Simsar Dubai library
These guides explain practical questions that arise when buying, investing, renting, or selling in Dubai and the wider UAE. Rules, fees, and transaction facts should always be confirmed with the relevant authority and qualified professionals before acting.
Dubai buyer guide
Foreign individuals can generally acquire freehold ownership in Dubai's designated freehold areas and may obtain other long-term property rights in designated locations. Confirm the exact property's legal status with Dubai Land Department records and obtain professional advice for the transaction.
Read the guideDubai buyer guide
For a typical ready-property resale, the buyer defines budget and finance, verifies the broker and property, agrees terms, signs the transaction documents, completes due diligence and any lender or developer requirements, then registers the transfer through the approved DLD process. Off-plan purchases use developer contracts and initial registration instead of the same resale path.
Read the guideDubai buyer guide
Dubai Land Department's current sale-registration service lists a total registration fee based on 4% of the sale contract value, alongside fixed service charges. The party allocation can depend on the transaction documents and current process. Financed purchases add mortgage registration and lender costs. Always obtain a dated transaction estimate before committing.
Read the guideDubai buyer guide
Non-residents can generally buy eligible property in Dubai's designated ownership areas. A remote purchase should use verified official records, secure payment routes, independent review where needed, a clear signing plan, and a local strategy for inspection, handover, leasing, or management.
Read the guideDubai buyer guide
A freehold buyer should verify that the exact property carries the expected ownership right, that the seller or developer has authority to transact, and that the title or initial registration matches the contract. Use current DLD records and services because district boundaries, projects, and registration status are property-specific.
Read the guideDubai buyer guide
Choose ready property when physical inspection, immediate use, current rental evidence, and completion certainty matter most. Consider off-plan when the buyer accepts construction and contract risk, can wait for delivery, and values a staged payment plan or a specific future product. Compare the exact deals after all costs and risks.
Read the guideDubai buyer guide
Ask for the broker's full name, brokerage company, broker-card or e-card details, and the relevant advertising or permit information. Cross-check them using DLD services, then independently verify the company contact and payment route before sharing sensitive documents or money.
Read the guideDubai buyer guide
A cash purchase can reduce lender conditions and valuation risk, but ties more capital to one property. A mortgage can preserve liquidity and add leverage, but introduces approval, valuation, interest, insurance, registration, and timing requirements. Obtain lender terms and a full transaction budget before choosing.
Read the guideOff-plan due-diligence guide
Check the project and developer through Dubai Land Department channels, validate the advertisement or permit where applicable, confirm that payments go only through the authorised project route, read the reservation and sale agreement, and retain evidence of initial registration. Stop if names, unit identifiers, accounts, or promised dates do not match.
Read the guideDubai tenant guide
Verify the landlord or authorised representative and broker, confirm the exact unit, read the full tenancy and addenda, use traceable payment to the verified recipient, complete Ejari through the current approved route, document condition and inventory, and understand maintenance, utilities, notices, renewal, and exit terms.
Read the guideDubai seller guide
Collect current title and identity evidence, confirm authority and co-owner requirements, map any mortgage discharge, tenancy and service-charge position, prepare truthful unit information, use authorised marketing, agree dates and included items in writing, and follow the current DLD transfer route.
Read the guideAbu Dhabi buyer guide
Foreign nationals may acquire eligible property rights in Abu Dhabi investment areas under the applicable framework. Confirm the exact plot, unit, ownership right, project, developer, registration route, contract, payment destination, and current rules with Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre before committing.
Read the guideSharjah buyer guide
Foreign buyers should confirm current eligibility and the exact ownership right for the specific Sharjah development and unit with Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department. Then verify the developer, project, payment route, contract, registration, construction or title status, and intended use locally.
Read the guideRas Al Khaimah buyer guide
Confirm that the exact Ras Al Khaimah development and unit permit the proposed foreign ownership, identify the right being registered and official route, and verify the developer, project, seller, escrow or payment instructions, construction or title, service and operating obligations, and any hotel or rental programme separately.
Read the guideProperty-purpose guide
Write a primary purpose and holding period before comparing property. For a home, score daily-life factors first. For an investment, model income and costs conservatively without guaranteed-return assumptions. If the property must do both, identify which compromises are acceptable and when the use may change.
Read the guideProject comparison guide
Create one table for project identity, developer, location, exact unit, status, handover target, contract protections, payment timing, service and operating costs, intended use, transport, and verified differentiators. Cite the date and source of each claim, then score only factors relevant to the buyer.
Read the guideArea decision guide
List the destinations reached several times a week, test journeys at realistic hours, define household and accessibility needs, compare ready and future services, inspect different streets or building clusters, and select an area only after matching its property supply and ownership costs to the intended use.
Read the guideProperty and residency guide
Treat the purchase decision and residence application separately. Check the current UAE government or immigration authority criteria before reserving property, confirm whether the exact ownership and finance structure qualifies, and do not rely on a developer or salesperson's visa promise.
Read the guideRemote buyer guide
Confirm the current DLD process for the exact ready or off-plan transaction, independently verify all parties and payment instructions, obtain live and independent unit evidence, use a narrowly drafted and properly authenticated power of attorney if required, and ensure final registration and documents return to the buyer's control.
Read the guideReady-property buyer guide
Verify the seller's authority and title, exact unit and parking, mortgage and other restrictions, tenancy and occupancy, service-charge position, physical condition, agreed inclusions, and official transfer requirements. Put dates and remedies into the contract instead of relying on verbal assurances.
Read the guideProperty handover guide
Read the handover and defect provisions, verify the notice and required documents, inspect the exact unit against its plan and specifications, record defects clearly, confirm keys and services, and keep a written schedule of unresolved items. Use qualified inspectors or advisers where appropriate.
Read the guideOwnership-cost guide
Check the current approved service-charge information through DLD channels, confirm the calculation basis for the exact unit, request statements and clearance where relevant, understand what is included, inspect common areas, and allow for utilities, insurance, maintenance, management, furnishing, and finance outside the charge.
Read the guidePayment-plan decision guide
Enter every payment from the signed schedule into a timeline, separate date-based and milestone-based instalments, calculate the amount due before and at handover, identify post-handover obligations, and read default, cancellation, assignment, and finance conditions. Compare total commitment and timing, not marketing labels.
Read the guideProperty-type guide
Choose an apartment for building-led convenience and often more central choice; a townhouse for a middle ground of private entry, community living, and manageable outdoor space; or a villa for greater separation and land where budget and upkeep allow. Test the actual unit, commute, charges, maintenance, parking, and household plans.
Read the guideDeveloper research guide
Start with DLD project records and Dubai REST, identify the exact contracting entity, review completed and delayed projects using verifiable records, visit delivered buildings where possible, and compare promises with the SPA. Do not treat awards, follower counts, launch queues, or broker enthusiasm as due diligence.
Read the guideConstruction progress guide
Use DLD or Dubai REST to review the registered project and available status information, then compare it with dated site evidence and the contract. Ask what the percentage measures, when it was recorded, whether milestones and revised completion targets align, and what the SPA says if timing changes.
Read the guideOff-plan registration guide
Confirm that the project is registered, independently verify the approved payment beneficiary, and ensure the off-plan sale is submitted for initial registration under the correct buyer, project, and unit. Keep the SPA, receipts, and registration evidence together and question any mismatch immediately.
Read the guideProperty document guide
A booking or reservation form records early commercial terms and may create obligations. The SPA is the detailed sale contract. Oqood refers to initial registration used for an off-plan sale. A title deed records completed registered ownership. The exact transaction determines which documents apply.
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