How to buy Dubai property from abroad
Yes, you can buy Dubai property without living in the UAE: the DLD accepts a non-resident's passport, and an attorney can sign for you under a notarised, legalised and attested power of attorney. Pay only into accounts named in your contract, such as the project escrow account, or at the trustee office on transfer day. Residence applications need you in the UAE: Golden Visa applicants must be inside the country and Taskeen applicants must attend in person.
Steps
Confirm the unit can be sold to you
Who: You, with your agent
Documents:
- Passport
- Unit's title deed or land number
Under Law No. 7 of 2006, non-UAE nationals may hold freehold, or usufruct or leasehold for up to 99 years, in areas designated for them, and the rule is the same for every non-GCC nationality. Check the exact unit in the DLD Property Status Enquiry.
Choose how you will sign
Who: You
Documents:
- Travel plans, or a draft power of attorney
You can fly in for transfer day, appoint an attorney in Dubai, or, for off-plan, sign the developer's agreement and pay instalments into escrow from abroad.
Prepare the power of attorney, if using one
Who: You, a notary in your country and the UAE mission
Documents:
- Power of attorney
- Arabic legal translation
According to two UAE law firms' summaries of the DLD's standards, a power of attorney from abroad must have been issued within the last 2 years, be notarised where it is signed, legalised by the UAE embassy or consulate and attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, be presented in original, carry a full legal Arabic translation if it is not in Arabic, and expressly authorise the specific property transaction. Send the draft to your trustee office or conveyancer before you sign it.
Pay safely
Who: You, through your bank
Documents:
- Payment receipts
- Proof of source of funds
For off-plan, pay only into the project escrow account named in your agreement, after confirming it with the escrow bank. For a resale, the price is paid at the trustee office on transfer day. Treat any change of bank details by email or messaging app as a warning sign until confirmed by phone with someone you have already verified, and keep proof of where your money came from.
Arrange finance, if borrowing
Who: You, with a UAE bank
Documents:
- Bank's non-resident document list
Some UAE banks lend to non-residents on stricter terms; ADCB, for example, advertised up to 50% financing and terms of up to 15 years for non-residents when we checked.
Check your home country's rules
Who: You, with your bank and a licensed adviser at home
Documents:
- Your bank's written confirmation of the transfer route
Rules on sending money abroad and declaring foreign assets are set in your own country and are outside this guide. Confirm them with your bank or a licensed adviser before you transfer funds; buyers in Pakistan can read our separate guide.
Three ways to complete from abroad
| Option | How it works | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Fly in for transfer day | Sign at the trustee office yourself | Line up the date with the seller, the e-NOC and the bank |
| Power of attorney | An attorney in Dubai signs for you | Format, attestation and wording must meet the DLD's standards |
| Off-plan from a developer | Sign the developer's agreement and pay instalments into escrow | Confirm the project and the escrow account first |
Sources: DLD sale registration and Oqood service pages; BSA and Anders law firm summaries of the DLD power of attorney standards
Validity
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Maximum age of a power of attorney issued abroad, as reported by UAE law firms | 2 years |
Figures as of ; sources: bsalaw.com.
Documents checklist
- Valid passport
- Power of attorney with legalisation, attestation and Arabic translation, if someone signs for you
- Proof of source of funds
- Bank's written confirmation of the transfer route
- Sale and purchase agreement or Form F
Common mistakes
- Signing a power of attorney abroad before the trustee office has seen the wording.
- Sending money to a personal account.
- Acting on changed bank details received by email.
- Planning a residence permit without being able to travel to the UAE.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy property in Dubai without being a resident?
Yes. The DLD's sale registration accepts a passport from a non-resident foreign buyer. The unit must be in an area designated for foreign ownership.
Can someone sign for me at the Dubai Land Department?
Yes, under a power of attorney that meets the DLD's standards. UAE law firms report that one issued abroad must be under 2 years old, notarised, legalised, attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented in original and translated into Arabic.
Can non-residents get a mortgage in Dubai?
Some banks lend to non-residents on stricter terms. ADCB, for example, advertised up to 50% financing and up to 15 years for non-residents when we checked.
Do I need to travel to Dubai for a residence visa through property?
Yes, in practice: the DLD requires Golden Visa applicants to be inside the UAE and Taskeen applicants to attend in person.