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What is possible without visiting
Non-UAE nationals may own freehold property in designated areas of Dubai in their own name, and ownership does not depend on residency or on physical presence. A buyer abroad can view by video, agree terms, sign the sale contract electronically or by courier, appoint an attorney to attend the transfer and pay by international transfer. The only step that needs someone physically in Dubai is the transfer appointment at a DLD trustee office, which an attorney can attend; keys and access cards can be collected by the broker.
Remote buying is simplest for a cash purchase of a ready property with clean title, and is routine for off-plan, where the SPA is signed digitally and instalments are wired to the project escrow account. A mortgage or a corporate buyer adds steps. For the general process see buying property in Dubai as a foreigner.
Viewing from abroad
A remote viewing should be a live, unedited video call conducted by the broker while walking through the property, not only a produced marketing film. Ask to see the rooms the film skipped, the plant rooms, the roof, the boundary walls, the view from each terrace at the time of day that matters to you, and the approach from the street; for villas, a walk of the plot boundary is useful.
Video cannot convey noise, the condition of neighbouring plots, sun path or the quality of finishes. For any substantial purchase we recommend an independent building survey by a Dubai-based surveyor who reports in writing; on custom-built houses such as those in Emirates Hills this is not optional.
Due diligence a broker carries out
Before you commit, a licensed broker should verify the following and share the evidence with you.
| Check | Source | What it confirms |
|---|---|---|
| Title deed | DLD record, verified through the DLD's digital services | Registered owner, plot or unit number, area, and whether a mortgage or other encumbrance is recorded |
| Seller identity | Passport or Emirates ID matched to the title; corporate documents if the seller is a company | That the person offering to sell has the right to do so |
| Advertising permit | Trakheesi permit number and Madhmoun QR code on the listing | That the property is lawfully marketed with the owner's written authority (Form A) |
| Service charges | Statement from the developer or owners' association; Mollak-registered communities provide account statements | Arrears, which must be cleared before transfer, and the running cost of ownership |
| NOC readiness | Developer or master community | Whether anything would prevent the developer issuing the no-objection certificate |
| Tenancy | Ejari register and the tenancy contract | Whether the property is let, on what terms, and when vacant possession is available |
| Mortgage | Lender's liability letter obtained by the seller | The amount to be settled at transfer and the lender's process for release |
| Off-plan projects | DLD project record | RERA registration, escrow account number, developer and completion percentage |
Ask for copies of everything; a broker who cannot produce a title deed copy and a permit number should not be paid a deposit.
Power of attorney
A buyer who will not attend the transfer appoints an attorney under a power of attorney (POA) to sign on their behalf, commonly a lawyer, a family member or a trusted associate in Dubai. Some buyers appoint their broker, although an independent attorney is preferable where large sums are involved.
A POA can be issued in two ways:
- In the UAE, before a Dubai notary public: the simplest route if the buyer can make one visit. Dubai Courts also offer remote notarisation for some categories of applicant.
- Abroad, before a local notary. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not sufficient. The document is normally legalised by the issuing country's foreign ministry, then by the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, then attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on arrival, and finally translated into Arabic by a legal translator licensed in the UAE. The original, not a copy, is presented to the DLD.
In July 2025 the DLD issued Circular No. 29/R/2025 tightening the acceptance of POAs in property transactions: a POA must expressly authorise the specific transaction and property using the prescribed wording (a general authority to "manage property" is not accepted), POAs issued abroad must be presented in original form and be less than two years old, every POA is verified electronically before the transfer is processed, and sale proceeds must be paid to the account of the registered owner rather than to an attorney. As of 2026, confirm the current requirements with the DLD or the trustee office before the POA is drafted.
Allow several weeks for a foreign POA to pass through notarisation, legalisation, courier, attestation and translation, and have the draft reviewed by a Dubai lawyer or the trustee office before it is notarised; a defective POA cannot be corrected on the day of transfer.
Paying for the property
Ready property. Trustee offices in Dubai settle purchase prices by manager's cheque drawn on a UAE bank and made out to the seller, and increasingly accept bank transfers with proof of receipt. A buyer abroad therefore needs a UAE bank account from which a cheque can be issued, an attorney or law firm that can hold cleared funds and issue it, or a direct international transfer to the seller timed so that the trustee can confirm receipt before title is transferred. Some non-residents open a UAE account for the purpose. The DLD fee, trustee fee and any broker commission are paid separately, usually by card or transfer.
Off-plan property. Payments are wired directly into the project escrow account named in the SPA. Confirm the account number against the DLD project record, not only against the developer's invoice.
Compliance. Brokers, developers and trustee offices are subject to UAE anti-money-laundering rules and will ask for identity documents and evidence of the source of funds. Provide these early; they are the most common cause of delay. Cash is not accepted.
Trustee offices and DLD digital services
Transfers of ready property take place at registration trustee offices licensed by the DLD, which verify identity, documents and payment and issue the new title deed; the buyer's attorney attends in person. The DLD's digital services allow buyers and brokers to verify title deeds, project registrations, escrow accounts and advertising permits and to receive the electronic title deed after transfer; the services available to non-residents change from time to time; as of 2026, confirm with the DLD which steps can be completed online.
Mortgaged purchases add the lender's valuation and the mortgage registration at the DLD (0.25% of the loan plus AED 290), which the lender's representative attends. Full fee details are in Dubai property purchase costs.
Timeline and common pitfalls
| Stage | Typical duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shortlisting and video viewings | Days to weeks | Depends on availability of stock and the buyer's brief |
| Due diligence and survey | One to two weeks | Survey access must be arranged with the seller or tenant |
| Form F and deposit | Days | Deposit cheque needs a UAE bank account or an attorney's client account |
| Power of attorney (issued abroad) | Two to six weeks | Legalisation and courier time vary by country |
| NOC from developer | Days to a few weeks | Longer where arrears or alterations need resolving |
| Transfer | One appointment | Title deed issued the same day |
The pitfalls we see most often:
- Paying a deposit to an individual, or into any account other than the seller's or a licensed broker's, before Form F is signed.
- A POA that is generic, expired, unlegalised or untranslated, discovered only at the trustee office.
- Underestimating bank processing times and cut-off hours across time zones, so funds are not cleared on transfer day.
- Expired passports: the DLD requires valid identity documents for both parties on the day.
- Relying on the marketing film and skipping the survey.
Bonum Realty completes purchases for clients abroad on Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay Island and in Emirates Hills and can introduce lawyers and surveyors. Enquiries: info@bonumrealty.com or enquiry form. Ownership at or above AED 2 million may also support a Golden Visa application; see Golden Visa through property.