Buying your first home in Dubai: the 2026 checklist
A first purchase in a new country feels complicated until it is broken into steps. This guide walks a first-time international buyer through Dubai, from setting a budget to holding the keys, in the order things actually happen.
Nothing here is unique to a professional. A first-time buyer who understands the order of events, and the true cost, stands on the same footing as anyone else.
Set the real budget first
The number on the listing is not the number to plan around. On top of it sit a handful of one-off costs that together come to roughly seven percent: the Dubai Land Department transfer fee, the agency fee, trustee and registration, and, if you borrow, the mortgage costs.
Know what you can borrow
A resident can usually borrow up to eighty percent of the value on a first home, so a twenty percent deposit. A non-resident is typically capped lower, around fifty to sixty percent, so the deposit is larger. Since a 2025 rule the four percent transfer fee must be paid in cash rather than added to the loan. If you plan to borrow, get a mortgage pre-approval before you shortlist, so your budget is real.
The purchase, step by step
A ready-home purchase often completes in three to six weeks. Buying off-plan, your money sits in a RERA-regulated escrow account and is released to the developer against construction progress.
What it really costs
| Cost | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of price, once |
| Agency fee | ~2% + VAT |
| Trustee and registration | ~AED 4,000 |
| Mortgage arrangement | ~1% of the loan, if borrowing |
| Valuation | ~AED 2,500 to 3,500 |
| Conveyancing | Optional, varies |
Indicative figures, rounded. Confirm current fees with the Dubai Land Department.
Residency comes with it, if you want
A purchase can carry residency. A home of AED 2 million or more qualifies for a ten-year, renewable Golden Visa. Since 2026 a two-year investor visa needs no minimum value at all for a sole owner, which brings far more of the market into reach. Neither is required in order to buy; both are worth knowing before you choose a property.
Take it in order
A first purchase is not daunting when it is taken in sequence. The costly mistakes come from skipping a step: not budgeting the all-in, not reading the service charges, not checking the escrow on an off-plan unit. Taken in the right order, Dubai is one of the more straightforward markets a foreign buyer will meet.
If you are weighing a first purchase and have a question, get in touch. We publish research and insight; there is nothing to buy here.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered
Can a foreigner buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Foreigners can own freehold property outright in Dubai's designated freehold areas, whether or not they are resident.
How large a deposit do I need?
Around twenty percent of the price on a resident mortgage, and often forty to fifty percent as a non-resident, with the buying costs payable on top in cash.
What are the total costs on top of the price?
Budget roughly seven percent: a four percent Dubai Land Department transfer fee, about two percent agency, trustee and registration, and mortgage fees if you borrow.
Is my money safe when I buy off-plan?
Off-plan payments are held in a RERA-regulated escrow account and released to the developer against verified construction progress, not paid directly upfront.