Tax (VAT) levied on ownership of residential property. VAT is payable on commercial property at a rate of 5%. Foreign nationals are encouraged to seek independent tax advice from experts in their home countries to know how their ownership of property in Dubai affects taxation elsewhere.
Inheritance
Generally, the principles of Shari’a Law apply to Muslims regarding inheritance issues. For non-Muslim foreign nationals, executed wills are accepted and the laws of succession in the country of which they’re a citizen are upheld by the UAE Courts.