Desk research against primary sources, with the issuing authority linked where a page states an official fee, rule or deadline.
Buying property in Dubai is a significant transaction with excellent long-term prospects, but there are processes and protections unique to the UAE market that buyers must understand before committing. Dubai is genuinely buyer-friendly — the DLD's online systems, RERA broker licencing, and mandatory ESCROW accounts for off-plan developers provide strong protections. But uninformed buyers still make costly mistakes.
This checklist walks through the full buying process, from the first mortgage conversation through to key handover. It applies to both ready-to-move-in properties (secondary market) and off-plan purchases. The two processes differ significantly — off-plan items are marked accordingly.
Work through this list with your RERA-licensed broker and a UAE-qualified property lawyer for high-value transactions.
Dubai Property Buyer Checklist
30 items — tick as you go. Progress is saved in your browser.