How to buy property in Dubai, step by step
To buy a ready home in Dubai, check the broker, the advert and the unit; sign Contract B with your broker and Form F with the seller; pay the agreed deposit; get the developer's e-NOC and any mortgage approval; then transfer at a Real Estate Registration Trustee office, which collects the fees and has the title deed emailed to you. The DLD expects the transfer itself to take 20 minutes. Off-plan purchases follow a different path, set out below.
Steps
Check the people and the property
Who: You
Documents:
- Broker's DLD e-card
- Advert permit number
- Unit's title deed or land number
Verify the broker's e-card with the DLD, check the advert's Trakheesi permit, and run the unit through the DLD Property Status Enquiry to confirm it can be sold to you.
Sign Contract B with your broker
Who: You and your broker
Documents:
- Contract B
The DLD's smart contracts separate the relationships: Contract A between seller and broker, Contract B between buyer and broker, and Contract F between seller and buyer. Contract B should state the commission. Agency commission on a resale is commonly 2% of the price plus VAT, as reported by Property Finder; it is market practice, not a regulated rate, so agree it in writing.
Agree terms and sign Form F
Who: You and the seller
Documents:
- Form F (memorandum of understanding)
- Deposit cheque
Form F records the price, the deposit, who pays which fees, the transfer date, what happens if either side withdraws, and whether the purchase depends on a mortgage. A registration trustee office's guide describes a deposit of 10%, usually paid by manager's cheque and often held by the broker or the trustee until transfer; that is practice, not law, so read the deposit and default clauses.
Finalise the mortgage, if borrowing
Who: You and your bank
Documents:
- Pre-approval
- Valuation
- Final offer letter
Get pre-approval before Form F and make the contract conditional on final approval. At transfer the DLD charges 0.25% of the loan to register the mortgage, plus fixed fees.
Get the developer's e-NOC and clear dues
Who: The seller, with the developer and any lender
Documents:
- Developer e-NOC
- Seller's mortgage release letter, if any
- Service charge statement
For a property in a freehold area, the DLD requires a no-objection e-certificate from the developer, requested through the Dubai REST app; each developer sets its own fee and conditions. Under Law No. 6 of 2019, the management entity has a lien on the unit for unpaid service charges and the unit may not be disposed of until they are paid. If the seller has a mortgage, it must be paid off and released at or before transfer.
Complete the transfer at the trustee office
Who: You and the seller, or your attorneys, with the trustee office
Documents:
- Emirates ID, or passport for a non-resident
- Developer e-NOC
- Manager's cheques or agreed transfers for the price and fees
Both parties submit documents at a Real Estate Registration Trustee office, where they are uploaded to the digital vault; the employee enters and audits the transaction, the fees are paid, and the new title deed is sent by email. The DLD transfer fee is 4% of the price in total, listed by the DLD as 2% from the buyer and 2% from the seller; check who pays in your contract.
After transfer
Who: You
Documents:
- Title deed
Register with the building's management for access and move-in, set up utilities in your name, register any lease in Ejari if you let the home, and look up the building's approved service charge.
Costs and fees
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee, total (listed as buyer and seller shares below) | 4% |
| DLD transfer fee, buyer share as listed by the DLD | 2% |
| DLD transfer fee, seller share as listed by the DLD | 2% |
| Title deed issuance | AED 250 |
| Map fee, villas and apartments | AED 250 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 |
| Trustee office fee at or above the threshold below, plus VAT | AED 4,000 |
| Trustee office fee below the threshold, plus VAT | AED 2,000 |
| Trustee office fee threshold (sale value) | AED 500,000 |
| Agency commission, common practice reported by Property Finder, plus VAT | 2% |
| Mortgage registration, share of the loan | 0.25% |
Source: dlp.dubai.gov.ae, dubailand.gov.ae, www.propertyfinder.ae. Data as of .
Timings
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Transfer at the trustee office, DLD expected completion time | 20 minutes |
| Off-plan: register the sale in Oqood after signing | 90 days |
Figures as of ; sources: dubailand.gov.ae.
Buying off-plan
- Check the project in the DLD Project Status Enquiry and confirm its escrow account; see our developer and project checklist.
- Sign the reservation form and then the sale and purchase agreement with the developer.
- The sale is registered in Oqood within 90 days of signing.
- Pay instalments only into the project escrow account.
- At completion, inspect the home, pay the handover amount and take the keys; the title deed is then issued.
Documents checklist
- Passport, and Emirates ID if resident
- Contract B
- Form F
- Deposit cheque
- Developer e-NOC
- Mortgage offer and bank letters, if borrowing
- Manager's cheques for the price and fees
Common mistakes
- Signing Form F before mortgage pre-approval.
- Leaving the deposit and default clauses vague.
- Assuming who pays the transfer fee instead of writing it into Form F.
- Paying the seller directly instead of at the trustee office.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to buy property in Dubai?
The transfer appointment itself is quick: the DLD gives 20 minutes as the expected completion time once all documents are ready. The weeks before it depend on the e-NOC, any mortgage approval and the seller's mortgage release.
What is Form F in Dubai?
Form F is the memorandum of understanding between buyer and seller, the DLD's Contract F. It records the price, deposit, fees, transfer date and what happens if either side withdraws.
How much deposit do I pay when buying in Dubai?
Whatever Form F says; a registration trustee office's guide describes 10% as usual practice, paid by manager's cheque. It is not set by law.
Do I need to be in Dubai to complete the transfer?
No: an attorney can sign for you under a power of attorney that meets the DLD's standards. See our guide to buying from abroad.
When do I get the title deed?
At the end of the transfer: the DLD sends the new title deed by email once the fees are paid and the transaction is registered.