Buying property in Dubai: a step-by-step guide

1. Consultation and a workable brief

Start with your circumstances, not a floor plan. Will you rent, move in or decide later? What is the total budget including costs, and in which currency are funds available? Establish the intended owner, any joint purchase and finance requirements. These choices influence documents, payment routes and the shortlist. Changing the buyer structure later can create avoidable work once the reservation is issued in another name.

Maximilian Popolari guides analysis → selection → purchase → handover and beyond personally. The first meeting should produce a clear brief covering essentials, exclusions, timing and next decisions. RERA-registered Popolari Estates, based in Business Bay, coordinates support but does not replace independent legal or tax advice. Obtain specialist input before committing funds where ownership, succession or tax treatment are important. Start with a personal consultation.

2. Selection and checks before reservation

Compare a manageable shortlist on consistent criteria: price, location, usable layout, actual view, management, operating costs and target-user demand. A completed apartment calls for inspection, condition information and any existing tenancy. Do not rely solely on furnished show units; establish exactly what the contract sells and the condition in which it will be available. Resolve differences between brochures, area figures and the contractual property.

For off-plan, examine the developer, project registration, construction progress, payment plan and designated project escrow account. For resale, establish title, seller identity and authority, and any encumbrances. An existing mortgage needs coordinated discharge; a tenanted unit is not automatically available for immediate occupation. Request missing evidence before a reservation deadline creates pressure. Our off-plan guide explains additional developer-purchase checks.

3. Reservation, SPA and contract review

A reservation secures the specific unit. Check its validity period, required payment and whether that amount is credited to the price. Review cancellation, refunds and what happens if finance is not finalised in time. Reservation money is not automatically risk-free or refundable. Verify names, passport details, unit number, price and deadlines, retain the accepted version and avoid blank forms or verbal side agreements.

Developer sales commonly proceed to a sales and purchase agreement, or SPA. Brokered resale often uses the DLD sale contract known as Form F. These instruments are not interchangeable. Review payment terms, delivery specification, delay provisions, default, costs and included fittings. Off-plan also requires attention to area variations and assignment conditions. Have problematic clauses reviewed before signing rather than assuming a later email overrides the contract.

4. Coordinate payments and finance

Maintain a schedule showing amount, recipient, bank details, due date and supporting evidence. Verify account details through an independently known contact, especially if changed instructions arrive shortly before payment. Do not rely on screenshots or telephone pressure. Prepare source-of-funds documents and allow for bank checks, conversion and transfer processing. These are preparation tasks, not last-day problems.

Off-plan instalments must follow the project's designated official payment route; verify the associated escrow account. In resale, coordinate price settlement and transfer with the trustee and any lenders, potentially using bank-certified payment instruments. Indicative mortgage approval does not replace final valuation or release. Align finance milestones with contractual commitments and separate price payments from official fees and professional services.

5. Registration and the title deed

Off-plan purchases are recorded through interim registration, commonly associated with Oqood. Obtain evidence for your unit and verify buyer details. Interim registration does not mean immediate delivery of a finished home. Final ownership documentation follows the relevant completion and registration process. Establish which registry action a fee triggers and which evidence you should receive rather than relying on a familiar fee label.

A completed resale transfers through the relevant registration channel, often a registration trustee. Required clearances such as the developer NOC, identity documents and settlement arrangements must be ready. Check the resulting title deed for owner and unit details. Keys do not replace correct registration, and acquiring a tenanted home does not necessarily allow immediate personal occupation. Possession and tenancy need separate review.

6. Buying remotely with a power of attorney

A remote purchase may use an accepted power of attorney. Notarisation, further authentication and any Arabic translation depend on the issuing jurisdiction and receiving institution. Clear the wording with the trustee, developer and lender where relevant before execution. A general power may not cover property acquisition, and digital signatures are not accepted for every step. Establish whether originals are required and allow time to obtain them.

Limit authority to the actions required and discuss expiry, revocation and safeguards with a qualified adviser. Specify who signs, prepares payments, inspects and receives keys; these roles need not belong to one person. Request documentary confirmation after each stage. Even with full support, you should understand final contracts and payment approvals. Distance is not a reason to abandon a clear decision trail.

7. Timeline: indicative durations and dependencies

These stages do not form a simple total: some overlap, while others depend on earlier results. Missing finance, unresolved encumbrances or an incomplete power of attorney can delay transfer. Ask for dependencies and responsible people, not just a target date. For off-plan, distinguish contractual completion, official approvals, handover readiness and your own move. Avoid ending a tenancy or booking relocation solely on a non-binding sales forecast.

8. Handover, snagging and beyond

Snagging is a structured technical and visual inspection. Record visible defects with photographs and a clear schedule covering finishes, doors, windows, plumbing, cooling and agreed fittings. Use an independent inspector where appropriate. A polished handover presentation does not replace functional checks. Record responsibility for repairs, expected updates and any follow-up inspection. Understand the legal and practical effect of acceptance forms before signing.

Then check keys, access cards, meter readings, operating instructions and documentation. Arrange insurance, utilities and, where needed, furnishing and letting. A tenanted unit requires an orderly transfer of contacts, payment information and records. After-sales services also cover rental, furnishing, resale and Golden Visa support. Completion should mark a controlled transition into operation, with clear responsibility for the remaining tasks, rather than simply a photograph at the door.