Buying your first property
in Dubai?
Scroll through the journey — the key makes its way down as you go, and unlocks at the end.
Define Budget & Goals
Confirm your budget, decide whether you're buying to live in or as an investment, and pick a target area or property type. Determine whether you're paying cash or need financing, and note whether you're a UAE resident or buying from abroad. Expats typically need a minimum 20% down payment on properties under AED 5 million if UAE residents (15% for UAE nationals); non-residents buying from abroad typically need 35 to 50% down. Eligible first-time buyers should also check Dubai's First-Time Home Buyer Programme through the DLD.
Mortgage Pre-Approval (if financing)
For buyers who need a mortgage, pre-approval should happen before viewings begin. It typically takes 3 to 5 working days and stays valid for 60 to 90 days — telling you exactly what you can afford and strengthening your offers.
Viewings
I'll shortlist units matching your criteria and arrange viewings — in person or via video call if you're relocating from abroad.
Submit an Offer
Once you pick a unit, you submit your offer along with a 10% cheque. A photo of the cheque is sent to the seller to demonstrate serious intent.
Form A & Form B / MOU Signing
To proceed with Form A, Form B, and the MOU, the agency collects the 10% security deposit cheque from you, holding it in trust — you receive an e-receipt confirming this, and the cheque is returned on the transfer date, provided everything proceeds as agreed. Form A and Form B confirm both parties' commitment, holding buyer and seller details including emails. Once approved electronically, the MOU is sent to both parties for signature, processed through the Dubai Land Department. If the property is currently rented, rent is prorated to you as the buyer, and the service charge is prorated to the seller.
NOC from Developer
The company registers your information with the developer, ensuring that from the day of transfer, service charge bills are sent directly to your email. The seller also obtains the NOC confirming no outstanding dues, clearing the way for transfer. The fee is usually paid by the seller, and the price differs depending on whether the unit has a Title Deed or an Oqood.
Transfer at the Trustee Office
Once the NOC is issued, the transfer is scheduled at the trustee office. In a cash buyer to cash seller scenario, you prepare a manager's cheque to the seller for the full purchase amount, a manager's cheque for the 4% DLD transfer fee, and both parties prepare manager's cheques for the agency commission. You're also responsible for the AED 580 title deed fee and the AED 4,200 trustee office fee. Once the transfer is complete, the prorated rent and service charge amounts are settled between the parties.
Getting mortgage pre-approval before you start viewing tells you exactly what you can afford and makes your offer far more credible to sellers.
Budget for the 4% DLD fee, 2% agency commission plus VAT, AED 580 and AED 4,200 on top of the property price, so you aren't surprised at transfer.
Have your manager's cheques ready before transfer day, because the trustee office won't proceed without them. Also ask early whether the unit has a Title Deed or an Oqood, since the NOC and fees differ.
For ready properties, UAE Central Bank mortgage rules set the minimum down payment at 20% for expats and 15% for UAE/GCC nationals on their first property, financed through a bank. For off-plan, most buyers pay the developer directly on a payment plan, typically 10 to 20% to book, with no bank involved.
Launched by the Dubai Land Department in July 2025, it's designed to make the path to ownership easier for first-time buyers in Dubai, with benefits and support coordinated through DLD and partner banks.
Typically, both the buyer and seller each pay 2% agency commission (plus 5% VAT) to their respective agents at the time of transfer.
The AED 580 is the title deed issuance fee, and the AED 4,200 is the trustee office administration fee for processing the transfer. Both are the buyer's responsibility and are paid at the trustee office on transfer day.
For a cash, ready-property purchase, it can be as fast as a week or two from offer to transfer. Financing through a mortgage typically adds a few weeks for approval, and off-plan timelines depend on the developer's payment plan and handover date.
Yes — most of the process can be handled remotely through a Power of Attorney, with your agent and the trustee office coordinating on your behalf. Some steps, like opening a UAE bank account, are easier done in person.
Foreign nationals can buy freehold property in designated freehold zones across Dubai — these cover most of the areas popular with investors and end-users, including Downtown, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and many more.
A UAE bank account isn't strictly required for a cash purchase, but it's needed if you're financing through a UAE mortgage, and it makes managing service charges and future payments much easier either way.
Buying your first property in Dubai? I'll guide you through every step — transparent, data-driven, stress-free.
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