Guide · Buying
Buying property in Dubai: the process from preparation to transfer
Buying a Dubai property involves decisions before the transfer appointment: your budget and finance, the property and seller, the agreed terms, and who will coordinate completion. This guide sets out the stages and the questions to settle before you commit.
Start by identifying the kind of purchase. A ready-property resale, a resale of an off-plan interest and a first purchase from a developer have different dependencies. This page explains how to prepare for the purchase and find the detailed guidance for your route.
Establish the budget and funding position
Keep the purchase price separate from the other amounts you may need. Build a cost list covering registration, the relevant trustee service, agreed agency and conveyancing services, and any applicable developer, lender, valuation or representation costs. Record which amounts are confirmed and who has agreed to pay them.
If you are using a mortgage, obtain the lender’s current requirements and understand which decisions remain conditional. A preliminary lending indication does not settle every question about the chosen property or the timing of the purchase. Ask who will coordinate the lender’s requirements with the other parties.
Use the property-transfer cost calculator as a preparation aid. It separates supported reference calculations from amounts you supply and items still to confirm.
Identify the property and check the transaction route
Establish what is being sold, how ownership or the relevant off-plan interest is recorded, and whether the person dealing with you has authority to act. Check the identifiers against the actual documents and official verification route where available. A copy of a document and a satisfactory review of a transaction are different things.
Ask about any mortgage, developer requirements, outstanding clearances and the intended representation at completion. If a representative will act, check the required authority with the receiving parties before relying on it.
Our ownership and status checks guide explains the preparation questions. For an off-plan resale, use the secondary off-plan resale guide to examine the developer and payment dependencies.
Make the agreed terms clear before signing
Before accepting the agreement, understand the price, deposit arrangements, proposed completion date, dependencies and each party’s responsibilities. Raise unclear payment or fee provisions before signing. Obtain appropriate professional advice where the contractual consequences are uncertain.
Be specific about any conveyancing or sales-progression charge. Identify the provider, the work included, the fee, the payer and the appointment terms. If a broker proposes an in-house service, settle whether you are choosing that service and what you are agreeing to pay. Do not assume a label on a fee line explains the full arrangement.
Use the Form F and MOU guide alongside the actual agreement. A general guide cannot determine the effect of a clause in your particular contract.
Choose the transfer route and agree the coordination scope
For a standard sale, the seller’s mortgage position and the buyer’s funding position help identify the relevant coordination route. A non-standard ownership structure, a gift or another special circumstance may need review before a published package applies.
Review Conveyance’s services and fees and scope. Conveyance coordinates the agreed transfer work; the relevant bank, developer and registration authority retain their own decisions and requirements. Property finding, lending approval and negotiation of the sale are separate responsibilities.
Prepare documents and payment instructions
Organise the current ownership record, identity and authority documents, agreement and the route-specific bank or developer material. Record each outstanding item, the party responsible and what it prevents from moving forward. Confirm requirements with the parties receiving the documents rather than relying on an old checklist alone.
Keep the service appointment separate from purchase-money settlement. Confirm the payment instrument, payee and sequence through the relevant bank and registration process. Conveyance does not hold the purchase money. Read the transfer fees and payment methods guide for preparation questions.
Complete the applicable registration and retain the records
The route determines the appointment and registration steps and the resulting property record. Confirm readiness before treating a proposed appointment as a completed transfer. Retain the applicable registration output, receipts and completion records, then address any agreed handover or post-transfer items.
The transfer process explains how the coordination stages fit together. A transaction-specific checklist should identify what still needs confirmation for your file.
Questions buyers ask
Can I choose Conveyance before signing the sale agreement?
You can discuss the proposed transaction and the coordination scope before committing to an appointment. Settle the provider, fee and responsibilities alongside the agreement and other appointments.
Do I have to speak to someone before paying?
For a supported standard service, you can read the scope and use the secure online checkout. You can also discuss your transfer on WhatsApp. If the desk agrees a fee for your case, it can send a secure Ziina payment link. A route requiring review should be discussed before selecting a standard package.
Does paying the service fee complete the purchase?
Payment appoints Conveyance to the agreed service. Completion still depends on the applicable transaction, document, payment and registration requirements.
Prepare your purchase
Use the route finder to identify a supported transfer service, or discuss the transaction on WhatsApp if you need help identifying the scope. You can review the process and tools before making an appointment.