Are you wondering if a foreigner can really buy a house in Dubai?
You want to understand if the rules are as clear and protective as those in Italy, or if there are gray areas?
Or maybe you wonder if investing in the Emirates is easier or more complex than buying a property in Italy?
Can foreigners buy property in the UAE?
Yes, a foreigner can buy a house in Dubai and the UAE, as long as the property is located in specifically authorized areas. The principle is simple: in certain areas, the state has decided to open the real estate market to international investors by offering full ownership. It is a different logic from that in Italy, where ownership is always allowed but often accompanied by complex bureaucracy, long lead times and interpretative uncertainties.
In Dubai, on the other hand, the rules are clear from the outset and the same for everyone.
What does it really mean to buy in a freehold zone?
The term freehold indicatesfull ownershipof the property and the land on which it stands. Basically, if you buy in a freehold zone, you are 100 percent owner, with no time limit. It is like buying a house in Italy with a notarial deed, transcription and full rights, but with an often more streamlined and rapid procedure. In Dubai, ownership is registered with the Dubai Land Department, somewhat like the Italian Conservatoria dei Registri Immobiliari, with significantly faster timelines and a very digitized system.
Differences with Italy between ownership, constraints and bureaucracy?
In Italy buying a property is a well-established right, but it often means dealing with complex urban planning checks, cadastral compliance, sanctions and timeframes that can stretch for months. In Dubai, the process is more standardized: the property or project must be approved before it is even put on the market. This does not eliminate risk, but it strongly reduces unpredictability. The real difference is not so much in the property, but in the clarity of the rules and the speed with which they are enforced.
There is a crucial aspect that many people tend to underestimate: in the United Arab Emirates, real estate regulations are not the same everywhere. Each emirate has its own rules, its own areas open to foreign buyers, and different procedures. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, for example, follow similar but not overlapping approaches. Understanding where you are investing is just as important as deciding to invest.
The added value of relying on Rema lies first and foremost in our specific knowledge of the different regulations, emirate by emirate.
Are there any limits or restrictions for non-residents?
Restrictions are not about nationality, but the area in which you are buying. Some areas are reserved exclusively for Emirati nationals, others have different formulas such as leasehold, similar to a long-term surface right. It is a bit like in Italy when it comes to landscape constraints or land uses: not everything can be purchased in the same way. The key point is to know exactly what you are buying before you sign.
Why compare with us before buying in Dubai
Understanding whether a purchase in Dubai is really comparable, or even easier, than one in Italy requires on-the-ground experience. At Rema we help Italian investors navigate freehold zones, property types and local procedures, translating a different system into something understandable and concrete. Our job is not to sell real estate, but to help you understand if that property makes sense for you, today and tomorrow.
A common sense tip for those investing from Italy
Never assume that what works in Italy works the same way in the Emirates, and vice versa. Each market has its own rules, balances and risks. The real smart investment is not choosing the right country, but understanding the context well before moving capital. Getting informed, comparing and being supported is always the soundest choice, especially when looking across borders.
