Yes, Sobha Realty has been operating in the real estate market since 1976. Throughout its history, the company has built and sold many properties in various countries including the UAE, China, India, Oman, and others. The main focus of the company is on building premium apartments, villas, and townhouses. The developer also offers land plots for sale. All properties are known for their high quality, which plays a key role in ensuring a comfortable living experience.

The first thing to consider is the territorial restriction, and the second is that property can only be purchased from government-approved developers and real estate agents. A residence visa is not mandatory.

The categories of real estate that are available for foreign investors to purchase are:

Freehold
Ownership with full rights, where the buyer has complete control and can do whatever they wish with the property, including selling, renting, gifting, or bequeathing it to heirs. There is also property that is a part of a larger freehold development, which means the owner owns both the building and the land it sits on.
In Dubai, freehold includes 47 zones, including popular areas such as Dubai Marina, Business Bay, Jumeirah Village Circle, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Umm Hurair, Al Barsha, Emirates Hills, Jebel Ali, Al Gouz, and Ras Al Khor.

Leasehold
This is purchasing property on a leasehold basis. In the UAE, the maximum lease term for a property is 99 years. Upon the completion of the lease term, the lessee does not have any rights to the property and it is returned to the owner. The ownership right can be transferred to relatives or extended for a similar period by renewing the lease agreement.
The list of fees may include utilities, elevator replacement or repair, building facade repair, and so on. Popular areas for leasehold include residential towers in Business Bay, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, 1/JBR, residential tower in Jumeirah Beach Residence, Madinat Jumeirah, City of Arabia, and residential communities in DubaiLand.

UAE citizens, citizens of GCC countries, and companies wholly owned by them can purchase property anywhere within Dubai. Individuals who are not citizens of the UAE or GCC countries can have unconditional ownership rights (freehold) or leasehold for up to 99 years only in certain areas of Dubai listed in Regulation 3/2006 or in the free zones of the UAE.

Off-plan property is property that is currently under construction and is purchased for future use. It is often sold by developers and through trusted real estate agents.

The primary real estate market
This is a collection of transactions for the sale of new construction projects. In addition to developers and their representatives, territorial and local government authorities are involved in the sale of primary real estate.

Secondary housing
This is residential real estate (apartments, houses, rooms) that is registered as the property of private individuals. The sale of such properties is carried out by the owner, and during the transaction process, the ownership rights are transferred from the seller to the buyer. When purchasing from the owner, it may be possible to negotiate a lower price. When buying new construction projects, such an option is not available, and buyers can only rely on planned promotions from developers.

Below are the documents that will be required, depending on whether the buyer is an individual or a corporate entity. The list may be subject to change, so buyers are advised to consult with the Dubai Land Department before finalizing any transactions.

List of required documents for an individual:

buyer’s passport;
Emirates ID;
address verification;
contact information.
Required documents for corporate entities:

original certificate of company registration or trade license;
original Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company and their legal translation;
original activity certificate (not more than 3 months old);
copy of shareholders’ passports;
original resolution confirming the purchase;
original Power of Attorney;
passport of the authorized signatory.

The process of buying real estate includes 4 main legal steps that must be followed in Dubai:

Contract signing
Sale agreement signing
Application for a No Objection Certificate (NOC)
Transfer of ownership with the Dubai Land Department.

Secondary real estate market:

2% to 5% (+ VAT) of the apartment price – this is the agent’s commission.
You will have to pay from 500 to 10,000 AED (+ VAT) for a certificate that confirms that the developer has no objections.
Registration fee will cost 4000 AED (+ VAT) if the purchase price is above 500,000 AED and 2000 AED (+ VAT) if it is below 500,000 AED.
You will pay 4% of the purchase price to the Land Department for the transfer of ownership rights to you.
0.25% of the loan amount – this is the fee for registering a mortgage (if applicable).
For the Ownership Certificate – 580 AED.
In addition, fees for services provided or utility bills are also allowed.