Real Estate in Dubai
Dubai's property market runs on a detailed and distinctive regulatory framework. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) registers all real estate, and the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) supervises developers, brokers, owners associations and the rules that govern them. Whether you are buying a home, investing off-plan, leasing commercial space or developing a project, the outcome turns on getting the registration, contracts and approvals right.
Off-plan purchases have their own protections. Developer funds for a registered project must sit in a project escrow account under Law No. 8 of 2007, and interim sales are recorded on the Oqood system before title issues. Foreign buyers can own freehold in Dubai's designated areas, and we advise on the sale and purchase agreement, the DLD transfer, mortgage registration, and the risks of delayed handover or developer default.
Leasing and disputes are equally regulated. Tenancies are registered through Ejari, rent increases are governed by the RERA rental index and Decree No. 43 of 2013, and most landlord-tenant disputes are heard by the Rental Disputes Centre rather than the ordinary courts. We act on sale, purchase, leasing and joint-ownership matters, and represent clients in rental, developer and construction-linked property disputes.
What we do
- Sale and purchase agreements and DLD transfers
- Off-plan purchases, Oqood and escrow protection
- Freehold and foreign-ownership advice
- Leasing and Ejari registration
- Rental Disputes Centre claims
- Developer, delayed-handover and off-plan disputes
- Jointly owned property (strata) and owners associations
- Mortgages and property finance
Frequently asked
Can foreigners own property in Dubai?
Yes. In Dubai's designated freehold areas foreigners can own property outright, and in other areas on a leasehold or usufruct basis. We confirm the ownership type for a specific property and handle the DLD registration.
What protects me when I buy off-plan?
Developer funds for a registered project must be held in an escrow account under Law No. 8 of 2007, and your interim purchase is recorded on the Oqood system. We review the developer's registration, the sale and purchase agreement and the escrow arrangements before you commit.
How much can my landlord increase the rent?
Rent increases are governed by the RERA rental index and Decree No. 43 of 2013, which caps increases based on how far the current rent sits below market. We check the permitted increase and challenge unlawful ones.
Where are rental disputes resolved in Dubai?
Most landlord-tenant disputes go to the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC), not the ordinary courts. We prepare and present claims and defences there, from eviction and rent recovery to maintenance and deposit disputes.
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