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Real estate in Dubai : the buying process

If you're interested inreal estate investment in Dubai, you're probably wondering about the buying process. Rest assured, the whole process of buying property in Dubai is simple, fast and can be done remotely. But to make things clearer, we've decided to take you step-by-step through the entire process on this page.

1/ Framing your project with a RERA-certified professional

During the first exchange with an agency professional, the aim will be to answer the following questions:

Type of purchase (rental investment, primary or secondary residence)
Budget available for the project
Amount of contribution available
Preferred neighborhoods
Preferred type of property (apartment or villa)
Requested delivery date

The first exchange will also be an opportunity to remind you of the advantages of real estate investment in Dubai and to answer any questions you may have.

2/ Property proposals

Once the project is perfectly defined, your real estate agent will be able to present you with real estate projects that match your criteria. In some cases, it will be possible to visit sample apartments, either here in Dubai or by videoconference. Whether on site or remotely, you'll receive all the documentation you need on the selected projects: brochures, photos, videos, payment terms, inventory, etc.

3/ Reserving the property

Once you've selected the apartment or villa of your dreams, it's time to reserve it. To do this, you'll need to provide the information listed below to the real estate agent, who will then take care of the formalities with the developer:

Copy of valid passport
Mailing address
Email address
Telephone number you wish to communicate

If you are buying for several people, this information must be provided for all buyers.

A payment may be required by the promoter to validate the reservation. The amount to be paid is generally between €2,500 and €10,000.

4/ Downpayment of first installment

After signing the reservation contract, you will have a few weeks at most to pay the remainder of the first instalment, as agreed in the reservation contract. The first instalment is generally between 10% and 20% of the total price of the property. Of course, the amount paid at the time of reservation will be deducted from this first instalment. You will also have to pay the notary's fees (DLD), which are 4% in Dubai.

5/ Final contract signature (SPA)

Once you have paid the balance of the first instalment and the notary fees, you will receive the final purchase contract by post or e-mail. This contract is called a SPA, for Sales Purchase Agreement. The contract will be drawn up in English. Once signed by both buyer and developer, it is forwarded to the DLD for registration. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) is the government body responsible for registering the purchase contract and validating the transfer of ownership from the developer to the buyer.

6/ Issuing the title deed

If you have purchased a property off-plan, you will receive a document called an Oqood. This will be sent to you directly by the Dubai Land Department, to the e-mail address you provided when you made your reservation. If you are buying a ready-to-rent property and have paid in full, you will receive a Title Deed, also by email. You can check the authenticity of the document in the Dubai Rest application, where all your properties are automatically listed by the Dubai Land Department.

Conclusion on the Dubai real estate buying process

As you can see, the process of buying a property in Dubai is very straightforward, and can be carried out perfectly remotely.

The entire process is secure, but there are a few points to bear in mind:

Only deal with real estate agents who hold the RERA card, and ask them to send it to you in PDF format at the start of your exchange.
Make your payments into an escrow account, the details of which can be checked on the Dubai Land Department website or on the Dubai Rest app. Only the amount to be paid for the reservation or a pre-reservation, and of course the registration fee, can be made outside the escrow account.
Only buy properties from developers whose reliability you can easily verify.