FAQ
15 most-common questions organised across the 5 stages of a typical UAE property purchase — from initial search to post-handover defect liability.
Passport + UAE residency visa (if resident) or valid tourist visa stamp (if non-resident). For mortgage-led searches, add 6 months of bank statements + salary certificate. Non-residents can buy in freehold areas with passport alone.
Yes — in any of Dubai's 40+ designated freehold areas (Marina, Downtown, JVC, Palm, etc.). Non-residents have identical ownership rights to residents in these zones. Outside freehold zones, only UAE/GCC nationals can own.
Multiple brokers is fine for off-plan (developers pay all brokers from their pool). For resale, RERA Form A locks a buyer-broker relationship — register Form A only with the broker you actually want to work with.
Standard manager's cheque is 10% of the purchase price for resale. Off-plan typically 5-20% (first installment per the developer's payment plan). Money sits in escrow until SPA signed.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is binding once both parties sign. Backing out costs the defaulting side 10% of property value typically. Always make MoU signing contingent on satisfactory due-diligence period (7-14 days standard).
Furniture inclusion, payment timing, who pays DLD 4% transfer fee (default: split 50/50 but commonly buyer-only), service-charge prorations, and handover date for partial-completion units.
MoU = preliminary buy-sell agreement, signed by buyer + seller + brokers. SPA = formal Sale and Purchase Agreement, RERA-templated for off-plan or DLD-templated for resale. SPA replaces MoU and is the document used for DLD title transfer.
Strongly recommended for purchases above AED 2M, off-plan deals, and any non-standard clauses. Lawyer fees AED 3,000-8,000 typical. Standard freehold ready-property SPAs are templated and lower-risk.
In-principle approval before MoU signing (protects against deposit forfeiture). Final approval after property valuation, before SPA signing. Allow 4-6 weeks from application to final approval with a UAE-licensed lender.
Buyer + seller + brokers attend in person (or via authenticated power of attorney). DLD officer verifies docs, takes biometric, collects 4% transfer fee + AED 580 admin + AED 4,000 trustee + AED 250 title deed. New title deed issued same day.
Yes, via Power of Attorney (PoA). Must be notarised by a UAE notary public for UAE-residents, or by the UAE embassy in your home country for non-residents abroad. Cost: AED 500-1,500 for the PoA notarisation.
From DLD appointment to title deed issuance: same day. From SPA signing to DLD appointment: 7-14 days (mortgage-side processing). From MoU to title transfer: 30-60 days end-to-end for resale, 30-90 days for off-plan handover transfers.
Pre-handover walkthrough where you list defects requiring developer fix. Yes — essential for off-plan handovers. Independent snagging companies charge AED 1,500-3,000 and find 20-50 items on average. Developer must rectify before final payment.
12 months post-handover during which the developer is contractually obliged to fix defects in workmanship and major systems. DLD escrow holds 5% of property value as retention to enforce this. Report defects in writing to keep the clock paused.
On title-deed receipt. For rentals: register Ejari (AED 220) at the Dubai Land Department before any tenant moves in — required for both DEWA water/electric activation and tenant legal protection. Allow 1-2 weeks from title-deed to rentable state.