Diverse Real Estate Opportunities in Dubai's Freehold Areas

DIVERSE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES IN DUBAI'S FREEHOLD AREAS

Written by: (Pavara Malinga)

18, August 2025

Making extraordinary growth while rising up to the leading real estate markets, Dubai has a choice for almost everyone. From skyscrapers to villas, the Emirati has a collection of various luxury properties to accommodate different types of investors.

As much as it is important to consider the developer, amenities, the building material and design, it is important to understand the location where the property is located. Dubai has freehold and leasehold areas that are in the real estate market. Before you dive further into the real estate in Dubai, you should understand the difference between the two types of these areas.

Freehold - The government of the Emirati allows properties in the ‘freehold’ areas of Dubai to be purchased, leased, and sold by the owners. They can claim ownership over the property and the land completely and will be referred to as the ‘Land Owner’ gaining complete ownership. This type of property attracts a lot of international investors to invest and claim the property as a whole.

Here are some of the advantages that a buyer will get by buying property in Dubai which are in freehold areas.

  • Property Inheritance - Inheritance or passing down of a property becomes convenient and the regulations accommodate it since the complete ownership is with the property buyer.

  • VISA - When an expat investor completely holds ownership it becomes easier to acquire a long term visa for the owner and the family. Depending on the value of the property, Dubai now issues golden-visa as well.

  • Property Options - Since the freehold properties are more favourable for the expat investors, developers focus on creating a diverse array of property-types. This causes more international investors to make their investments in Dubai real estate properties.

Leasehold - These areas of the Emirati cannot be sold or claimed entirely by any foreigner. This allows investors or tenants to lease the property up to 99 years. It doesn’t allow any ownership over the land, the unit is just rented for the time period.

Here are some reasons why people would choose a leasehold property.

  • Contract Renewal - The leaseholder is able to renew the contract at the end of its lease period. This gives the leaseholder the safety of not being pushed out of the leased property.

  • Repair & Maintenance Free - Since the property cannot be completely owned, the leasing a property comes without the burden of repairing and maintaining.

  • Affordability - Since the popularity of leasehold properties are generally lower than the freehold properties, the leasehold properties are listed at lower prices in the market.

If you are an investor looking to invest in residential properties in Dubai, here are top ten freehold areas where you can invest in apartments.

  1. Downtown Dubai

  2. Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)

  3. Emaar Beachfront

  4. Bluewaters Island

  5. Discovery Gardens

  6. Dubai Production City (IMPZ)

  7. Remraam

  8. Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT)

  9. The Greens

  10. The Views

For the investors who prefer villa-properties, Dubai has villa communities that are designed to fit a huge range of preferences. We have mentioned some freehold areas to acquire villas in Dubai.

  1. Emirates Hills

  2. Jumeirah Islands

  3. Arabian Ranches

  4. Jumeirah Park

  5. The Meadows

  6. The Springs

  7. The Sustainable City

  8. Reem

  9. The Valley

  10. Palm Jebel Ali

These locations / communities that are mentioned on the lists above are general preferences in the real estate market in Dubai. 

No matter what type of property you choose in Dubai’s real estate market, understanding the pros and cons that you may come across will save you from future practical and legal complications.

Understanding the landscape, connectivity, developers, and the other practical specificities will help investors acquire promising property investments in Dubai. By strategically analysing every factor that affects the market, investing in a property can result in maximising value at a high rate. To navigate this dynamic market with significant international interest, investors can secure profitable investments with specialised assistance. Real estate consultants at Anarock Middle East are swift, transparent, and constantly trained in the competitive property market of Dubai. Our value-added partners assist in property acquisition and management, ensuring investors experience a hassle-free property transfer. Specialising in the luxury segment of the market, we pride ourselves on providing premium services and dedicated expertise to secure our clients the best deals in Dubai.

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