Guides and insights

Buying off-plan as a non-resident

You don't need to live in the UAE to buy. Foreign buyers can own property in designated freehold areas, and much of the purchase can be handled remotely.

• A valid passport is the main document. Ask us what else your project needs.
• You pay the booking amount and fees, then sign the sale agreement.
• Your purchase is registered with the land authority.
• You can appoint someone with a power of attorney if a step needs you in person.
• Plan how you will transfer money and how your home currency could move over time.

How the buying process works

1. Choose your property and payment plan.
2. Pay the booking amount and reserve the unit.
3. Review and sign the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA).
4. Pay the registration fee. In Dubai, the sale is registered on the Oqood system.
5. Pay your instalments as the project is built.
6. Inspect the home at handover, pay the final amount and get your keys.
7. Move in, rent it out, or resell it. We can help with each.

The Golden Visa

The UAE Golden Visa is a 10-year, renewable residency. Property investors usually need to own real estate worth at least AED 2 million, in one property or several.

• Ready, off-plan and mortgaged property can qualify, subject to conditions.
• Off-plan approval can depend on the developer and project.
• You can sponsor your spouse, children and up to three domestic staff.
• There is no local sponsor, and no minimum stay.
• Approval is decided by the authorities, so buying does not guarantee a visa.

Property investor visas

Below AED 2 million there may still be a route to residency. Rules differ by emirate and have changed recently, so always check the current position first.

• Dubai 2-year visa: reports in 2026 say the AED 750,000 minimum was removed for sole owners. Joint owners need at least AED 400,000 each.
• Those reports came from a Dubai Land Department service centre, without a formal announcement, so confirm before you rely on them.
• 5-year retirement visa: for people aged 55 or over, including a route through property of at least AED 1 million.
• Sharjah has its own rules. Ask us before you buy there with a visa in mind.

Risks and precautions

Off-plan can work very well, but you are buying something that does not exist yet. Here is what can go wrong, and how to protect yourself.

In Dubai, an off-plan sale must be registered (Oqood), and buyers' payments are protected by escrow rules under Law No. 8 of 2007. Sharjah has its own system, so ask us how it applies to your project.

Why Dubai and the UAE

• No personal income tax in the UAE.
• Freehold ownership for foreign buyers in designated areas.
• Residency routes linked to property.
• A regulated off-plan market, with registration and escrow rules.
• Flexible payment plans that spread the cost over construction, and sometimes beyond it.
• Strong global connections, from flights to business.

Dubai is not the only choice. Sharjah can offer a different kind of value, and the right answer depends on you.

Why Opulus Gulf

• We show you only what fits, not everything we could sell.
• You see the real cost before you commit, including the fees.
• We tell you the downsides, and we talk about risk openly.
• We stay after the sale, with snagging, mortgages, renting and resale.
• We win when you win.