Buying property in Dubai step by step: contracts A, B and F, the NOC and the title deed

Published 9 November 2026 · 6 min read

Buying a home in Dubai follows a clear, regulated sequence. Every transaction ends at the Dubai Land Department (DLD), which describes itself as the only body legally authorised to register real estate transactions in the emirate. Knowing each step in advance helps you see where your money and your documents are at any moment.

Before you start: where foreigners can buy

Foreign buyers, resident or not, may own property in the areas designated as freehold, under Regulation No. 3 of 2006 on the areas where non-nationals may own real property in Dubai. Title deeds are issued by the Land Department, and the official UAE portal notes that there is no age limit for owning property in Dubai.

Step 1: work with a licensed broker

Under DLD rules, a real estate broker must be entered in the brokers register and hold a broker card from the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA). You can look up licensed brokers and licensed brokerage companies yourself on the DLD website or in the Dubai REST app before you share any personal details.

Step 2: the marketing and buyer agreements (contracts A and B)

RERA requires brokers to use its standard smart contracts for marketing and sales. Two of them come before any offer is accepted:

• Contract A: the agreement between the seller and the brokerage to market the property.
• Contract B: the agreement between the buyer and the broker recording the buyer's wish to purchase.

Step 3: the sale agreement (contract F)

Once price and terms are agreed, buyer and seller sign Contract F, RERA's agreement to sell a property between the two parties. It is the document that records what each side has committed to, so read the payment terms, the transfer date and the consequences of withdrawal carefully before signing. If a dispute arises over Contract F, RERA offers an amicable settlement service through the Trakheesi system; if no settlement is reached, the parties go to the courts.

Step 4: the developer's no-objection certificate

For property in freehold areas, DLD asks for an electronic no-objection certificate (e-NOC) from the developer, obtained through the Dubai REST app. DLD also confirms that an off-plan unit can be resold before handover only after a no-objection certificate from the developer.

Step 5: transfer at a registration trustee office

Sales are registered through Real Estate Registration Trustee offices, which act for DLD. In outline, the procedure runs as follows:

1. The parties, or their legal representatives, submit their documents for verification: Emirates ID for residents, or a valid passport for non-resident foreigners, plus the developer's e-NOC.
2. A trustee employee enters and audits the transaction data.
3. The registration fees are paid and a receipt is issued.
4. The buyer's details are entered and the request is submitted to DLD.

If the property is still mortgaged, DLD handles the case through a separate service for registering the sale of a mortgaged property, so tell your broker early.

Step 6: the electronic title deed

When registration is complete, DLD issues an electronic title deed and an electronic map of the property in the buyer's name.

The fully digital option

DLD also offers a buy-and-sell service through Dubai Now. It is limited to individuals holding a UAE ID, to subdivided units such as apartments, offices and townhouses in freehold areas, and to properties free of mortgages and restrictions. The sale agreement is generated and signed digitally, and the price and fees pass through an escrow account.

Buying from abroad

If you sign through a representative, a power of attorney issued outside the UAE generally has to go through attestation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks for documents in Arabic or English or with a legally certified translation. Plan this early so it does not hold up the transfer date.