Can a foreigner buy property in the United Arab Emirates?

Foreigners may buy, but with permission, zones or type limits

In the United Arab Emirates each emirate makes its own rules. Foreigners may own freehold property only in designated zones, such as certain areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere they may only lease.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Freehold ownership of land is allowed in designated zones set by the emirate. Outside them, foreigners can usually only lease or hold a right of use.

Houses and flats

Apartments and villas in designated zones can be owned outright by foreigners.

Buying through a company

Company ownership rules differ by emirate and by free zone.

Limits and closed zones

The zones where foreigners may buy are defined by each emirate and can be extended.

What to watch for

Check that the project and the title are registered with the emirate's land department before paying, especially for property sold before it is built.

Understand the legal system first

The United Arab Emirates belongs to the Religious (Islamic) law is a leading source family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the United Arab Emirates legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare United Arab Emirates with another country →

Official sources

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.