What does freehold mean in Dubai?

Freehold means you own the property and the land it stands on outright, with no time limit, registered in your name by the Dubai Land Department. Foreign nationals can buy freehold only in the areas Dubai has designated for it.

How many freehold areas are there in Dubai?

Dubai has designated dozens of freehold areas since the first official list in 2006, and the list has grown as new master communities opened. The Dubai Land Department keeps the current list.

Can foreigners buy in Deira or Bur Dubai?

Not freehold. Older districts such as Deira, Bur Dubai, Karama and Satwa are outside the freehold areas, so foreign buyers there are limited to leasehold arrangements.

How do I check whether a property is freehold?

Ask for the title deed or the DLD registration details and check them on the Dubai Land Department's channels, such as the Dubai REST app. A licensed agent should confirm this before you make an offer.

Is off-plan property in Dubai freehold?

Off-plan homes in designated areas are freehold too. Until handover they are registered on Oqood, and the title deed is issued in your name once the project is complete and paid for.

Guide Buying from abroad

Freehold areas in Dubai

Foreign buyers can own Dubai property outright in the city's designated freehold areas. These are the best-known ones, grouped by what they offer, with our guides to the communities we work in most.

Updated 18 October 2026 · 4 min read

Main freehold areas

Underlined names open our area guide.

Waterfront and prime

Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Marina
Jumeirah Beach Residence
Emaar Beachfront
Bluewaters Island
Dubai Creek Harbour

City centre

Downtown Dubai
Business Bay
DIFC
Jumeirah Lake Towers

Family villa communities

Dubai Hills Estate
Arabian Ranches
Emirates Hills
The Springs and The Meadows
DAMAC Hills

Value and first homes

Jumeirah Village Circle
Jumeirah Village Triangle
Al Furjan
Dubai South
Arjan
Town Square
Dubai Sports City
International City

Not the full list: the Dubai Land Department keeps the official register, and new master communities are added over time. Older districts such as Deira, Bur Dubai, Karama and Satwa are not freehold.

Freehold or leasehold?

Compare	Freehold	Leasehold
What you own	The property and the land under it, with no time limit	The right to use the property for a fixed term, up to 99 years
Who can buy	Any nationality	Non-UAE nationals, in areas outside the freehold list
Registered as	A title deed from the Dubai Land Department	A registered lease or usufruct right
Selling and inheritance	Sell, let or pass on like any owned property	Governed by the remaining term and the lease terms

Ready to buy? Follow how to buy property in Dubai as a foreigner, or compare areas in our community guides.

General guidance as of October 2026, not legal advice. Freehold designations are set by the Dubai government, so confirm the status of any specific property with the Dubai Land Department before you buy.