Buying UAE property as an international buyer

Dubai and Abu Dhabi each have their own regulator, registry and designated areas for foreign ownership. Read the Dubai and Abu Dhabi guides separately; do not assume one set of rules covers both.

Many international buyers complete without travelling, using video viewings, electronic documents and, where needed, a representative. The more you rely on others, the more important it becomes to verify who they are, what they are authorised to do and where your money goes. Never send funds on instructions you have not confirmed through an independent channel.

A power of attorney lets you authorise someone to sign and complete on your behalf. For use in the UAE it generally has to be drafted and validated in a way the UAE authorities accept, which can involve notarisation and attestation steps from your home country. Limit its scope to the specific transaction, and take legal advice on the wording.

Expect identity and source-of-funds checks from banks, lenders and other parties. Have documents ready to show where the money comes from. Some buyers open a UAE bank account; others pay from overseas accounts. Ask each party how they prefer to receive funds, and keep records of every transfer.

The dirham is pegged to the US dollar, so the exchange-rate exposure for buyers in other currencies is mostly against the dollar. Tax treatment of owning, letting and selling depends on your home country and personal circumstances; take specialist advice there.