From checking freehold status and the site plan to the developer NOC and transfer at the Dubai Land Department — how a land purchase in Dubai works.
Buying land lets you build exactly what you want — a family home, villas to sell, or a building to hold for income. Plots are our specialism, and this is how a typical purchase works.
Can foreigners buy plots in Dubai?
Yes — in Dubai's designated freehold areas, foreign buyers can own land outright. Outside those areas ownership for non-GCC nationals is limited, so the first check on any plot is whether it sits in a freehold zone.
1. Decide what you want to build
A plot's zoning decides what can go on it — residential, commercial or mixed-use — and how tall and how large the building can be. Start with the end use, then look for plots that allow it.
2. Check the plot's details
Every plot has an official site plan, often called an affection plan, showing its size, permitted use and building limits. Review it before agreeing a price, together with any community guidelines set by the master developer.
3. Agree terms with the seller
Once a price is agreed, buyer and seller sign a memorandum of understanding (Form F) through their RERA-registered brokers, usually with a deposit held until transfer.
4. Get the developer's NOC
For plots inside master communities, the master developer issues a no-objection certificate (NOC) confirming there are no outstanding dues before the sale can be transferred. The fee varies by developer.
5. Transfer at the Dubai Land Department
The sale is completed at a Dubai Land Department trustee office, where the 4% DLD registration fee is paid and the title deed is issued in your name.
After you buy: building on your plot
- Appoint a licensed architect and engineer to design the building.
- Get the design approved by the master developer, where applicable.
- Obtain a building permit from the relevant authority — usually Dubai Municipality, or another authority in certain zones.
- Check your contract for any deadlines to start or complete construction, which some master developers set.
Costs to budget for
- 4% Dubai Land Department fee, plus administration fees
- Agency commission
- Master developer NOC fee
- Design, approval and permit fees once you start building
