What Does “Freehold” Mean in Dubai Real Estate?
In Dubai, you’ll mostly hear about two types of property: freehold and leasehold. Freehold means the property and the land it’s on are completely yours forever. As the owner, you’re free to sell it, rent it out, leave it to your family, or do whatever you like with it, there’s no "expiry date" where you have to give it back. This right is backed by the Dubai Land Department (DLD), which handles all the official paperwork. If you're an expat or don't even live in the UAE, you can still own freehold property in specific areas across the city. On the flip side, leasehold just means you’re basically renting the rights to the property for a long time, usually up to 99 years, but you don't actually own the land itself forever.






