Can foreigners buy property in Abu Dhabi? Yes, but the right you hold matters. Freehold, usufruct, musataha, and long-term lease are four different things, and buyers often mix them up. This guide from Gravity Real Estate explains each right, where foreigners can buy, what registration costs are, and how to check a plot first.
How does Abu Dhabi property law work for foreign buyers?
The base law is Law No. 19 of 2005 on Real Estate Ownership, amended by Law No. 13 of 2019 in April 2019. The amended text allows non-nationals to own and acquire all principal or collateral real rights in properties within investment areas, and to dispose of them in any way. Before the amendment, non-UAE nationals could own floors but not the land, and held usufruct for up to 99 years or musataha for up to 50 years, renewable.
Two rules protect every buyer: ownership and other real rights cannot be transferred without registration, and Law No. 3 of 2005 requires registration of leases longer than four years.
Freehold, usufruct or musataha: what is the difference?
Decision No. 25 of 2025 from the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) lists four property rights: the original ownership right, musataha, usufruct, and long-term lease.
- Freehold: Foreigners can hold freehold interests in land in certain investment areas for an unrestricted period. It is the only right with no expiry.
- Usufruct: A right to use another person’s property and exploit it while it stays as it is. It can be waived to a third party and lasts up to 99 years. It is a use right, not ownership.
- Musataha: Entitles the holder to build or plant on land owned by a third party. The maximum term is 50 years, renewable for a similar period by agreement.
- Long-term lease: A recognized right under the same decision. The UAE government portal describes the initial period as not less than 25 years, so always read the exact term in your contract.
Holders of usufruct or musataha over 10 years can dispose of the right, including by mortgage, without the owner’s permission.
Simply put: freehold means perpetual ownership. Usufruct and musataha are time-limited rights, not ownership.
What do you actually own in an Abu Dhabi community?
Each unit carries a contribution percentage. It gives the owner a share in the joint property, without original real rights to the land under the common parts. That share brings:
- A vote in owners’ committee elections
- A duty to pay service fees
- A share if the plan is terminated
A floor or compound plan can be terminated by owners holding at least 95% of the shares. Under Law No. 2 of 2025, owners’ committees replaced owners’ associations, and unpaid service fees can lead, after a 30-day notice, to a non-disposal entry against the unit.
Where can foreigners buy property in Abu Dhabi?
Only inside designated investment zones. Outside them, non-GCC and non-UAE nationals cannot acquire freehold, leasehold, or usufruct interests, whatever some online listings suggest.
ADREC approved 8 new investment zones in the first half of 2026, bringing the total to 50. Those zones attracted AED 75 billion in H1 2026, up 181% from AED 26.7 billion a year earlier. The 2019 list, which named Saadiyat, Yas and Reem among others, is now dated.
Our advice at Gravity Real Estate is simple: check the exact plot on ADREC’s interactive map before you pay any deposit.
How much does it cost to register property in Abu Dhabi?
- Sale fee: The current DARI service lists the property registration fee at 2% of the contract value. Abu Dhabi’s legislation allows a rate of 1% to 4%, generally divided equally between the buyer and seller unless otherwise agreed.
- Mortgage registration: 0.1% (1 per 1,000) of the mortgage value. DARI also lists an AED 450 electronic administrative services allowance, plus 5% VAT on that allowance.
- Long-term lease or usufruct registration: 1% of the consideration value.
Can you buy off-plan and get a mortgage in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Since February 2026, developers must register off-plan expressions of interest through ADREC’s Madhmoun platform, with funds held in a government-managed escrow account. A buyer who has paid 50% of the price can now arrange a mortgage during construction.
Does property qualify for the Golden Visa?
The real estate Golden Visa lasts 10 years and covers spouses and children. It requires property worth AED 2,000,000 or more, bought without a mortgage. Mortgages are allowed on higher-value property if the investor’s capital is at least AED 2 million. Official guidance doesn’t say whether usufruct or musataha holders qualify, so confirm with ADRO before relying on either.
What does the Abu Dhabi market look like in 2026?
Foreign direct investment in Abu Dhabi property reached AED 13.8 billion in H1 2026, more than all of 2025, with non-resident buyers from 116 nationalities. Off-plan deals made up 89% of the AED 70.4 billion in H1 residential sales value.
Buying in Abu Dhabi with Gravity Real Estate? Rules change quickly, and ownership terms differ from plot to plot. Speak to the Gravity Real Estate team before you reserve, and we will help you confirm the right, the zone, and the fees.
