United Arab Emirates

Rules for foreign buyers

These rules cover UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi only).

Who counts as foreign

• non-UAE nationals (Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006, Article 4)

  Treated as foreign: foreign individuals. Treated as local: citizens and National of a Gulf Cooperation Council state.

  Used for: Dubai: non-GCC foreign buyers only in designated areas. Source: Law No. (7) of 2006 Concerning Real Property Registration in the Emirate of Dubai, Article 4.

• non-citizens who are natural or legal persons (Abu Dhabi Law No. 13 of 2019)

  Treated as foreign: foreign individuals and foreign-controlled companies. Treated as local: citizens.

  Used for: Abu Dhabi: non-citizens outside investment zones. Source: Law No. (13) of 2019 amending Some Provisions of Law No. (19) of 2005 concerning Real Estate Ownership (Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre), Article One, new Article (3)(2) of Law No. (19) of 2005.

Read the full UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi only) rules, with the official text and every source.

Verified against Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 Art. 4, the Dubai Official Gazette, Executive Council Resolution No. 30 of 2013 and Abu Dhabi Law No. 13 of 2019, 1 October 2026.

Cities

• Dubai