Land for Sale in Dubai

Quick answer: Land for sale in Dubai — In Dubai, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) registers every land sale, and non-UAE nationals can own freehold only on plots listed in Regulation No. 3 of 2006 and later Executive Council resolutions. Building permits come from Dubai Municipality or, inside special zones, from the zone authority such as Trakhees or the Dubai Development Authority (DDA).

Who controls land in Dubai?

Function	Authority
Land registration and title deeds	Dubai Land Department (DLD), under Law No. 7 of 2006
Real estate regulator (brokers, off-plan, escrow)	Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), part of DLD
Planning and building permits (general)	Dubai Municipality, through the Dubai building permits single window
Special development zones	Trakhees (PCFC) for Nakheel, Dubai World and DMCC areas; Dubai Development Authority (DDA) for TECOM Group districts; Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) for Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Airport Freezone and Dubai CommerCity; Dubai South Development Control for Dubai South
Property advertising permits	Trakheesi, the DLD advertising permit system
Electricity and water	Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)

For a side-by-side view of all seven emirates, see Which authority controls what in UAE land. Terms are defined in the UAE land glossary.

Where can foreigners buy land in Dubai?

Freehold means full, permanent ownership of the land and anything built on it. In Dubai, non-UAE nationals can hold freehold, or usufruct or leasehold of up to 99 years, in the areas listed in Regulation No. 3 of 2006, which names land plot by plot (for example Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Emirates Hills and parts of Jebel Ali, Al Barsha South and Nad Al Sheba). Later Executive Council resolutions added more plots, such as parts of Madinat Al Mataar in Dubai South. Many newer communities are not named in the published text but are registered by DLD as freehold. Always check the plot with DLD’s Property Status Enquiry.

What are the main land types in Dubai?

• Villa and townhouse plots in master communities
• Mid-rise and high-rise residential plots
• Commercial, hotel and mixed-use plots
• Industrial and logistics plots, mostly leased inside free zones and special zones

How is a land purchase registered in Dubai?

1. Agree terms and sign the DLD sale contract.
2. Get the master developer‘s NOC (no-objection certificate), which confirms service charges are paid and the developer does not object to the transfer.
3. Complete the transfer at a DLD registration trustee office. DLD issues the new title deed.

What are the registration fees in Dubai?

Fee	Amount	Source
Transfer fee	4% of the sale value	Executive Council Resolution No. 30 of 2013
Title deed issue	AED 250	DLD service page
Knowledge and innovation fees	AED 10 each	DLD service page
Registration trustee fee, sale of AED 500,000 or more	AED 4,000 + VAT	DLD service page
Registration trustee fee, sale under AED 500,000	AED 2,000 + VAT	DLD service page

Fees are as published on 23 October 2026. Confirm the current schedule with the authority before you transact.

Community hubs in Dubai

Related guides

• How to buy land in the UAE
• DLD fee structure and land registration
• Master developer NOCs and escrow rules
• How to read an affection plan
• Freehold vs leasehold plot laws
• Which authority controls what in UAE land
• UAE land glossary

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Disclaimer: General information, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the authority named above and a licensed UAE lawyer before you transact.

Sources: see the uaelanddeals.com sources register. Last updated: 23 October 2026.