Short answer: yes. Indians can buy freehold property in Dubai. If you live in India, you send the money under the Reserve Bank of India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme, up to USD 250,000 per person per financial year, and buying property abroad is a permitted purpose. If you already live in the UAE as a non resident Indian, the scheme does not apply to you and you buy like any other UAE resident.
Indians are the largest group of foreign buyers in Dubai. Anarock put them at 22% of buyers in 2025, ahead of British and Chinese buyers, and Harbor Real Estate, using DXBinteract data, put them first again in early 2026 at about 20.6%. For the full picture, see why Indians are Dubai’s biggest property buyers.
What Dubai property costs in rupees
| What sold (median) | Dirhams | Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment | AED 657,040 | ₹1.70 crore |
| One bedroom apartment | AED 1,204,200 | ₹3.12 crore |
| Two bedroom apartment | AED 2,094,999 | ₹5.44 crore |
| Villa or townhouse | AED 3,416,640 | ₹8.86 crore |
| Golden Visa property threshold | AED 2,000,000 | ₹5.19 crore |
Rupee figures at about ₹25.94 per dirham, from European Central Bank reference rates on 13 October 2026. The rate moves daily.
If you live in India: the rules that matter
- The limit: USD 250,000 per person per financial year under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. A median one bedroom apartment costs more than that, so families often pool the limits of relatives who are resident in India, or buy off plan and spread the payments across financial years.
- TCS on the way out: banks collect 20% tax at source on remittances for property above ₹10 lakh in a financial year. TCS is not an extra tax. You claim it back against your income tax, but it ties up cash.
- Declare it every year: resident Indians must report foreign assets in Schedule FA of their income tax return. Failing to report can cost ₹10 lakh a year, and undisclosed foreign assets are taxed at 30% under the Black Money Act, with a penalty of up to three times the tax.
- Tax on rent and sale: India taxes residents on worldwide income. Dubai rent is taxable in India, and a sale after 24 months is a long term gain taxed at 12.5%. The India UAE tax treaty gives credit for UAE tax, but the UAE charges none, so the full Indian tax applies.
- Do it through the bank: authorities have been examining Dubai purchases paid through cards, crypto or split family transfers. Use the banking route and keep the paperwork.
If you are an Indian living in the UAE
Non resident Indians are not covered by the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. You can buy with money earned and held outside India, and India generally does not tax your foreign income while you are non resident. Property you buy while non resident can be kept if you later return to India. Check your residence status each year, because it decides what India can tax.
The Dubai side: the same for every nationality
- Where you can buy: foreign nationals can own freehold property outright in Dubai’s designated freehold areas, which include most of the city’s main communities. See freehold vs non freehold in Dubai.
- Transfer fee: the Dubai Land Department charges 4% of the price, plus registration and agency fees.
- Off plan money: payments for off plan units go into a project escrow account regulated under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007.
- Tax in the UAE: individuals pay no annual property tax and no UAE income tax on rent or gains. The country where you are tax resident may still tax them, which is what the rest of this guide is about.
- Residency: property worth AED 2 million or more can qualify you for the ten year Golden Visa. See the Golden Visa property threshold.
- Buying remotely: you can sign and pay from abroad, or appoint someone by power of attorney. A power of attorney signed outside the UAE must be notarised and legalised for use in Dubai, because the UAE does not accept apostilles.
- Mortgages: UAE banks lend to non residents, generally at 60% to 65% of the value, and most will not lend on off plan for non residents.
What this means for a buyer
The rules decide how fast you can buy, not whether you should. Run three numbers before you pick a property.
- How much you can send: USD 250,000 per person per financial year is about AED 918,000. A one bedroom at the median price of AED 1,204,200 needs more than one person’s limit, or off plan payments spread over two financial years.
- What TCS ties up: the 20% collected above ₹10 lakh comes back only through your income tax return. Plan for that cash being locked up until then.
- What you keep: Dubai apartments averaged a 6.14% gross yield over the last 12 months (Property Finder, Dubai Land Department data). Service charges come off first, and India taxes the rent if you are resident. See service charges and net yield.
If a property only works at the gross yield, it does not work. Check the net figure after Indian tax before you send any money.
Talk to Cresco
Cresco Real Estate is a RERA registered brokerage in Dubai (ORN 34288) with an office in Los Angeles. We check what applies to your passport and country of residence before we show you a single property. Contact us to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Indian resident buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Buying property abroad is a permitted purpose under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, up to USD 250,000 per person per financial year, sent through your bank.
How much TCS do I pay on money sent for Dubai property?
Banks collect 20% TCS on remittances above ₹10 lakh in a financial year. You claim it back against your income tax.
Do I have to declare Dubai property in my Indian tax return?
Yes, if you are resident in India. Report it in Schedule FA every year. Non disclosure can cost ₹10 lakh a year and trigger the Black Money Act.
Can NRIs in Dubai buy property without LRS limits?
Yes. Non resident Indians are not covered by the Liberalised Remittance Scheme and can buy with funds earned and held outside India.
Method and limits
Dubai prices: Dubai Land Department register, sales registered 1 September to 11 October 2026, medians by unit type. Indian rules: Reserve Bank of India LRS FAQ; Income Tax Department, Budget 2025 to 2026 (TCS threshold ₹10 lakh); Business Standard on the Black Money Act and enforcement, July and December 2025; Deloitte on capital gains, 2024; India UAE tax treaty, Income Tax Department. Buyer share: Anarock via Khaleej Times, 19 July 2026. Rupee rate: European Central Bank, 13 October 2026. Laws and tax rules change often. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Speak to a qualified adviser in the country where you are tax resident before you buy.