Dubai's apartment market runs from studios in newer districts to full-floor penthouses on the water. As a foreign buyer you can hold full freehold title in the designated areas, regardless of your nationality or where you live. Our team in Dubai covers the full range, from a first purchase to an addition to an existing portfolio.
Why buy an apartment in Dubai?
The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, at AED 3.6725, so a purchase here does not carry the currency swings that come with many other overseas markets. Every sale is centrally registered with the Dubai Land Department under RERA oversight, so ownership and title history sit in the public record, checkable by anyone who has reason to.
That registration is also what makes the market workable from abroad. Our team in Dubai can check a listing, a developer or a broker against the DLD's own record before you commit to anything.
The purchase process step by step
The process typically runs four to six weeks from an accepted offer to registered title. Our team in Dubai starts by shortlisting suitable apartments against your budget, area and objective; viewings can be arranged by video call if you are not in the city.
Once you choose a property, you sign a Memorandum of Understanding and pay a deposit. The seller lodges the title with the Dubai Land Department, which registers the transfer once its trustee centre has processed the sale and the transfer fee has been paid.
Our team in Dubai guides you through every step, from viewings and due diligence to legal review and key handover, with accounts across Dubai's leading developers.
Price levels by area
Price levels vary by area more than almost anything else in this market. Transaction data collected between January and June 2026 puts the citywide average at AED 1,969 per square foot for apartments; by area it runs from AED 1,510 per square foot in Jumeirah Village Circle to AED 4,240 on Palm Jumeirah, with Business Bay, Dubai Hills Estate, Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina in between (Property Monitor data, updated 7 June 2026).
What decides where a given unit lands inside that range is less the area's name than the building, the floor and what it looks out on: a unit facing a car park in a sought-after area can price below one facing parkland in a more modest one. Our team in Dubai works from the same transaction data to judge whether an asking price is realistic before you make an offer.
Financing and mortgages for foreign buyers
As a non-resident, you can apply for a mortgage from several banks in the UAE, though the equity required is higher than for a UAE resident, and terms vary by bank. Our team in Dubai can put you in touch with brokers who work with non-resident buyers.
Many buyers use a developer's payment plan as their financing, without a mortgage at all. An off-plan plan is set out in the sale contract: a deposit at reservation, instalments tied to construction milestones, and a balance at or after handover, with every payment before handover held in the project's escrow account. Our team in Dubai reviews the plan on any project we introduce to you before you commit to it.
Golden Visa through property investment
A property investment of at least AED 2,000,000 (about USD 544,600) can qualify you for a 10-year renewable Golden Visa. It grants the right to live, work and run a business in the UAE without a local sponsor, and you can sponsor your spouse, children and parents on it.
The property may be mortgaged, provided your bank gives a no-objection letter, and more than one property held in your name can be combined to reach the threshold. Our team in Dubai advises on which properties meet the Golden Visa requirement before you buy.