Read this before you sign

Six guides to buying, renting and letting in Abu Dhabi, written plainly, with their sources at the end.

For buyers

Foreign buyers in Abu DhabiWhere non-UAE nationals can own freehold, the steps from first viewing to title deed, and what the Golden Visa threshold means for your budget.5 minute read
The full cost of buyingTransfer fee, title deed, commission, mortgage charges and service charges, with a worked example on a AED 2,000,000 apartment.5 minute read
Getting a mortgage in Abu DhabiLoan-to-value limits, term and age rules, the debt burden cap, and how pre-approval works before you make an offer.5 minute read

For investors

Off-plan explainedHow payment plans, escrow accounts, handover and snagging work when you buy from an Abu Dhabi developer before the building is finished.5 minute read

For tenants

Renting a property in Abu DhabiTawtheeq registration, the municipality fee, what to ask about cheques and deposits, and how to check a listing before you pay.5 minute read

For owners

Letting and managing your propertyWhat an Abu Dhabi landlord has to do before a tenant moves in, what the costs are, and when it makes sense to hand management to a licensed team.5 minute read

White marble arches reflected in a still pool — Arches over still water

Dated and sourced

Each guide shows the day it was last checked and lists the pages it draws on. Where a figure comes from a property portal rather than an official source, the guide says so and tells you what to confirm.

Rules in Abu Dhabi change. Read a guide as the place to start, then ask us to confirm the figures for the property you want.

Ask us about a real property

Tell us the property, the budget and whether you need a mortgage, and we will tell you what applies to you.

Talk to us Work out a payment

Short answers to the questions we hear most are on the questions page.