{"id":38013,"date":"2026-08-22T09:22:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T05:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/freehold-vs-leasehold-dubai\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T09:23:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T05:23:40","slug":"freehold-vs-leasehold-dubai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/fa\/freehold-vs-leasehold-dubai\/","title":{"rendered":"Freehold vs Leasehold in Dubai: What You Actually Own"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n@import url('https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Playfair+Display:wght@400;600;700&family=Inter:wght@300;400;500;600&display=swap');\n\n.fl *,.fl *::before,.fl *::after{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;padding:0}\n.fl{font-family:'Inter',sans-serif;color:#1a1a2e;line-height:1.7;background:#fff;width:100vw!important;max-width:100vw!important;position:relative!important;left:50%!important;margin-left:-50vw!important;margin-right:-50vw!important;overflow-x:hidden!important;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}\n.fl h1,.fl h2,.fl 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.fl-strip-in{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)}\n}\n@media(max-width:640px){\n  .flc{padding:0 16px}\n  .fls{padding:44px 0}\n  .fl-hero{min-height:auto}\n  .fl-hero-content{padding:48px 16px 56px}\n  .fl-hero h1{font-size:clamp(1.8rem,7.5vw,2.6rem)}\n  .fl-area-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}\n  .fl-forecast{grid-template-columns:1fr}\n  .fl-strip-in{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)}\n  .fl-si{padding:15px 8px}\n  .fl-title{font-size:clamp(1.4rem,6vw,1.9rem)}\n  .fl-contact{padding:48px 0}\n}\n@media(max-width:480px){.flc{padding:0 14px}}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"fl\">\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 HERO \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fl-hero\">\n  <div class=\"fl-hero-bg\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"fl-hero-pat\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"fl-hero-ov\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"fl-hero-content\">\n    <span class=\"fl-eyebrow\">Ownership Law \u00b7 Sourced from Dubai Legislation \u00b7 August 2026<\/span>\n    <h1>Freehold vs Leasehold in Dubai<br><span>What You Actually Own<\/span><\/h1>\n    <p class=\"fl-hero-sub\">One gives you the asset. The other gives you a fixed number of years in it. The difference is written into Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 \u2014 and it decides your resale value, your financing, and what your heirs inherit.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"fl-hero-meta\">\n      <div class=\"fl-hm\">\u2696\ufe0f <strong>Primary Law Cited<\/strong><\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-hm\">\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f <strong>99-Year Ceiling<\/strong><\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-hm\">\ud83c\udfd9\ufe0f <strong>Designated Areas Explained<\/strong><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 DATA STRIP \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<div class=\"fl-strip\">\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-strip-in\">\n      <div class=\"fl-si\"><span class=\"fl-sv\">99 Years<\/span><span class=\"fl-sl\">Maximum Leasehold or Usufruct Term<\/span><\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-si\"><span class=\"fl-sv\">50 Years<\/span><span class=\"fl-sl\">Maximum Musataha Term<\/span><\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-si\"><span class=\"fl-sv\">4%<\/span><span class=\"fl-sl\">DLD Sale Registration Fee (2% + 2%)<\/span><\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-si\"><span class=\"fl-sv\">457<\/span><span class=\"fl-sl\">Plots Opened for Freehold Conversion<\/span><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 OVERVIEW \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fls\">\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-2col\">\n      <div class=\"fl-body\">\n        <span class=\"flt\">The Legal Starting Point<\/span>\n        <h2 class=\"fl-title\">What Dubai Law Actually Says About Who Can Own<\/h2>\n        <p>Most Dubai property content treats &#8220;freehold&#8221; as a marketing word. It is not. It is a defined legal position, and the definition sits in one article of one law.<\/p>\n        <p><strong>Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006<\/strong>, issued 13 March 2006, states that &#8220;the right to own Real Property in the Emirate will be restricted to UAE nationals, nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states and to companies fully owned by these, and to public joint stock companies.&#8221;<\/p>\n        <p>That is the default rule, and on its own it would exclude every foreign buyer in Dubai. The same article then creates the exception that built the modern market: in areas determined by the Ruler, non-UAE nationals may be granted either <strong>&#8220;freehold ownership of Real Property without time restrictions&#8221;<\/strong> or <strong>&#8220;usufruct or leasehold over Real Property for a period not exceeding ninety-nine (99) years.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n        <p>Read that carefully, because it contains the whole distinction. Freehold is expressly &#8220;without time restrictions.&#8221; Leasehold and usufruct are expressly capped. A foreign buyer in Dubai is always in one of those two positions, and which one you are in is determined by the plot you are buying on \u2014 not by the developer&#8217;s brochure.<\/p>\n        <p>Two further articles matter more than buyers usually realise. <strong>Article 7<\/strong> provides that the Property Register maintained by the Land Department &#8220;will have absolute evidentiary value against all parties.&#8221; <strong>Article 9<\/strong> goes further: transactions that create, transfer, amend or extinguish property rights &#8220;will not be deemed valid unless recorded in the Property Register.&#8221; In Dubai, an unregistered agreement is not a weak claim to ownership. It is not ownership at all.<\/p>\n        <div class=\"fl-hbox\">\n          <strong>TruHauz perspective:<\/strong> The single most useful question to ask before you sign anything is not &#8220;is this freehold?&#8221; but &#8220;what right will be registered against this plot, and for how long?&#8221; The answer belongs on the title deed, not in a sales conversation. Our guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/title-deed-dubai\/\">Dubai title deed<\/a> shows you how to read one, and <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/buying-property-in-dubai-as-a-foreigner\/\">buying property in Dubai as a foreigner<\/a> walks the full purchase process end to end.\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"fl-ov\">\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-head\">\n            <h3>The Four Registered Rights<\/h3>\n            <p>What the Land Department records against a plot<\/p>\n          <\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Freehold<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r burg\">No time limit<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Leasehold<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">Up to 99 years<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Usufruct<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">Up to 99 years<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Musataha<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">Up to 50 years<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Governing law<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">Law No. 7 of 2006<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Law issued<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">13 March 2006<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Designated areas set by<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">Reg. No. 3 of 2006<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Regulation issued<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">7 June 2006<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Register status<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r burg\">Absolute evidence<\/span><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 COMPARISON TABLE \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fls flg\">\n  <div class=\"flc flct\">\n    <span class=\"flt\">Side by Side<\/span>\n    <h2 class=\"fl-title\">Freehold, Leasehold, Usufruct and Musataha Compared<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"fl-sub\">Four different rights, four different things you are actually buying. All four are registered with the Dubai Land Department.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-table-wrap\">\n      <table class=\"fl-table\">\n        <thead>\n          <tr>\n            <th>Feature<\/th>\n            <th>Freehold<\/th>\n            <th>Leasehold<\/th>\n            <th>Usufruct<\/th>\n            <th>Musataha<\/th>\n          <\/tr>\n        <\/thead>\n        <tbody>\n          <tr>\n            <td>Maximum term<\/td>\n            <td><span class=\"fl-badge low\">No time limit<\/span><\/td>\n            <td>99 years<\/td>\n            <td>99 years<\/td>\n            <td>50 years at a time<\/td>\n          <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n            <td>What you hold<\/td>\n            <td>The property itself<\/td>\n            <td>A right to occupy for a term<\/td>\n            <td>A right to use and benefit<\/td>\n            <td>A right to build on the land<\/td>\n          <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n            <td>Can you build or redevelop?<\/td>\n            <td>Yes, subject to approvals<\/td>\n            <td>No, as a rule<\/td>\n            <td>No \u2014 substance must be preserved<\/td>\n            <td>Yes \u2014 that is its purpose<\/td>\n          <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n            <td>Can you rent it out?<\/td>\n            <td>Yes<\/td>\n            <td>Subject to the lease terms<\/td>\n            <td>Yes<\/td>\n            <td>Subject to the agreement<\/td>\n          <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n            <td>Passes to heirs<\/td>\n            <td>Yes, as an owned asset<\/td>\n            <td>For the remainder of the term<\/td>\n            <td>For the remainder of the term<\/td>\n            <td>For the remainder of the term<\/td>\n          <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n            <td>Value over time<\/td>\n            <td>Not term-limited<\/td>\n            <td>Shortens every year<\/td>\n            <td>Shortens every year<\/td>\n            <td>Shortens every year<\/td>\n          <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n            <td>Open to non-UAE nationals<\/td>\n            <td>In designated areas<\/td>\n            <td>In designated areas<\/td>\n            <td>In designated areas<\/td>\n            <td>Development structure<\/td>\n          <\/tr>\n        <\/tbody>\n      <\/table>\n    <\/div>\n    <p style=\"font-size:.78rem;color:#999;margin-top:10px;text-align:center\">Sources: Dubai Law No. (7) of 2006, Articles 4, 7 and 9, and Regulation No. (3) of 2006, Article 3, via the Dubai Legislation portal (dlp.dubai.gov.ae). Musataha term per UAE Civil Code Articles 1353\u20131360 as summarised by Fichte Legal. Retrieved 22 August 2026.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 DESIGNATED AREAS \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fls\">\n  <div class=\"flc flct\">\n    <span class=\"flt\">Designated Areas<\/span>\n    <h2 class=\"fl-title\">Where Non-UAE Nationals Were First Allowed to Own<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"fl-sub\">Regulation No. 3 of 2006, issued 7 June 2006, named the original schedule of areas. This is the founding list \u2014 it has been expanded by later resolutions.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-area-grid\">\n\n      <div class=\"fl-area-card\">\n        <div class=\"fl-area-head\">\n          <div class=\"fl-area-name\">Dubai Marina<\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-area-type\">Original 2006 schedule<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-area-body\">\n          <span class=\"fl-area-price\">Freehold<\/span>\n          <span class=\"fl-area-unit\">named in Regulation No. 3 of 2006<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"fl-area-card\">\n        <div class=\"fl-area-head\">\n          <div class=\"fl-area-name\">Palm Jumeirah<\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-area-type\">Original 2006 schedule<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-area-body\">\n          <span class=\"fl-area-price\">Freehold<\/span>\n          <span class=\"fl-area-unit\">listed as &#8220;Palm Jumairah&#8221;<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"fl-area-card\">\n        <div class=\"fl-area-head\">\n          <div class=\"fl-area-name\">Palm Jebel Ali<\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-area-type\">Original 2006 schedule<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-area-body\">\n          <span class=\"fl-area-price\">Freehold<\/span>\n          <span class=\"fl-area-unit\">see our <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/palm-jebel-ali\/\">Palm Jebel Ali guide<\/a><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"fl-area-card\">\n        <div class=\"fl-area-head\">\n          <div class=\"fl-area-name\">Emirates Hills 1, 2 &amp; 3<\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-area-type\">Original 2006 schedule<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-area-body\">\n          <span class=\"fl-area-price\">Freehold<\/span>\n          <span class=\"fl-area-unit\">three separate listed sectors<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"fl-area-card\">\n        <div class=\"fl-area-head\">\n          <div class=\"fl-area-name\">Al Jaddaf<\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-area-type\">Original 2006 schedule<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-area-body\">\n          <span class=\"fl-area-price\">Conversion open<\/span>\n          <span class=\"fl-area-unit\">329 plots identified by DLD<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"fl-area-card\">\n        <div class=\"fl-area-head\">\n          <div class=\"fl-area-name\">Sheikh Zayed Road<\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-area-type\">Original 2006 schedule<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-area-body\">\n          <span class=\"fl-area-price\">Conversion open<\/span>\n          <span class=\"fl-area-unit\">128 plots identified by DLD<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n    <p style=\"font-size:.78rem;color:#999;margin-top:22px;text-align:center;max-width:820px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\">The full original schedule in Regulation No. 3 of 2006 also names Umm Hurair 2, Al Barsha South 2 and 3, Jebel Ali, The World Islands, Ras al Khor, Al Rowyah, Sofouh 1 and 2, Al-Qouz 3, Al-Qouz Industrial Areas 2 and 3, Mirdif, Nad al-Sheba and Warsan 1. Crucially, the regulation grants rights over <em>specified plots<\/em> within each named area, not the whole area automatically \u2014 and the schedule has been added to since 2006 by further resolutions. Always confirm the specific plot with the Dubai Land Department before you commit.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 CTA STRIP \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<div class=\"fl-cta-strip\">\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-cta-in\">\n      <div>\n        <h3>Not sure whether a property is freehold?<\/h3>\n        <p>Send us the plot or project and we will confirm the registered right and the term before you commit a dirham.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/contact\/\" class=\"flbtn\">Ask TruHauz \u2192<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 WHAT IT MEANS \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fls fldk\">\n  <div class=\"flc flct\">\n    <span style=\"display:inline-block;background:rgba(255,255,255,.15);color:#fff!important;font-size:.68rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px 15px;border-radius:100px;margin-bottom:16px;\">What It Means For You<\/span>\n    <h2 class=\"fl-title white\">Three Places the Distinction Actually Bites<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"fl-sub white\" style=\"margin:0 auto 48px;\">The legal difference is simple. The financial consequences are where buyers get caught.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-forecast\">\n      <div class=\"fl-fc\">\n        <span class=\"fl-fc-val\">1<\/span>\n        <h4>Resale and the shrinking term<\/h4>\n        <p>A freehold asset is not time-limited. A leasehold interest is a wasting one: each year that passes leaves fewer years for the next buyer. Late in a term, the pool of willing buyers and lenders narrows. This is not a Dubai quirk \u2014 it is how term-limited interests behave everywhere. It simply needs pricing in.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-fc\">\n        <span class=\"fl-fc-val\">2<\/span>\n        <h4>Inheritance<\/h4>\n        <p>Freehold passes as an owned asset. A leasehold or usufruct right passes only for whatever remains of its term. For foreign owners this interacts with succession planning, which in Dubai is commonly handled through a registered will. Our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/dubai-property-inheritance-difc-wills\/\">Dubai property inheritance and DIFC wills<\/a> covers that in detail.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-fc\">\n        <span class=\"fl-fc-val\">3<\/span>\n        <h4>What is registered is what counts<\/h4>\n        <p>Article 9 of Law No. 7 of 2006 makes registration a condition of validity, not a formality. A signed contract, a payment receipt and a developer&#8217;s assurance are not ownership until the right is recorded on the Property Register, which Article 7 gives absolute evidentiary value against all parties.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div style=\"background:rgba(255,255,255,.07);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.15);border-radius:12px;padding:22px 24px;margin-top:32px;font-size:.93rem;color:rgba(255,255,255,.78)!important;line-height:1.75;\">\n      <strong style=\"color:#fff!important;\">Bottom line:<\/strong> Freehold and leasehold are not tiers of quality \u2014 they are different assets with different lifespans. A long leasehold in a location you cannot otherwise access can be perfectly rational. Paying a freehold price for a leasehold term is not. Establish which right is registered against the plot, and how many years remain, before you discuss price. For how transfer costs then land on you, see our breakdown of <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/how-to-sell-property-in-dubai\/\">selling property in Dubai<\/a> and of ongoing <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/service-charges-dubai\/\">service charges<\/a>.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 CONVERSION \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fls\">\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-2col\">\n      <div class=\"fl-body\">\n        <span class=\"flt\">The 2025\u201326 Development<\/span>\n        <h2 class=\"fl-title\">Dubai Has Started Letting Some Leasehold Convert<\/h2>\n        <p>The most significant recent change to this landscape is that leasehold is no longer always permanent. The Dubai Land Department has opened a route for owners in two specific locations \u2014 Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Jaddaf \u2014 to convert their holdings to freehold.<\/p>\n        <p>According to Bayut&#8217;s coverage of the scheme, updated 17 August 2026, the DLD identified <strong>457 eligible plots: 128 along Sheikh Zayed Road and 329 in Al Jaddaf<\/strong>. The initiative is open to private property owners of all nationalities. Bayut reports the conversion fee at <strong>30% of the property&#8217;s valuation, calculated on gross floor area<\/strong>, with owners able to check eligibility through the Dubai REST app before applying to the DLD for assessment and valuation.<\/p>\n        <p>Two cautions are worth stating plainly. First, this is a targeted scheme covering identified plots, not a general right to convert leasehold anywhere in Dubai. Second, a fee set at a percentage of gross floor area valuation is a substantial sum, and whether conversion is worth it depends entirely on the gap between the leasehold and freehold value of that specific asset \u2014 which is a valuation question, not a legal one.<\/p>\n        <div class=\"fl-hbox\">\n          <strong>Before you rely on any of this:<\/strong> eligibility, fees and scope are set by the Dubai Land Department and can change. Confirm your specific plot directly with the DLD or through Dubai REST rather than relying on any summary, including this one. A <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/property-valuation-dubai\/\">formal property valuation<\/a> is the right tool for deciding whether conversion economics work.\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"fl-ov\">\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-head\">\n            <h3>Conversion Scheme at a Glance<\/h3>\n            <p>Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Jaddaf<\/p>\n          <\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Total eligible plots<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r burg\">457<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Sheikh Zayed Road<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">128 plots<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Al Jaddaf<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">329 plots<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Conversion fee<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r burg\">30% of valuation<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Fee calculated on<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">Gross floor area<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Open to<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">All nationalities<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Eligibility check<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">Dubai REST app<\/span><\/div>\n          <div class=\"fl-ov-row\"><span class=\"fl-ov-l\">Source<\/span><span class=\"fl-ov-r\">Bayut, 17 Aug 2026<\/span><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 COSTS \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fls flg\">\n  <div class=\"flc flct\">\n    <span class=\"flt\">Transfer Costs<\/span>\n    <h2 class=\"fl-title\">What the Land Department Charges to Register a Sale<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"fl-sub\">Published fees from the Dubai Land Department&#8217;s own Property Sale Registration service. These apply to registering the transfer, whatever right is being transferred.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-table-wrap\">\n      <table class=\"fl-table\">\n        <thead>\n          <tr>\n            <th>Item<\/th>\n            <th>Published fee<\/th>\n            <th>Notes<\/th>\n          <\/tr>\n        <\/thead>\n        <tbody>\n          <tr><td>Sale registration \u2014 seller<\/td><td>2% of sale value<\/td><td>Half of the commonly quoted 4%<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Sale registration \u2014 buyer<\/td><td>2% of sale value<\/td><td>In practice often borne by the buyer by agreement<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Title deed certificate issuance<\/td><td>AED 250<\/td><td>Per certificate<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Villa or apartment map<\/td><td>AED 250<\/td><td>As applicable to the unit type<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Unified map (Dubai Municipality)<\/td><td>AED 225<\/td><td>Where the land falls under Dubai Municipality<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Map \u2014 land outside Dubai Municipality<\/td><td>AED 100<\/td><td>Where applicable<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Knowledge fee<\/td><td>AED 10<\/td><td>Per drawing<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Innovation fee<\/td><td>AED 10<\/td><td>Per drawing<\/td><\/tr>\n          <tr><td>Service delivery time<\/td><td>25 minutes<\/td><td>As published by the DLD<\/td><\/tr>\n        <\/tbody>\n      <\/table>\n    <\/div>\n    <p style=\"font-size:.78rem;color:#999;margin-top:10px;text-align:center\">Source: Dubai Land Department, Property Sale Registration e-service (dubailand.gov.ae), retrieved 22 August 2026. Service partner fees are listed separately by the DLD and vary with sale value. Fees are subject to change \u2014 confirm current figures with the DLD.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 FAQ \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fls\">\n  <div class=\"flc flct\">\n    <span class=\"flt\">FAQ<\/span>\n    <h2 class=\"fl-title\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"fl-sub\">The questions buyers ask most often about freehold and leasehold ownership in Dubai.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-faq-list\">\n      <div class=\"fl-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-q\" onclick=\"flFaq(this)\">What is the difference between freehold and leasehold property in Dubai?<span class=\"fl-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-a\">Freehold is ownership of the property without any time limit, registered in your name on the Dubai Land Department\u2019s Property Register. Leasehold is a registered right to use and occupy a property for a fixed term that cannot exceed 99 years under Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006, after which the right expires and the property reverts to the landowner. Freehold gives you the asset; leasehold gives you time in it.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-q\" onclick=\"flFaq(this)\">Can foreigners buy freehold property in Dubai?<span class=\"fl-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-a\">Yes, but only in designated areas. Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 restricts general property ownership to UAE nationals, GCC nationals, companies fully owned by them, and public joint stock companies. Non-UAE nationals may be granted freehold ownership without time restriction, or usufruct or leasehold for up to 99 years, in areas determined by the Ruler. Regulation No. 3 of 2006 set the original schedule of those areas and it has been added to by later resolutions.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-q\" onclick=\"flFaq(this)\">How long does leasehold last in Dubai?<span class=\"fl-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-a\">A leasehold or usufruct right granted to a non-UAE national cannot exceed 99 years. That ceiling comes directly from Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 and Article 3 of Regulation No. 3 of 2006. Musataha, which is the right to build on someone else\u2019s land rather than simply occupy it, runs on a shorter cycle and may not exceed 50 years at a time under the UAE Civil Code.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-q\" onclick=\"flFaq(this)\">Is leasehold property in Dubai a bad investment?<span class=\"fl-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-a\">Not automatically, but it is a different asset. A leasehold interest is a wasting asset: every year that passes shortens the remaining term, and a buyer late in the term is purchasing fewer remaining years than you did. That affects resale depth and how lenders view it. Leasehold can still make sense where the location is not available on a freehold basis and the remaining term is long. The mistake is paying a freehold price for a leasehold term.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-q\" onclick=\"flFaq(this)\">Can leasehold property in Dubai be converted to freehold?<span class=\"fl-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-a\">In specific cases, yes. The Dubai Land Department has opened conversion to owners on Sheikh Zayed Road and in Al Jaddaf, identifying 457 eligible plots, 128 along Sheikh Zayed Road and 329 in Al Jaddaf, open to owners of all nationalities. Bayut reports the conversion fee at 30% of the property\u2019s valuation calculated on gross floor area. Owners can check eligibility through the Dubai REST app. There is no general right of conversion outside schemes the DLD has opened.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-q\" onclick=\"flFaq(this)\">What fees does the Dubai Land Department charge to transfer a property?<span class=\"fl-faq-icon\">+<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-faq-a\">For a standard sale registration the Dubai Land Department\u2019s published fee is 2% of the sale value from the seller and 2% from the buyer, which is the 4% commonly quoted. On top of that the DLD lists AED 250 for issuing the title deed certificate, AED 250 for a villa or apartment map, AED 225 for a unified map with Dubai Municipality, and AED 10 each for the knowledge and innovation fees. Service partner fees are listed separately.<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <p style=\"font-size:.78rem;color:#999;margin-top:26px;text-align:center;max-width:820px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\"><strong>This article is general information, not legal advice.<\/strong> Property law and Land Department fees change, and how the rules apply depends on your specific plot and circumstances. Verify current requirements with the Dubai Land Department and take qualified legal advice before acting.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<!-- \u2550\u2550\u2550 CONTACT \u2550\u2550\u2550 -->\n<section class=\"fl-contact\" id=\"fl-contact\">\n  <div class=\"flc\">\n    <div class=\"fl-contact-inner\">\n      <div>\n        <span style=\"display:inline-block;background:rgba(255,255,255,.15);color:#fff!important;font-size:.68rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px 15px;border-radius:100px;margin-bottom:18px;\">Talk to TruHauz<\/span>\n        <h2 style=\"font-family:'Playfair Display',serif;font-size:clamp(1.5rem,4vw,2.1rem);color:#fff!important;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:1.2;\">Know Exactly What You Are Buying<\/h2>\n        <p style=\"color:rgba(255,255,255,.72)!important;font-size:.93rem;line-height:1.75;margin-bottom:24px;\">Before you commit, we will confirm the registered right, the remaining term and the designated-area position on the specific plot \u2014 in writing. No guesswork, no brochure language.<\/p>\n        <div class=\"fl-ci\"><span>\ud83d\udcde<\/span><span class=\"fl-ci-text\"><strong style=\"color:#fff!important;display:block;margin-bottom:2px;\">Phone \/ WhatsApp<\/strong><a href=\"tel:+971529715488\">+971 52 971 5488<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-ci\"><span>\ud83d\udce7<\/span><span class=\"fl-ci-text\"><strong style=\"color:#fff!important;display:block;margin-bottom:2px;\">Email<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:info@truhauz.com\">info@truhauz.com<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"fl-ci\"><span>\ud83c\udfe2<\/span><span class=\"fl-ci-text\"><strong style=\"color:#fff!important;display:block;margin-bottom:2px;\">RERA Licensed<\/strong><span>60838 \u2014 Dubai, UAE<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n        <div style=\"margin-top:24px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/contact\/\" class=\"flbg\">Get in Touch \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"fl-form-wrap\">\n        <iframe aria-label=\"Contact Us\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"height:520px;width:100%;border:none;display:block;\" src=\"https:\/\/forms.zohopublic.com\/elchintru1\/form\/ContactUs\/formperma\/_DensyNXfgDItjE-TsZ92uQERcSIhTnizr-QPf3wrBk\"><\/iframe>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"fl-footer-strip\">\n  \u00a9 2026 TruHauz Real Estate \u00b7 RERA Reg. 60838 \u00b7 Dubai, UAE<br>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/buy\">Buy<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/off-plan\">Off Plan<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/golden-visa\/\">Golden Visa<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/mortgage-guide\/\">Mortgage Guide<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><!-- end .fl -->\n\n<script>\nfunction flFaq(el){var item=el.parentElement;var wasOpen=item.classList.contains('fl-open');document.querySelectorAll('.fl-faq-item.fl-open').forEach(function(i){i.classList.remove('fl-open');});if(!wasOpen)item.classList.add('fl-open');}\n(function(){function init(){var w=document.querySelector('.fl');if(!w)return;var e=w.parentElement;while(e&&e!==document.documentElement){e.style.setProperty('padding-left','0px','important');e.style.setProperty('padding-right','0px','important');e.style.setProperty('padding-top','0px','important');e.style.setProperty('overflow','visible','important');e.style.setProperty('max-width','none','important');e=e.parentElement;}['.post-header-wrap','.post-thumbnail-wrap'].forEach(function(s){var el=document.querySelector(s);if(el)el.style.setProperty('display','none','important');});document.body.style.setProperty('overflow-x','hidden','important');}document.readyState==='loading'?document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',init):init();})();\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/freehold-vs-leasehold-dubai\/#faq\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/truhauz.com\/freehold-vs-leasehold-dubai\/\",\n \"mainEntity\": [\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"What is the difference between freehold and leasehold property in Dubai?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"Freehold is ownership of the property without any time limit, registered in your name on the Dubai Land Department\u2019s Property Register. Leasehold is a registered right to use and occupy a property for a fixed term that cannot exceed 99 years under Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006, after which the right expires and the property reverts to the landowner. Freehold gives you the asset; leasehold gives you time in it.\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"Can foreigners buy freehold property in Dubai?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"Yes, but only in designated areas. Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 restricts general property ownership to UAE nationals, GCC nationals, companies fully owned by them, and public joint stock companies. Non-UAE nationals may be granted freehold ownership without time restriction, or usufruct or leasehold for up to 99 years, in areas determined by the Ruler. Regulation No. 3 of 2006 set the original schedule of those areas and it has been added to by later resolutions.\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"How long does leasehold last in Dubai?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"A leasehold or usufruct right granted to a non-UAE national cannot exceed 99 years. That ceiling comes directly from Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 and Article 3 of Regulation No. 3 of 2006. Musataha, which is the right to build on someone else\u2019s land rather than simply occupy it, runs on a shorter cycle and may not exceed 50 years at a time under the UAE Civil Code.\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"Is leasehold property in Dubai a bad investment?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"Not automatically, but it is a different asset. A leasehold interest is a wasting asset: every year that passes shortens the remaining term, and a buyer late in the term is purchasing fewer remaining years than you did. That affects resale depth and how lenders view it. Leasehold can still make sense where the location is not available on a freehold basis and the remaining term is long. The mistake is paying a freehold price for a leasehold term.\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"Can leasehold property in Dubai be converted to freehold?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"In specific cases, yes. The Dubai Land Department has opened conversion to owners on Sheikh Zayed Road and in Al Jaddaf, identifying 457 eligible plots, 128 along Sheikh Zayed Road and 329 in Al Jaddaf, open to owners of all nationalities. Bayut reports the conversion fee at 30% of the property\u2019s valuation calculated on gross floor area. Owners can check eligibility through the Dubai REST app. There is no general right of conversion outside schemes the DLD has opened.\"\n   }\n  },\n  {\n   \"@type\": \"Question\",\n   \"name\": \"What fees does the Dubai Land Department charge to transfer a property?\",\n   \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n    \"text\": \"For a standard sale registration the Dubai Land Department\u2019s published fee is 2% of the sale value from the seller and 2% from the buyer, which is the 4% commonly quoted. On top of that the DLD lists AED 250 for issuing the title deed certificate, AED 250 for a villa or apartment map, AED 225 for a unified map with Dubai Municipality, and AED 10 each for the knowledge and innovation fees. Service partner fees are listed separately.\"\n   }\n  }\n ]\n}<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Freehold has no time limit. Leasehold cannot exceed 99 years. Article 4 of Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 sets the line \u2014 here is what it means for your resale value, financing and heirs.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":36482,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"0","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dubai-real-estate-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.3 (Yoast SEO v28.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Freehold vs Leasehold in Dubai: What You Actually Own<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Freehold vs leasehold in Dubai, decided by law: the 99-year cap, designated areas, real DLD fees, and which right is actually registered to your plot.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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