Residency Status
Residency status is whether a party to a transaction is a UAE citizen, a UAE resident or a non-resident. It changes which identity documents DLD asks for.
Definition
DLD’s Property Sale Registration page asks for the Emirates ID of the seller and buyer, “Or a valid passport for non-resident foreigners”. On the Property Gift Registration page, UAE citizens prove family relationships with a marriage contract or the Family Book, while other applicants provide attested certificates.
What it shows — and what it does not
Residency status decides the identity and supporting documents; it does not decide who may own freehold property, which depends on nationality and the area under Law No. (7) of 2006.
Example
Illustrative example: a resident buyer uses an Emirates ID; a buyer living abroad uses a valid passport for the same sale.
Next step
See Non-resident and Resident.
Source: Property Sale Registration — Dubai Land Department · supports: Emirates ID or passport for non-resident foreigners · checked 11 October 2026
Source: Property Gift Registration — Dubai Land Department · supports: different relationship documents for UAE citizens · checked 11 October 2026
Related terms
Service: Conveyance services
Governance
- October 11, 2026
Maintenance: Updated for material UAE authority/trustee process changes and recurring user confusion. Method: Editorial Policy