---
title: "Selling property in Dubai: the process, seller costs and how to sell as a non-resident"
canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/selling-property-in-dubai
markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/guides/selling-property-in-dubai.md
type: guide
description: "How to sell a completed property in Dubai, including from abroad: Form A, the developer NOC, clearing a mortgage, tenants, power of attorney, transfer day, costs and tax."
published: 2026-11-12
updated: 2026-11-13
sources: 17
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."
---

# Selling property in Dubai: the process, seller costs and how to sell as a non-resident

> How to sell a completed property in Dubai, including from abroad: Form A, the developer NOC, clearing a mortgage, tenants, power of attorney, transfer day, costs and tax.

By Omnia's editorial team. Investing. Published 12 November 2026, last reviewed 13 November 2026.

## The short version

- A Dubai resale completes in one appointment at a registration trustee office; the Land Department puts the transfer itself at 20 minutes once documents and cheques are in order.
- Non-residents can sell on a passport, in person or through an attorney; a power of attorney for a sale is accepted for two years from notarisation.
- The seller's main costs are the listing agent's commission, the developer's NOC and, if mortgaged, the bank's early settlement charge and the release fee; the buyer customarily pays the 4% transfer fee.
- A mortgaged property can be sold without paying the loan off first: the buyer's manager's cheque settles the bank at transfer, and the release follows.
- The UAE does not tax an individual's gain on sale, but your country of residence may, so check before you agree a price.

Selling a completed property in Dubai takes one appointment at a Dubai Land Department (DLD) registration trustee office, after some weeks of preparation. You agree a price with a buyer in the standard sale contract, Form F, obtain the developer's no-objection certificate (NOC) and, if you have a mortgage, a liability letter from your bank; on transfer day the buyer pays by manager's cheque, your bank is settled from the proceeds and a new title deed is issued in the buyer's name. Non-residents can do all of this on a passport, in person or through an attorney. The UAE does not tax an individual's gain, though your home country may. This guide covers ready property; if your unit is not yet complete, read [selling off-plan property before handover](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/selling-off-plan-property-before-handover). It is general information, not legal or tax advice.

## Can a non-resident sell property in Dubai?

Yes, with no more paperwork than a resident. The DLD's sale registration page (checked 12 November 2026) asks for an Emirates ID from each party, or a valid passport for non-resident foreigners, and the developer's e-NOC for freehold areas. Nothing in the process requires the seller to live in the UAE.

You have two ways to complete:

- **In person.** Fly in for the transfer appointment. It is short, but the date depends on the buyer's bank and the NOC, so it can move.
- **Through an attorney.** The DLD's FAQ says a duly legalised power of attorney allows the attorney to deal with your property within its stated limits, and that a power used for a sale is valid for two years from notarisation. A document signed abroad must be ratified before the DLD will accept it. See the section on selling through a power of attorney below.

The practical question for a non-resident is the money. Proceeds are paid by manager's cheque, so decide in advance whether you, your attorney or a conveyancer will bank it, and in which account.

## How does selling a property in Dubai work, step by step?

1. **Price it.** Compare recent sales in your building and community; our [area prices data](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/data/area-prices) shows published figures by area. The DLD also offers a formal [valuation](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/valuation) service.
2. **Appoint a broker, or sell privately.** A broker markets your home under [Form A](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/form-a), RERA's listing agreement. The DLD's ad permit page requires a broker to provide a marketing contract with the owner before a [Trakheesi](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/trakheesi) advertising permit is issued. Read [choosing a property agent in Dubai](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/choosing-a-property-agent-in-dubai) before signing.
3. **Agree terms in Form F.** The buyer, you and the brokers sign [Form F](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/mou-form-f), which fixes the price, deposit, transfer date and who pays which fee. The buyer usually lodges a security deposit cheque with the broker.
4. **Clear the property.** Settle service charges, obtain the developer's [NOC](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/noc) through [Dubai REST](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dubai-rest), and if mortgaged, ask your bank for a liability letter.
5. **Transfer.** Attend the [trustee office](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/trustee-office), or send your attorney, with ID and the documents. The cheques are exchanged and the title deed issued.
6. **Close your accounts.** Move out of DEWA, settle the final service charge and hand over keys and access cards.

## What does it cost to sell property in Dubai?

The buyer customarily pays the 4% transfer fee, so a seller's costs are modest unless there is a mortgage.

| Cost | Amount | Usually paid by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DLD transfer fee | 4% of the price; the DLD lists 2% from the seller and 2% from the buyer | Buyer in practice, unless Form F says otherwise | DLD sale registration page, checked 12 November 2026 |
| Listing agent's commission | Set by agreement in Form A; commonly quoted at 2% plus 5% VAT | Seller, for their own agent | DLD FAQ; Binghatti, 26 July 2026 |
| Developer NOC | AED 500 to AED 5,000 plus VAT, depending on the developer | Seller | Property Finder, 3 July 2026 |
| Trustee office fee | AED 4,000 plus VAT at AED 500,000 or more; AED 2,000 plus VAT below | By agreement; usually the buyer | DLD sale registration page |
| Mortgage early settlement | 1% of the balance or AED 10,000, whichever is lower, plus VAT | Seller | HSBC UAE terms; see [non-resident mortgages](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/non-resident-mortgages-uae) |
| DLD mortgage release | AED 1,290 plus a AED 315 registrar fee | Seller | DLD mortgaged-sale page, checked 12 November 2026 |

**Example.** On an AED 2 million apartment with a AED 900,000 mortgage, a seller paying their agent 2% plus VAT (AED 42,000), an NOC of AED 5,000 plus VAT (AED 5,250), an early settlement charge of 1% of the balance plus VAT (AED 9,450, below the AED 10,000 cap) and AED 1,605 in release fees would spend AED 58,305, or about 2.9% of the price. Without a mortgage the figure falls to AED 47,250. In Abu Dhabi, broker commission on a sale is capped at 2% of the price and AED 500,000 under Resolution No. 183 of 2017.

## How do you sell a mortgaged property in Dubai?

You do not need to repay the loan before you sell. The DLD runs a specific procedure for it, described on its page for registering the sale of a mortgaged property (checked 12 November 2026).

1. **Ask your bank for a liability letter** stating the amount needed to clear the loan on the transfer date. Allow for interest to that date and the early settlement charge.
2. **Make sure the buyer brings three manager's cheques:** one to your bank or developer for the debt, one to you for the balance, and one to the Land Department for the fee.
3. **At the trustee office**, the transaction is entered and the fees paid. Afterwards, the seller receives the bank's cheque to take to the bank in exchange for the mortgage release certificate.
4. **Submit the release letter.** The DLD says the registration of the release, the sale and any new mortgage for the buyer is completed once it is submitted.

The DLD's FAQ adds that a mortgagor may not deal with the mortgaged property without the bank's consent, so tell your bank early. If the buyer is also borrowing, their bank's [mortgage registration](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/mortgage-registration) is handled at the same appointment. Ask your bank how long the release letter takes, because the buyer's lawyer will.

## What happens on transfer day at the trustee office?

The appointment confirms a deal already agreed. The DLD gives the expected completion time for the registration as 20 minutes on its sale registration page, and its FAQ says it takes an average of 30 minutes if all documents are available.

Bring, or make sure your attorney brings:

- your passport or Emirates ID (the DLD verifies identity and takes no copy)
- the developer's e-NOC, and the bank's liability letter if mortgaged
- the attested power of attorney, if someone is acting for you
- the signed Form F

The trustee checks the documents, enters the transaction, collects the fees and issues an electronic title deed in the buyer's name. The commonest cause of delay is a cheque made out to the wrong payee or for the wrong amount, so ask the trustee office or both brokers to confirm the payee names in writing the day before.

After transfer, close your electricity and water account. DEWA's move-in page says an owner's security deposit is refunded only when the property is sold, so claim it.

## Can you sell a property with a tenant in it?

Yes, and many investors prefer to buy a home that is already let. Article 28 of Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 says a transfer of ownership to a new owner does not affect the tenant's rights under a fixed-term lease. The buyer takes over the lease, the rent and the obligations that go with it, including the [tenant's deposit](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/tenant-deposit), so agree in Form F how the deposit and any rent paid in advance will be credited.

If you need the property empty, the rules are strict. Law No. 33 of 2008 amended Article 25 so that a landlord may seek eviction at the end of the lease because the owner wishes to sell, but must give at least 12 months' notice through a notary public or by registered mail. The DLD's FAQ adds that the landlord must be able to show the sale is genuine. In practice that means a sale with vacant possession needs planning a year ahead.

Letting and its rules are covered in [renting out property in Dubai](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/renting-out-property-in-dubai). A tenant at a rent below today's market, protected by the [rental index](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/rental-index), affects what an investor will pay, so price accordingly.

## Can you sell through a power of attorney?

Yes. The DLD's FAQ says an attorney holding a duly legalised power of attorney may deal with the owner's property within its limits, and that a power for sale is valid for two years from notarisation (five years for a purchase). A power issued outside the UAE must be formally ratified before the DLD will accept it.

From most countries that means notarisation, legalisation in the country where it was signed, attestation by the UAE embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a legal Arabic translation. Allow several weeks. Signing before a notary in the UAE on a visit is quicker. See [power of attorney](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/power-of-attorney) and [attestation](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/attestation).

Draft it narrowly. It should name the property, authorise the specific acts needed (signing Form F, applying for the NOC, dealing with the bank, attending the transfer) and say how the proceeds are to be paid, preferably by manager's cheque in your own name. Give it to someone who is not paid by the buyer. A general power over all your assets is unnecessary.

## Do you pay capital gains tax when you sell Dubai property?

Not in the UAE. PwC's tax summary, reviewed on 9 September 2026, records no capital gains tax for individuals in the UAE. There is no exit fee for the seller beyond the costs above.

Your home country is another matter. Most countries tax residents on worldwide gains, and a sale in Dubai is no exception. Read the guide for where you are tax resident before agreeing a price, because the after-tax figure is the one that matters:

- [UK tax on Dubai property](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/uk-tax-on-dubai-property)
- [US tax on Dubai property](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/us-tax-on-dubai-property)
- [Indian tax on Dubai property](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/indian-tax-on-dubai-property)
- [Canadian tax on Dubai property](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/canadian-tax-on-dubai-property)

Keep the records your tax authority will ask for: the original purchase contract, the DLD fee receipt, agents' invoices and the transfer documents. A property held through a company, or bought and sold as a business, may fall within UAE corporate tax instead. The [UAE property tax guide](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/uae-property-tax-guide) explains when. If your residence visa depends on the property, selling it removes that basis, so read the [investor visa guide](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/dubai-property-investor-visa) first.

## How quickly are Dubai properties selling in 2026?

More slowly than in 2025, although completed homes have held up better in recent months than the headline totals suggest.

| Measure | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Resales of completed homes, Q2 2026 | 8,512, down 59% year on year | betterhomes, 11 August 2026 |
| Resales as a share of all sales, Q3 2026 | 29% | betterhomes Q3 report, 15 October 2026 |
| Sales of completed homes, October 2026 | AED 10.1 billion, the highest month since March | Cavendish Maxwell, reported by Khaleej Times, 12 November 2026 |

Betterhomes noted that resale buyers react more quickly than off-plan buyers to changes in sentiment, which is consistent with the sharp fall in the second quarter after the regional conflict began. For a seller this means pricing against recent completed sales, not asking prices, and allowing for a buyer who needs a mortgage and therefore a bank valuation. The wider picture, including the large number of homes due to complete in 2027 and 2028, is in [is Dubai property a good investment](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/is-dubai-property-a-good-investment).

If you are selling an apartment in order to buy a villa or townhouse in Dubai, the order of the two transactions changes how much you can borrow; see [upsizing from an apartment to a villa](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/upsizing-from-apartment-to-villa-dubai).

## Questions and answers

### How do I sell my property in Dubai?

Appoint a licensed broker under the standard listing agreement, Form A, or find a buyer yourself; agree terms in the sale contract, Form F; obtain the developer's no-objection certificate through Dubai REST; obtain a liability letter from your bank if the property is mortgaged; then complete at a registration trustee office, where the buyer pays by manager's cheque and a new title deed is issued electronically.

### Can I sell my Dubai property while living abroad?

Yes. The Dubai Land Department accepts a valid passport in place of an Emirates ID for non-resident sellers. You can attend the transfer in person or appoint an attorney. A power of attorney signed outside the UAE must be legalised and attested before the Department will accept it, and one used for a sale is valid for two years from notarisation.

### What does it cost to sell a property in Dubai?

Mainly your listing agent's commission, which is set by agreement and commonly quoted at 2% plus VAT, and the developer's NOC fee, which Property Finder puts at AED 500 to AED 5,000 plus VAT. If the property is mortgaged, add the bank's early settlement charge, capped at 1% of the balance or AED 10,000 plus VAT at the banks we checked, and about AED 1,605 in Land Department release fees. The 4% transfer fee is customarily paid by the buyer.

### Is there capital gains tax when you sell property in Dubai?

Not for individuals. PwC's summary of UAE tax, reviewed in September 2026, lists no capital gains tax for individuals. Your country of residence may tax the gain, however: UK, US, Indian and Canadian residents, among others, are taxed on worldwide gains. A property held through a company, or as part of a business, may fall within UAE corporate tax.

### Can I sell a Dubai property that still has a mortgage?

Yes. Ask your bank for a liability letter showing the amount needed to clear the loan. At the trustee office the buyer provides a manager's cheque to the bank for that amount, one to you for the balance and one to the Land Department for the fee. The sale is completed once the bank's mortgage release letter is submitted.

### Can I sell a property in Dubai with a tenant in it?

Yes. Under Dubai's tenancy law a change of owner does not affect a tenant's rights under a fixed-term lease, so the buyer takes over the tenancy. If you want the property empty to sell it, the law allows eviction on the ground of sale only at the end of the lease and with at least 12 months' notice served through a notary public or by registered mail.

### How long does it take to sell a property in Dubai?

The legal transfer is fast: the Land Department gives 20 minutes for the registration itself. The time goes on finding a buyer, the developer's NOC, the buyer's mortgage approval and, if you have a loan, the bank's settlement letter. Market conditions matter most: betterhomes counted 8,512 resales of completed homes in Q2 2026, 59% fewer than a year earlier.

## Sources

Facts on this page were last checked against these sources on 13 November 2026.

- [Dubai Land Department: Property Sale Registration (documents, fees, steps), checked 12 November 2026](https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/property-sale-registration/)
- [Dubai Land Department: Registering the sale of a mortgaged property (documents, cheques, fees), checked 12 November 2026](https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/request-to-register-the-sale-of-a-mortgaged-property)
- [Dubai Land Department: Mortgage release application (fees)](https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/request-for-mortgage-termination/)
- [Dubai Land Department: Frequently asked questions (registration time, power of attorney validity, eviction for sale, broker commission), checked 12 November 2026](https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/frequently-asked-questions/)
- [Dubai Land Department: Real Estate Ad Permit (Trakheesi), checked 12 November 2026](https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/real-estate-ad-permit/)
- [Dubai Land Department: Property Valuation service](https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/property-valuation/)
- [Dubai Law No. 26 of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants, Article 28 (Dubai Legislation Portal)](https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2007/Law%20No.%20(26)%20of%202007.html)
- [Dubai Law No. 33 of 2008 amending Law No. 26 of 2007, Article 25 (Dubai Legislation Portal)](https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2009/Law%20No.%20(33)%20of%202008%20Amending%20Law%20No.%20(26)%20of%202007.html)
- [Property Finder: DLD fees in Dubai, including developer NOC (3 July 2026)](https://www.propertyfinder.ae/blog/dld-fees/)
- [Binghatti: How to sell off-plan property in Dubai (agency commission, 26 July 2026)](https://www.binghatti.com/en/blog/how-to-sell-off-plan-property-in-dubai)
- [HSBC UAE: Paying off your home loan early](https://www.hsbc.ae/mortgages/paying-off-your-home-loan-early/)
- [DEWA: Activation of electricity and water (move-in), owner security deposits, checked November 2026](https://dewa.gov.ae/en/consumer/supply-management/activation-of-electricity-water-move-in)
- [PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: UAE, taxes on personal income (reviewed 9 September 2026)](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/united-arab-emirates/individual/taxes-on-personal-income)
- [betterhomes: Off-plan vs secondary market, why off-plan led Dubai's Q2 2026 (11 August 2026)](https://www.bhomes.com/en/blog/betterinformed/off-plan-vs-secondary-market-why-off-plan-led-dubais-q2-2026)
- [betterhomes: Dubai property market report Q3 2026 (15 October 2026)](https://www.bhomes.com/en/blog/market-reports/dubai-property-market-report-q3-2026-secondary-sales-rose-16-as-leasing-demand-hit-a-record-high)
- [Khaleej Times: Cavendish Maxwell October 2026 sales data (12 November 2026)](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/dubai-ready-property-sales-hit-highest-level-at-dh101-billion)
- [Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre: rules and regulations (Resolution No. 183 of 2017, broker commission)](https://adrec.gov.ae/en/rules_and_regulations/regulations)

---

Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/selling-property-in-dubai. 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.