How to check whether a Dubai property is freehold
Search the exact unit in the DLD Property Status Enquiry: a freehold result means any nationality can buy it, and a non-freehold result means purchase is open to GCC nationals. Foreign ownership is set plot by plot, not by community name: Regulation No. 3 of 2006 designated plots in 23 areas, later instruments added more, and in 2025 the DLD opened 457 plots on Sheikh Zayed Road and in Al Jaddaf to freehold conversion.
Steps
Get the unit's identifier
Who: You, with the seller or agent
Documents:
- Title deed number, land number, Makani number or municipality number
Ask for the identifier of the exact unit or plot, not the community name.
Search the Property Status Enquiry
Who: You
Documents:
- Unit identifier
Use the DLD Property Status Enquiry on the DLD website or the Dubai REST app.
Read the result
Who: You
Documents:
- Enquiry result
Freehold means purchase is allowed for all nationalities; non-freehold means purchase is allowed for GCC nationals. Keep a dated screenshot.
For off-plan, check the project too
Who: You
Documents:
- Project name or number
Look the project up in the DLD Project Status Enquiry and follow our developer and project checklist.
Later instruments that added plots
| Instrument | What it adds |
|---|---|
| Regulation No. 1 of 2010 | Freehold on a Nad Al Sheba plot that the original regulation had limited to usufruct or lease |
| Regulation No. 3 of 2012 | Usufruct only, up to 99 years, on a plot in Mirdif |
| Resolution No. 14 of 2015 | Freehold over residential and commercial units on three plots in Madinat Al Mataar and one in Trade Centre Second |
| Resolution No. 8 of 2016 | Freehold, usufruct and lease on three plots in Madinat Al Mataar |
| Resolution No. 18 of 2019 | Freehold, usufruct and lease on a plot in Trade Centre Second and three plots in Zaabeel Second |
| Resolution No. 7 of 2021 | Freehold, usufruct and lease on 21 plots in Madinat Al Mataar, the Dubai Aviation City Corporation's land |
| Resolution No. 25 of 2021 | Usufruct and lease only, up to 99 years, on plots in Jebel Ali Industrial Third, Ras Al Khor Industrial Third and Al Warsan First |
| Resolution No. 6 of 2022 | Freehold on two plots in Zabeel First |
| DLD conversion programme, announced 2025 | Owners of 128 plots on Sheikh Zayed Road (Trade Centre Roundabout to the Water Canal) and 329 plots in Al Jaddaf may convert to freehold for all nationalities, 457 plots in total |
Sources: Dubai Legislation Portal; DLD news release on the conversion programme. These are the instruments we found on the portal; the DLD does not publish one consolidated list, so this table may not be complete.. Data as of .
Ownership terms
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Freehold | No time limit |
| Usufruct or leasehold, maximum term | 99 years |
Figures as of ; sources: dlp.dubai.gov.ae.
Documents checklist
- Unit identifier
- Property Status Enquiry result, dated
- Project Status Enquiry result (off-plan)
Common mistakes
- Relying on a community name instead of the unit's own status.
- Assuming every plot in a named area is freehold.
- Using a third-party list of freehold areas instead of the DLD enquiry.
Notes
- These are land-register names, and they often differ from the names buyers use. Our area guides map each community to a land area; that mapping is our editorial work, so confirm it for each unit.
- Many well-known freehold communities, including Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai Hills Estate and Jumeirah Lakes Towers, are not named in any of these instruments. Their status rests on master plots shown on maps attached to the instruments, which are not published online, or on decisions not in the public list. Which instrument covers each community is to be confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
What are freehold areas in Dubai?
They are plots designated for ownership by non-UAE nationals, where, under Law No. 7 of 2006, foreigners may hold freehold with no time limit or usufruct or leasehold for up to 99 years. The designation is made plot by plot, so check the exact unit.
How do I check if a property in Dubai is freehold?
Search its title deed, land, Makani or municipality number in the DLD Property Status Enquiry. Freehold means any nationality can buy; non-freehold means purchase is open to GCC nationals.
How many freehold areas are there in Dubai?
There is no single official count. Regulation No. 3 of 2006 named 23 areas, later instruments added plots in other areas, and the DLD does not publish one consolidated list.
Is Al Jaddaf freehold?
Al Jaddaf is in the original list, and in 2025 the DLD opened 329 plots there to conversion to freehold. Status still depends on the plot, so check the unit.