---
title: "Freehold"
canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/freehold
markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/glossary/freehold.md
type: glossary-term
description: "Freehold is outright ownership of a property with no time limit; foreign nationals can hold it only in areas each emirate has designated for foreign ownership."
publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)"
language: en-GB
usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting."
---

# Freehold

> Freehold is outright ownership of a property with no time limit; foreign nationals can hold it only in areas each emirate has designated for foreign ownership.

Also known as: Freehold ownership, Designated area, Tamleek hurr.

## What Freehold means for a buyer

Freehold gives you ownership of the property, and a share of the land it stands on, for ever. You can sell it, let it, mortgage it and leave it in a will.

In Dubai, Law No. 7 of 2006 reserves property ownership for UAE and Gulf nationals except in areas the Ruler designates, where foreigners of any nationality, resident or not, can own freehold. Those designated areas now cover most of where overseas buyers look: Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay, Dubai Hills Estate, Jumeirah Village Circle and many more. In Abu Dhabi, foreign freehold ownership has been possible since 2019, but only inside an [investment zone](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/investment-zone) such as Yas Island or Saadiyat Island. Ras Al Khaimah likewise limits foreigners to designated projects, including Al Marjan Island.

UK buyers should note one difference. In England a flat is normally leasehold; in the UAE an apartment in a designated area is freehold, with the common parts co-owned and run under jointly owned property rules. There is no ground rent, but there are annual [service charges](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/service-charges).

Before you commit, confirm the tenure on the [title deed](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/title-deed) or project registration. A few communities marketed alongside freehold ones are [leasehold](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/leasehold) or [usufruct](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/usufruct). Freehold ownership does not by itself give you a right to live in the UAE; residency depends on a separate visa, such as the [property investor visa](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/property-investor-visa).

## Related terms

- [Leasehold](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/leasehold): Leasehold is the right to hold a property for a fixed term, up to 99 years in Dubai, after which it returns to the freeholder unless the lease is renewed.
- [Usufruct](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/usufruct): Usufruct is the right to use, occupy and earn income from a property owned by someone else for a fixed term of up to 99 years.
- [Investment zone (Abu Dhabi)](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/investment-zone): An investment zone is an area of Abu Dhabi designated by the government in which foreign nationals are permitted to own freehold property.
- [Title deed](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/title-deed): A title deed is the land registry's certificate of ownership for a completed property, issued by the Dubai Land Department or, in Abu Dhabi, through ADREC.
- [GCC nationals' ownership rights](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/gcc-ownership): UAE and GCC nationals, and companies wholly owned by them, may own property anywhere in Dubai; other foreigners may own only in the areas designated by the Ruler.

## In depth

- [Can foreigners buy property in the UAE? Ownership rules emirate by emirate](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/can-foreigners-buy-property-in-the-uae)


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Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/freehold. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.