A buyer of freehold property in Dubai enjoys the absolute ownership of the freehold land, villas and apartments in Dubai comprised in his title and he has the right to occupy sell, lease or rent the property at will. Furthermore, property owners and their immediate family can get renewable Dubai residence visas for life costing Dhs. 5,000 per person.
´Freehold´ became the most important buzzword in Dubai in May 2002 when the Government of Dubai announced that expatriates or foreigners can buy certain Dubai freehold property with the 100% right of ownership. Dubai was the first emirate of the UAE to allow foreigners to buy freehold real estate. Previously only GCC or UAE nationals were allowed to own property in the United Arab Emirates. Thankfully Dubai has never had to look back because this right of ownership has spurred unprecedented development and led to a lot of foreign investment in Dubai from various areas of the world.
Presently freehold properties in Dubai are limited to certain areas including Jebel Ali, the Palm Island projects, The World islands, Dubai Marina, Emirates Hills and Al Barsha. Other freehold properties are as under: .
| Umm Hurir Second | AI Sufouh First |
| Al Barsha South Second | Al Sufouh Second |
| Al Barsha South Third | Al Quoz Third |
| Emirates Hills First | Al Quoz Industrial Second |
| Emirates Hills Second | AI Quoz Industrial Third |
| Emirates Hills Third | Mirdif |
| Jebel Ali | Dubai Marina |
| AI Jadaf | Palm Jebel Ali |
| World Islands | Palm Jumeirah |
| Ras Al Khor | Nad Al Shiba |
| Al Rawiya | Warsan First |
| Sheikh Zayed Road |