You can buy Dubai property through a company, but only certain types of company are accepted by the Dubai Land Department (DLD), and it changes your tax position, financing options and Golden Visa eligibility. UAE mainland companies and Dubai free zone companies are generally accepted in freehold areas, and offshore companies registered in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) are consistently listed as eligible. The position for offshore and free zone companies from other emirates, such as RAK ICC or Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman free zones, has been inconsistent, and foreign companies face extra requirements, so confirm eligibility with the DLD before you commit.
This guide compares buying Dubai property through a company with buying in your own name: which structures are accepted, the tax, mortgages, the Golden Visa, succession and costs. It reflects published guidance and practice as of October 2026 and is general information, not legal or tax advice. Ownership rules have changed several times, so take advice on your own structure.
Which Companies Can Buy Dubai Property?
| Company type | Generally accepted by the DLD? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UAE mainland company | Yes, in freehold areas | The most widely recognised structure |
| Dubai free zone company (e.g. DMCC, JAFZA) | Generally yes, in freehold areas | A no-objection certificate from the free zone authority is usually required |
| JAFZA offshore company | Yes | Consistently listed as eligible since the DLD's 2011 restrictions |
| RAK ICC offshore company | Unclear | Published guidance has conflicted. Confirm with the DLD before buying |
| Free zone companies from other emirates | Often not accepted | Some legal guidance says the DLD does not currently accept them |
| Foreign company (incorporated abroad) | Possible, with extra steps | Usually needs attested corporate documents and, in some cases, a UAE presence |
Because these rules have shifted, legal guidance does not always agree. Law firm Al Tamimi & Co has written that the only offshore companies the DLD permits to own property in designated areas are those incorporated in JAFZA or DMCC. Always ask the DLD or a registration trustee to confirm your company type before you pay a deposit.
Own Name vs Company: The Key Differences
| Your own name | Through a company | |
|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | 4% | 4%, plus company documents and approvals |
| Corporate tax on rent | Individuals investing in property in their own name are generally outside corporate tax | The company is subject to corporate tax: 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000 |
| Free zone 0% rate | Not relevant | Income from residential property is generally not qualifying income for the free zone 0% rate |
| Mortgage | Widely available | Fewer lenders and stricter terms |
| Property Golden Visa | Available for property worth AED 2 million or more | Generally requires the property in your own name |
| Succession | Needs a registered will to avoid delays | Company shares pass under the company's rules, which can simplify succession |
| Selling | Transfer of the property | Can sometimes sell the company instead, subject to rules and fees |
| Running costs | Low | Licence renewal, accounting and tax filings every year |
Corporate Tax When a Company Owns Dubai Property
This is the biggest change for most investors. An individual who owns property in their own name, without needing a licence for it, is generally outside UAE corporate tax on the rent and the gain. Once a company owns the property, the rent and any gain on sale form part of the company's taxable income, taxed at 9% above the AED 375,000 threshold after expenses. Holding residential property in a free zone company does not usually help, because income from immovable property is generally not qualifying income for the 0% free zone rate. See our UAE corporate tax guide.
The company must also register for corporate tax, keep accounts and file returns, and may need to consider VAT on commercial property. See our guide to accounting and bookkeeping costs.
The Running Costs of Owning Property Through a Company
A company is not a one-off cost. Owning property through a company typically adds:
- Company setup and any free zone or authority approvals.
- An annual licence or registration renewal for as long as the company holds the property. See our guide to UAE licence renewal.
- Accounting and, in some cases, an audit every year.
- Corporate tax registration and annual returns, even if no tax is due.
- Banking: a corporate bank account to receive rent and pay service charges, which can be slower to open than a personal account.
For a single residential investment, these costs can outweigh the benefits. For a portfolio, a joint investment or commercial property, they are often worth it.
Mortgages and Selling When a Company Owns the Property
Mortgages: fewer UAE banks lend to companies for property, and those that do usually ask for more documents, personal guarantees from the owners and a lower loan-to-value than for individuals. If you need high borrowing, owning in your own name is usually easier.
Selling: a company can sell the property in the normal way, with the 4% DLD fee paid on the transfer. In some cases the owners sell the company itself instead, but buyers may be wary of taking on a company's history, and transfers of shares in property-owning companies can attract their own fees and checks. Plan the exit when you set up the structure.
When Buying Through a Company Makes Sense
- Several investors together: a company makes it easier to set out each person's share, decision rights and exit.
- Succession planning: transferring company shares can be simpler than transferring property titles after a death, if the company's documents are drafted well.
- Commercial property used by your business: an office or warehouse your own company uses is often naturally held by a company.
- A larger portfolio run as a business, where professional management and accounts are needed anyway.
When Your Own Name Is Usually Better
- One or two residential investments, where a company adds cost and corporate tax without much benefit.
- You want the Golden Visa through property.
- You need a mortgage on standard terms.
- You want simplicity: a registered will can deal with succession for individual owners. See what happens to Dubai property without a will.
How to Buy Dubai Property Through a Company
- Choose an eligible structure and confirm it with the DLD or a registration trustee.
- Set up the company, making sure its activities and articles allow it to own property. See our guide to free zone, mainland and offshore companies.
- Prepare corporate documents: licence or certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, a board resolution approving the purchase, an incumbency certificate and authorised signatory details. Documents from outside the UAE need attestation.
- Get any no-objection certificates, such as from the free zone authority.
- Sign the purchase documents through the authorised signatory, pay the deposit and complete the transfer.
- Register for corporate tax and set up accounts for the rental income.
Moving a property you already own into a company is usually treated as a new transfer, with another 4% DLD fee, so decide on the structure before you buy.
Questions to Answer Before You Choose
- How many properties will you hold, and for how long?
- Who owns them with you, and how should decisions and exits work?
- Do you need a mortgage or a Golden Visa from this purchase?
- Where are you tax resident, and how will your home country treat a UAE company?
- Who should inherit the property, and do you already have a registered will?
Get Advice on Your Structure
The right structure depends on how many properties you hold, who owns them with you, your tax residence, your succession plans and whether you want a Golden Visa. SMS Consulting sets up the company, coordinates the purchase and keeps the company compliant afterwards. See our guide to real estate transaction advisory or book a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. UAE mainland companies and Dubai free zone companies are generally accepted in freehold areas, and JAFZA offshore companies are consistently listed as eligible. Other offshore and out-of-Dubai free zone companies may not be, so confirm with the Dubai Land Department.
Published guidance has been inconsistent on RAK ICC companies. Confirm eligibility with the Dubai Land Department or a registration trustee before you commit.
Yes. A company is subject to UAE corporate tax at 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000. Individuals investing in property in their own name are generally outside corporate tax.
The property Golden Visa generally requires the property, worth at least AED 2 million, to be in your own name. Check the current rules before choosing a company structure.
Usually not. The 4% DLD fee is the same, and a company adds setup, licence, accounting and tax filing costs every year.
Yes, but it is usually treated as a new transfer with another 4% DLD fee, so it is best to decide on the structure before you buy.
Mainly for joint ownership between several investors, succession planning, commercial property used by their own business, or larger portfolios managed as a business.