Buyer Guide

Thinking of Buying Property in Dubai?

Buyer Guide: Buying property in Dubai can be overwhelming without the right guidance. To make the process easier, our buyer’s guide provides clear and practical advice to help you make an informed decision. It covers essential steps, expert insights, and key considerations to ensure a smooth and confident property purchase.

1. Eligibility

Regardless of your nationality or where you are based, be it overseas or in Dubai, you can purchase a property in Dubai’s Real Estate market.

2. The documents required in order for you to buy property

As an Individual:

Passport copies of all buyers
Signed Buyer Agreement (Form B)

As a Company:

Certificate of Incorporation
Memorandum and Articles of Association
Board Resolution
Power of Attorney
Signed Buyer Agreement (Form B)

As an Overseas Company:

All the above documents attested by the UAE Embassy
Signed Buyer Agreement (Form B)

3. Residence Visa

Dubai’s government issues visas to property owners.

Certain regulations imply that if a property is valued AED 1,000,000 or more, the individual should be awarded a two-year residency visa; nevertheless, this clause is subject to immigration rules, which can alter at any time.

4. Freehold and Leasehold

The majority of properties managed by Sakani Real Estate are freehold, while some in Dubai have a leasehold ranging from 30 to 99 years.

5. Government Taxation

There are no official government taxes on the acquisition of a property in Dubai; nevertheless, when a property is registered with the Dubai Land Department, buyers must pay a 4% registration fee based on the property’s purchase price.

If a property is mortgaged, the buyer must pay a registration fee of 0.25% of the mortgage value to the Dubai Land Department.

6. Fees Involved

There are a number of fees involved in purchasing a property:

To register the property in the new owner’s name, the Dubai Land Department requires a 4% transfer fee of the property’s worth. If the property is mortgaged, the mortgage registration fee of 0.25% of the mortgage value must be paid to both the Dubai Land Department and the Developer.

If the property being purchased is finished and ready for occupancy, the buyer must pay a service maintenance charge to the seller on a pro-rata basis from the date of transfer until the end of the maintenance period.

The Dubai Land Department charges developer no objection certificate costs of up to AED 5,000.

Property registration trustees charge AED 4,000 for ready properties with title deeds and AED 5,000 for off-the-plan properties.

All purchases made through Sakani Real Estate incur a 2% agency fee.

7. Service Charges

There is no standard service charge that applies to all properties in Dubai; it varies depending on the location and property. Large community developments charge property owners an annual community fee, which goes to the project’s master developer.

8. Developer’s Obligations

The developer’s obligations to deliver over and complete off-plan properties on schedule are contractually governed by the sales and purchase agreement. If the property is still under construction, the agreement will normally provide an approximate handover date and give the developer some leeway in extending it.

Purchasers should be prepared for unexpected delays when awaiting the handover or ownership of a property that is currently under development. However, once the handover is completed, the developer must provide a 10-year warranty to preserve the property.

BUYER GUIDE