Property Buying Guide 2026: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

The administrative, financial and legal steps to buy a property in the UAE differ from country to country and can feel overwhelming. With the right guidance, your path to owning property can be smooth and straightforward. This 10-step guide covers Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Every fee and rule below was checked against official sources on 30 October 2026; the sources are listed at the end. Fees and rules can change, so confirm them with the authority or an iRealtor advisor before you pay.

Decide the city, the community and the type of home. Foreign buyers can own property in the freehold areas of Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, expatriates can own apartments and floors, but not land, in nine areas: Yas Island, Saadiyat, Reem, Mariya, Lulu, Al Raha Beach, Sayh Al Sedairah, Al Reef and Masdar City.

Then budget for the one-off costs:

• Dubai: a registration fee of 2% from the seller and 2% from the buyer, a title deed fee of AED 250, a knowledge fee of AED 10, an innovation fee of AED 10, and a trustee office fee of AED 4,000 plus VAT for sales of AED 500,000 or more (AED 2,000 plus VAT below that).
• Abu Dhabi: a registration fee of 2% of the contract value, plus the AED 450 administrative fee that DARI lists on its off-plan sale and mortgage registration services. As the buyer, plan to pay the 2% registration fee and the 2% agency fee.

First-time buyers in Dubai may qualify for the Dubai Land Department First-Time Home Buyer programme: UAE residents aged 18 or over who own no freehold residential property in Dubai and buy a property below AED 5 million.

Check the Central Bank of the UAE limits before you choose a home. These are maximums, and your bank decides what it offers.

• Expatriate, first home: up to 80% of the property value for a property up to about AED 5 million, and up to 70% above that.
• Second or later property: up to 60%. Off-plan property: up to 50%.
• Your monthly debt payments, including the new mortgage, must not exceed 50% of your gross monthly income.
• Expatriates can borrow up to 7 times their annual income, and the maximum tenor is 25 years.

Mortgage registration costs 0.25% of the mortgage value in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi it costs 0.1%, plus AED 450 and 5% VAT. The figures above are for expatriates. Non-residents who meet the bank's requirements may be eligible for a mortgage of up to 50% on ready properties. T&Cs apply.

Use a registered broker. In Dubai, check the company on the Dubai Land Department list of registered brokerage companies. Brokers hold a broker card issued through the Trakheesi system, and every real estate advert must show its permit number. In Abu Dhabi, ADREC lets you verify a Madhmoun permit and shows the broker's registration or licence number.

Commission: in Abu Dhabi it is set at 2% of sale and purchase contracts, up to a maximum of AED 500,000 (Resolution No. 183 of 2017). In Dubai, the Dubai Land Department says the commission follows the agreement between the parties, so agree it in advance.

Agree the price and terms in writing. In Dubai, brokers must use the Dubai Land Department electronic contracts: Contract B records the buyer's wish to purchase, and Contract F is the agreement to sell between the seller and the buyer. The electronic contracts are in the Dubai REST app. In Abu Dhabi, the seller starts the sale in DARI and the buyer accepts or rejects it.

The Dubai Land Department and DARI publish no deposit percentage for resale. Agree the amount, who holds it and when it is refundable in the signed contract.

For off-plan purchases, pay only into the project's escrow account. In Dubai, brokers must tell buyers to deposit only into that account, and 5% of the amount in it is retained for one year after completion to cover defects. In Abu Dhabi, the developer opens an escrow account for each project, and a broker may not take your payment into a personal account.

In Dubai, sales are registered at Real Estate Registration Trustee centres, which act for the Dubai Land Department. In Abu Dhabi, you register through DARI and book an appointment with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). You can also appoint a lawyer to review the contract.

A power of attorney to buy is valid for five years from notarisation, and one for sale, mortgage and grants for two years.

In Dubai freehold areas, the seller needs an electronic no-objection certificate (e-NOC) from the developer, obtained through the Dubai REST app. The Dubai Land Department publishes no NOC fee, so ask the developer or the seller. Reselling an off-plan unit before registration also needs a developer NOC.

In Abu Dhabi, the seller uploads a developer letter that states whether the unit is in an investment or development area.

Sign the sale agreement and, if you borrow, submit the mortgage. In Dubai, the sale can be registered together with the initial mortgage; you need a bank letter stating the mortgage value and date. In Abu Dhabi, the mortgage contract is registered on DARI with a no-objection certificate from the financing bank.

For off-plan purchases, the Abu Dhabi sale and purchase agreement must be registered within 21 days of signing, and the Dubai contract within 90 days.

In Dubai, bring your Emirates ID, or a valid passport if you are a non-resident foreigner. Fees can be paid by ePay, Dubai Pay, Noqodi Wallet or manager's cheque, and you receive an electronic title deed and map.

In Abu Dhabi, once the buyer accepts, the application goes to DMT for review. The seller books the appointment, the fees are paid, and both parties receive a title deed notification in the DARI app.

• Put electricity and water in your name. In Abu Dhabi, owners apply with a passport, Emirates ID, title deed or effective site plan, and the previous tenant's account closing letter.
• Keep digital copies of the title deed, the sale contract and every receipt.
• A property bought for AED 2 million or more can qualify for a renewable 10-year residence, subject to approval.

0% income tax and 0% property tax*: the UAE does not levy income tax on individuals, and income from real estate held in a personal capacity, without a commercial licence, is outside UAE Corporate Tax.

*T&Cs apply.

An iRealtor advisor can explain the steps and shortlist homes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including off-plan launches.

This article is general guidance, not tax, legal or financial advice.