Quick answer: yes. Foreign buyers can buy property in Dubai without visiting. Off-plan purchases – reservation, Sales and Purchase Agreement and Oqood registration – are routinely completed remotely, often with electronic signing. For a ready property, a representative attends the Dubai Land Department trustee office on transfer day under a power of attorney, which must be notarised, legalised and attested for use in the UAE (allow roughly two to four weeks). The fees are the same as in person, led by the 4% DLD transfer fee.
Many international buyers never set foot in Dubai until they collect the keys – or not even then, if the home is let from day one. The process is designed for it, but each route has a few steps that must be right. This guide explains how remote buying works for off-plan and ready property, how the power of attorney works, and how to protect yourself when you cannot see the property in person.
Can I buy property in Dubai without visiting?
Yes. Foreign nationals of any nationality can own freehold property in Dubai’s designated freehold areas with only a passport – no residency, sponsor or local partner – and nothing in the purchase requires you to be physically present. What changes between routes is who signs and attends for you.
Buying off-plan remotely
- Choose and verify the project. Confirm the project is RERA-registered with a DLD escrow account and check the developer’s delivery record – our off-plan delays by developer data shows how many of each developer’s projects are past their registered handover date.
- Reserve. Pay the booking deposit by international bank transfer.
- Sign the SPA. Developers routinely sign the Sales and Purchase Agreement electronically with overseas buyers.
- Oqood registration. The purchase is registered on the DLD’s Oqood system and the 4% registration fee is paid; you receive the Oqood certificate without attending.
- Pay instalments into escrow as construction progresses – only ever into the project escrow account named in your SPA.
Full detail: how to buy off-plan property in Dubai safely.
Buying a ready property remotely
- Agree terms and sign the MOU (RERA Form F), usually with a 10% deposit held by the broker or conveyancer.
- Appoint your representative – a conveyancer or someone you trust – under a specific power of attorney.
- The seller obtains the developer’s NOC (and clears any mortgage).
- Transfer day: your representative attends the DLD-approved trustee office, the 4% transfer fee is paid and the new title deed is issued in your name the same day.
Before you commit, ask for a live video walkthrough of the actual unit (not a show apartment), the title deed, the service-charge statement and, if tenanted, the Ejari tenancy contract. Our guides on verifying a Dubai agent and checking a below-market deal list the documents.
How the power of attorney works
The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a power of attorney signed abroad has to go through a legalisation chain before Dubai accepts it:
- Signed before a notary public in your country.
- Legalised by your country’s foreign ministry (or equivalent authority).
- Attested by the UAE embassy or consulate in your country.
- Attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on arrival.
- Legally translated into Arabic by a sworn translator in the UAE.
Allow roughly two to four weeks. Have the document drafted for exactly what is needed – signing the transfer, paying fees, collecting the title deed – rather than a general power. British buyers can follow the UK-specific chain in our guide to buying from the UK.
Paying, financing and fees from abroad
- Fees are the same as in person: 4% DLD transfer fee, trustee and admin fees and, for resale, agency commission – see the full cost of buying.
- Mortgages for non-residents are available from several UAE banks, typically at 50-65% loan-to-value – see Dubai mortgages for non-residents.
- Ask your conveyancer early how funds must be presented on transfer day, so international transfers arrive in time.
- Golden Visa: a purchase of AED 2 million or more can support a 10-year residence visa, and the purchase can be completed before you travel – see the Golden Visa through property.
Country guides: buying from the UK and buying from India.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy property in Dubai without visiting?
Yes. Off-plan purchases are routinely completed remotely, including electronic SPA signing and Oqood registration. A ready-property transfer is completed by a representative at the DLD trustee office under a legalised power of attorney.
How long does a power of attorney take for Dubai?
Allow roughly two to four weeks for notarisation, legalisation by your country’s foreign ministry, UAE embassy attestation, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation and Arabic translation.
Can I see the property before buying remotely?
Ask for a live video walkthrough of the actual unit, plus the title deed, service-charge statement and any tenancy contract. For off-plan, verify the project’s RERA registration and escrow account and the developer’s delivery record.
Are fees higher if I buy remotely?
No. The DLD fees are the same; the only extra cost is preparing and legalising the power of attorney.
