Step 1: Confirm you can buy, and where
Foreign nationals can own property outright in designated freehold areas of Dubai. Ownership is registered with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) in the buyer's name. You do not need to be a UAE resident to buy, and you do not need to be in the country to complete most of the process.
Freehold versus leasehold. Freehold is outright ownership of the unit, registered with the DLD, with no expiry. Leasehold is a right to occupy for a fixed term set out in the lease, after which the property reverts to the freeholder. Most new developments marketed to overseas buyers are freehold, but check the status of any specific building before you commit. Al Sufouh, where The Biltmore Residences Sufouh stands, is a freehold area.
Step 2: Decide between off-plan and ready
Ready property exists, can be viewed, and can be occupied or let from the day of transfer. You pay the full price at transfer, in cash or with a mortgage.
Off-plan property is bought before completion, usually direct from the developer, on a payment plan spread across the construction period and sometimes beyond it. In 2025 off-plan accounted for about 70% of all Dubai sales (Dubai Land Department, full-year 2025, approximate), so it is the mainstream route rather than the exception.
The trade-off is simple. Off-plan spreads the cost and usually gives a wider choice of units, but you wait for handover and rely on the developer to finish. Ready property is immediate, but needs the full price up front. A project close to completion sits between the two. The Biltmore Residences Sufouh is approximately 90% built with handover scheduled for Q4 2026: a payment plan is available, and the wait is short.
Step 3: Budget the full cost, not just the price
The price is the largest number but not the only one. This is the full stack for a purchase in Dubai.
| Item | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | Developer or seller | As agreed |
| DLD transfer fee | Dubai Land Department | 4% of price |
| DLD administrative charges | Dubai Land Department | Roughly AED 4,700 to 5,500 |
| Developer NOC fee | Developer | Applies to some transfers, typically resales; ask |
| Agency commission | Agent, if one is involved | Agree it in writing before signing |
| Service charge | Building management, yearly | Per sq ft, set each year |
Worked example. On an AED 2,000,000 property, the 4% DLD transfer fee is AED 80,000 and administrative charges are roughly AED 4,700 to 5,500, so budget about AED 85,000 in government fees. That is before any developer NOC fee or agency commission.
On the 2 bedroom starting price at The Biltmore Residences Sufouh, AED 3,093,000, the 4% fee is AED 123,720 plus administrative charges, so roughly AED 129,000. These are illustrative calculations on published figures; the sales team will give you an exact figure for a specific unit.
Step 4: Understand the protections for off-plan buyers
Two mechanisms matter; be able to name both before you pay anything.
Escrow. Money paid for off-plan property in Dubai goes into a project escrow account regulated by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), not into the developer's general funds. The account is tied to the project. This is the core protection against a developer collecting deposits and not building.
Oqood. Off-plan purchases are registered with the DLD through an Oqood certificate, which records your interest in the unit before a title deed exists. On completion, the registration is converted into a title deed in your name.
Before paying, ask for the project's escrow account details and confirm your payment goes into it. Ask for the Oqood certificate once the sales agreement is signed and the initial payment made. Keep both documents; you will need them for a Golden Visa application and for any resale.
Step 5: Read the payment plan properly
A payment plan is the schedule on which the price is paid. The percentages matter, and so does what triggers each one. Plans that push a large share past handover are called post-handover plans; they let the buyer occupy or let the unit while still paying for it.
The plan at The Biltmore Residences Sufouh is 20 / 10 / 10 / 60. The amounts below are arithmetic on the published 2 bedroom starting price.
| Stage | Share | On AED 3,093,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | 20% | AED 618,600 |
| During construction | 10% | AED 309,300 |
| On handover (Q4 2026) | 10% | AED 309,300 |
| After handover: eight instalments of 7.5%, every six months, over four years | 60% | AED 1,855,800 (8 × AED 231,975) |
| Total | 100% | AED 3,093,000 |
So a buyer has paid 40% by the time they receive the keys, and pays the remaining 60% over the four years that follow, while the unit can already be lived in or let. The exact schedule for a specific unit is set out in the sales agreement.
Questions to ask about any plan: what triggers each payment (a date, or a construction milestone), what happens if a payment is late, and how the post-handover instalments are documented. Get the answers in writing.
Step 6: Buy without flying in
Most of the process can be done remotely. In outline:
- Enquiry and shortlist. Request floor plans, availability and the payment plan; video calls and recorded walkthroughs stand in for a site visit.
- Reservation. A reservation form and the booking payment hold a specific unit. You will be asked for a passport copy and the identification details the developer requires.
- Sales agreement. The sales and purchase agreement sets out the price, the payment plan, the specification and the handover date. Read it, or have a lawyer read it, before you sign.
- Registration. The developer registers the sale with the DLD (Oqood for off-plan). Your payments go to the escrow account.
- Handover and title. At completion you pay the handover instalment, take the keys and receive the title deed.
Power of attorney. If a step requires a signature or presence in Dubai and you cannot travel, you can appoint a representative under a power of attorney. One executed outside the UAE will normally need to be notarised and then attested to be recognised in Dubai. Requirements vary by country and change over time, so ask the sales team what they will accept and confirm the current attestation process before relying on it.
The sales team at The Biltmore Residences Sufouh, on +971 52 469 1088 and sales@biltmore-sufouh.com, works with overseas buyers and can walk you through each document.
Step 7: Budget for service charges
Every building in Dubai levies an annual service charge for maintenance, staff, security and shared amenities, quoted per square foot and set each year. At The Biltmore Residences Sufouh it is 24 to 26 AED per sq ft: roughly AED 30,000 to 33,000 a year for the 1,266 sq ft 2 bedroom at current rates. Build it into any yield calculation. The city-wide average gross apartment yield of approximately 7.0% (Dubai Land Department, full-year 2025) is before service charges and every other cost; the Why Dubai page explains gross versus net.
Step 8: The Golden Visa route in full
Property ownership can support a 10-year renewable UAE residence visa. The main points, as set by the DLD and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA):
- Minimum property value AED 2 million. Multiple properties can be combined to reach the threshold.
- The threshold was reduced from AED 10 million, then AED 5 million, and has been AED 2 million since October 2022.
- Ready property qualifies when wholly owned and registered with the DLD.
- Off-plan property qualifies through a valid Oqood certificate from a DLD-registered developer. The payment-stage requirement has changed recently; confirm the current position directly with the DLD before applying.
- Mortgaged property is accepted, subject to a no-objection certificate from the bank.
- The visa is tied to keeping the qualifying investment.
- Holders can sponsor a spouse and children under standard UAE family sponsorship rules.
- Holders are exempt from the standard 180-day absence rule.
- Real estate is the most used route into the programme: over 65% of 2025 applications came through property.
At AED 3,093,000, the 2 bedroom residences at The Biltmore Residences Sufouh are above the AED 2 million threshold. That is an observation about the price, not a promise of a visa; eligibility depends on the applicant and the rules in force when they apply. This is general information, not immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy property in Dubai without living there?
Yes. Foreign nationals can own property outright in Dubai's designated freehold areas; residency is not a condition of ownership. Title is registered with the Dubai Land Department in the buyer's name.
What are the government fees when buying property in Dubai?
A Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4% of the price plus administrative charges of roughly AED 4,700 to 5,500: about AED 85,000 on an AED 2,000,000 property, before any developer NOC fee or agency commission. Confirm current figures with the DLD.
Is there property tax or capital gains tax in Dubai?
No. Dubai has no annual property tax, no capital gains tax on property for individuals and no personal income tax. Your home country may still tax your worldwide income or gains.
What is an Oqood certificate?
The Dubai Land Department's registration of an off-plan purchase. It records the buyer's interest in a unit before the title deed exists, is converted into a title deed on completion, and supports a Golden Visa application on off-plan property.
Where does my money go when I buy off-plan in Dubai?
Into a project escrow account regulated by RERA, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, rather than the developer's general funds. Ask for the escrow account details before paying and confirm each payment goes to it.
How does a post-handover payment plan work?
Part of the price is paid after you receive the keys. At The Biltmore Residences Sufouh the plan is 20% on booking, 10% during construction, 10% on handover in Q4 2026 and 60% after handover, paid as eight instalments of 7.5% every six months over four years.
Can I buy property in Dubai without visiting?
Yes. Enquiry, reservation, the sales agreement and registration can be handled remotely, and a representative can act for you under a notarised and attested power of attorney. Confirm current document requirements with the developer first.
How much property do I need to own for a Dubai Golden Visa?
A minimum of AED 2 million, per the Dubai Land Department and the GDRFA, which can be spread across more than one property. Ready property must be wholly owned and registered; off-plan needs a valid Oqood certificate from a DLD-registered developer, with the payment-stage requirement confirmed with the DLD. General information, not immigration advice.
Does a mortgaged property qualify for the Golden Visa?
Yes, subject to a no-objection certificate from the bank. Confirm the current requirements with the Dubai Land Department before applying.
What are service charges in Dubai and how much are they?
An annual charge per square foot for maintenance, staff and shared amenities, set each year by the building. At The Biltmore Residences Sufouh it is 24 to 26 AED per sq ft, roughly AED 30,000 to 33,000 a year for a 1,266 sq ft 2 bedroom.
Next step
To see how these steps apply to a specific unit, ask the sales team for floor plans, the payment plan, the escrow and registration details and current availability at The Biltmore Residences Sufouh. Related reading: why overseas buyers choose Dubai, what to check about the developer, and the Al Sufouh area guide.