- Transfer fee
- 3%
Illustrative image
Ajman in brief
A small coastal emirate next to Sharjah where foreigners have been able to own property in areas designated by the Ruler since 2008. Registration costs a foreign buyer 3% of the price, set by Ajman's land department.
What it costs to buy in Ajman
Government fees on top of the price, set by Ajman Land Department. Work out your own figures in the calculator.
- Registration or transfer fee
- 3%
- Mortgage registration
- 0.25% of the loan
- Fees on an AED 2m off-plan home
- about AED 60,000
- Regulator
- Ajman Land Department
New developments in Ajman
No Ajman developments are listed at the moment
An adviser can send the current launches in Ajman with prices, payment plans and handover dates.
Who can own what
Where foreigners can buy. Under Amiri Decrees No. 7 and No. 8 of 2008, UAE and GCC nationals, companies wholly owned by them and public joint stock companies may own freehold property in Ajman. Other foreign buyers and developers may own freehold land and property, or take a renewable 50-year lease, only in areas designated by the Ruler (Gulf News, June 2008). A law issued in April 2025 again ties its provisions to areas designated by the Ruler by special decree.
Which areas. Bayut's guide, updated 15 October 2026, names Al Nuaimiya Towers, Ajman One, Emirates City, Al Rashidiya Towers, Corniche Residence, Ajman Pearl Towers, Ajman Uptown and Horizon Towers, and says the list is not exhaustive. The list comes from a property portal, not from an official register of designated areas, so ask the developer to confirm in writing that the project is in a designated area and that you will receive freehold title.
Registration and fees. The Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation registers the sale. Its service page, last updated 11 November 2026, sets the fee at:
- 3% of the price, minimum AED 3,000, for a non-citizen buyer, borne by the buyer
- 2%, minimum AED 2,500, for UAE and GCC citizens
- AED 350 for the title deed, ownership certificate or initial registration certificate
The same page lists a separate ownership fee for non-residents, calculated on the land area and its use, with a minimum of AED 10,000. The page does not state clearly who this fee applies to, so ask the department or your conveyancer whether it applies to your purchase. For a completed unit, the department asks for a clearance certificate or no-objection letter from the developer.
Off-plan purchases. This page does not set out Ajman's rules on off-plan sales or escrow accounts. Before paying a deposit, ask for the project's registration with the department and the escrow account your payments will go into.
Residency. Residence visas linked to property are federal. Property worth AED 2 million or more can support an application for the 10-year Golden Visa, but the authorities decide eligibility for each purchase.
The case for Ajman
- Foreign buyers can own freehold in areas designated by the Ruler, under decrees in force since 2008.
- A published registration fee: 3% of the price for non-citizens, minimum AED 3,000, plus AED 350 for the title deed.
- One body, the Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, registers sales and issues title deeds.
- On the Gulf coast, bordering Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.
What to weigh
- The list of areas open to foreign ownership comes from a property portal, not an official register. Get the project's status confirmed in writing.
- The 3% fee for foreign buyers is higher than Abu Dhabi's 2% and only one point below Dubai's 4%.
- A separate non-resident ownership fee, minimum AED 10,000, appears on the official fee page; its wording is unclear, so ask whether it applies.
- This page does not cover Ajman's off-plan and escrow rules. Ask for the escrow account and the project's registration before paying anything.
- No Ajman developments are listed on this site yet, and the page gives no dated price, rent or yield figures for the emirate.
Investing in Ajman property
Ajman sits on the Gulf coast between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain and is the smallest of the seven emirates by area. It opened its property market to foreign buyers in 2008, when Amiri Decrees No. 7 and No. 8 allowed non-GCC buyers and developers to own freehold land and property in areas designated by the Ruler, as Gulf News reported at the time.
The rules have been updated since. In April 2025 the Ruler of Ajman issued a new real estate law aimed, in The National's report, at attracting investment, protecting investors' rights and improving transparency. Its provisions apply to property in areas the Ruler designates by special decree, including buildings under construction and dilapidated buildings being rebuilt. The report does not give the law's number.
Who registers what. Every sale is registered with the Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation, which also issues the title deed. The department's own site describes it as the legal successor to the former Land Department and the Ajman Real Estate Regulatory Agency (ARRA). Its published fee for a sale is 3% of the price for a non-citizen buyer, with a minimum of AED 3,000, against 2% in Abu Dhabi and 4% in Dubai.
What we cover. No Ajman developments are listed on this site at the moment, and the page gives no price, rent or yield figures: we publish market figures only with a dated source. An adviser can send current launches on request, with the developer's registration and escrow details checked before you commit.
Read these before you buy
Buying in Ajman: questions we're asked
Can foreigners buy property in Ajman?
Yes, in areas designated by the Ruler. Amiri Decrees No. 7 and No. 8 of 2008 let non-GCC buyers own freehold land and property, or take a renewable 50-year lease, in those areas. UAE and GCC nationals can own more widely. Ask the developer to confirm in writing that the project is in a designated area.
What is the property registration fee in Ajman?
The Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation charges a non-citizen buyer 3% of the price, with a minimum of AED 3,000, and lists it as borne by the buyer. UAE and GCC citizens pay 2%, minimum AED 2,500. The title deed or initial registration certificate costs AED 350 (service page last updated 11 November 2026).
Who regulates property in Ajman?
The Ajman Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation. It registers sales and long-term leases and issues title deeds, and its own site describes it as the legal successor to the former Land Department and the Ajman Real Estate Regulatory Agency (ARRA). Dubai's Land Department and its Oqood register play no part in Ajman.
Does buying in Ajman qualify for a Golden Visa?
Residence through property is a federal matter. Property worth AED 2 million or more can support an application for the 10-year Golden Visa, but the authorities decide each case, so treat a developer's statement that a home qualifies as marketing until it is confirmed. Our Golden Visa guide explains the route.
Which areas of Ajman are freehold?
Bayut's guide, updated 15 October 2026, names Al Nuaimiya Towers, Ajman One, Emirates City, Al Rashidiya Towers, Corniche Residence, Ajman Pearl Towers, Ajman Uptown and Horizon Towers, and says the list is not exhaustive. It is a portal's list rather than an official register, so ask the developer to confirm a project's status in writing.
Looking at Ajman?
Tell us your budget and purpose, and we'll shortlist the developments that fit.
- Current price list and availability, direct from the developer
- No fee to you on off-plan purchases: the developer pays us
- One salaried adviser, not on commission, from first call to handover
