Property ownership refers to the legal rights and responsibilities a person has over a property, whether residential, commercial or industrial. Dubai’s real estate market also has predefined property ownership types, defining who can own property, where and under what conditions. Learning about these types of ownership is necessary for the buyers to make an informed decision.
Let’s dive a little deeper into the types of property ownership in Dubai and elaborate on its pros and cons.
Different Types of Property Ownership in Dubai
If you are thinking of buying a property in Dubai, there are a few things that you must know, starting from the property ownership types. Being aware of ownership types will safeguard your rights as an owner, and also determine whether the purchase aligns without goals or not.
Following is the complete list of types of property ownership in Dubai.
Freehold
Freehold property ownership allows expats to fully own a property in Dubai, only in designated areas. The freehold property ownership was announced in 2002, which helped the Emirate’s real estate market to grow and thrive.
The Freehold property ownership is only offered for the properties located in the designated freehold property areas of Dubai. Some of the most popular areas like Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, JBR and Dubai Investment Park are freehold.
Leasehold
Similar to freehold, leasehold property ownership was announced at the start of the new millennium. The leasehold property ownership in Dubai allows the lessee to own a property for 99 years in the Emirates.
The lessee will only have rights over the structure and not the land. Moreover, the freeholder’s permission will be required for making any major changes in the building. A leasehold property can not be passed to heirs, it reverts to the freeholder, in such cases.
Lease to Own
The lease-to-own also known as rent-to-own property ownership allows tenants to lease properties and pay a percentage of their rent towards future property ownership. This type of ownership allows people to purchase their own property without financial assistance from banks and other institutes.
Jointly Owned
As evident from the name, the jointly owned properties allow 2 or more people to own a property. A property lease is issued under the name of 2 or more people along with their percentage of share by the Dubai Land Department (DLD).
To address the issues related to jointly owned properties, a new Law No. (6) of 2019 Regulating Jointly Owned Property in the Emirate of Dubai has been enforced by the government.
Usufruct
In usufruct property ownership, you can leverage all the property ownership rights for a specific period without owning the property. During this period, the property holder can rent or use the property for different commercial purposes, as mentioned in the agreement.
This type of property ownership in Dubai is common among expats and investors, in search of availing long-term benefits from the property without needing to own full ownership.
FAQs
Is Dubai freehold or leasehold?
In Dubai, both freehold and leasehold properties are available for sale.
What are the different types of title deeds in Dubai?
Freehold and leasehold are the two major types of title deeds in Dubai.
How to check if the property is freehold in Dubai?
You can check the freehold property through DLD’s website, ask the developer, check the title deed or seek assistance from real estate professionals. Here all the steps to check if a property is freehold in Dubai are elaborated in detail.
This was all about types of property ownership in Dubai. The varied ownership types aid in the convenience of buyers, adding to Dubai’s real estate market growth. The positive growth of the market results in higher returns, attracting investors from all across the globe. If you are also interested in availing of higher returns, browse through these properties for sale in Dubai, and buy your very own property for investment.
If you are new to the Emirate, here are some popular property types for investment in Dubai that can help you when purchasing investment units.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s property blog for more information on property investment in Dubai.
