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Regulation

UAE Real Estate / Property LawRegulation No. (3) of 2006 Determining Areas for Ownership by Non-UAE Nationals of Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai

Dubai Law·3 of 2006

Issued Date
June 7, 2006
Effective from
June 7, 2006
Articles
5
Last synced
Jul 20, 2026
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Plain-language summary

Permits non-UAE nationals to acquire freehold ownership of real property in Dubai without time restriction, or usufruct and leasehold rights for up to ninety-ni…

Synced from the official UAE Legislation portal · Plain-language summary by the LEXAI editorial team

Article-level text

Key Articles

5 articles

  1. 1

    Article 1

    Article (1) This Regulation will be cited as “Regulation No. (3) of 2006 Determining Areas for Ownership by Non-UAE Nationals of Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai”.

  2. 2

    Article 2

    Article (2) For the purposes of implementing this Regulation, the following words and expressions will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise: Ruler: His Highness the Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. Department: The Land Department. Real Property: Anything which is fixed and cannot be moved without damage or alteration of its structure.

  3. 3

    Article 3

    Article (3) Non-UAE Nationals may acquire freehold ownership rights over Real Property without time restriction, usufruct rights, or leasehold rights for up to ninety-nine (99) years, with respect to the land plot(s) indicated opposite each of the following areas as shown by the maps issued by the Department and attached to this Regulation: © 2015 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai 1 Every effort has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict the Arabic text will prevail.

    -- 1 of 3 --

    Regulation No. (3) of 2006 Determining Areas for Ownership by Non-UAE Nationals of Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai Page 2 of 3 1. Umm Hurair 2: Plot No. (013); 2. Al Barsha South 2 Plot No. (002); 3. Al Barsha South 3 Plot No. (002); 4. Emirates Hills 1 Plots No. (004) and (814); 5. Emirates Hills 2 Plots No. (001) and (049); 6. Emirates Hills 3 Plot No. (001); 7. Jebel Ali Plots No. (051), (074), (081), (082), (083), (084), (142), (143), and (391); 8. Al Jaddaf Plots No. (003), (007), and (008); 9. The World Islands Plot No. (001); 10. Ras al Khor Plot No. (165); 11. Al Rowyah Plots No. (063) and (065); 12. Sheikh Zayed Road Plots No. (118) and (147); 13. Sofouh 1 Plot No. (069); 14. Sofouh 2 Plot No. (005); 15. Al-Qouz 3 Plots No. (005) and (006); 16. Al-Qouz Industrial Area 2 Plots No. (010) and (030); 17. Al-Qouz Industrial Area 3 Plot No. (028); 18. Mirdif Plots No. (143) and (144); 19. Dubai Marina Plots No. (007), (014), (015), and (033); 20. Palm Jebel Ali Plot No. (001); 21. Palm Jumairah Plot No. (001); 22. Nad al-Sheba Plots No. (209), (215) and (222); and 23. Warsan 1 Plot No. (002).

    -- 2 of 3 --

    Regulation No. (3) of 2006 Determining Areas for Ownership by Non-UAE Nationals of Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai Page 3 of 3

  4. 4

    Article 4

    Article (4) Non-UAE nationals may acquire usufruct rights or leasehold rights for up to ninety-nine (99) years in plot no. (224) of the Nad al-Sheba area as highlighted by the Department in the map attached to this Regulation.

  5. 5

    Article 5

    Article (5) This Regulation will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is published. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ruler of Dubai Issued in Dubai on 7 June 2006 Corresponding to 11 Jumada al-Ula 1427 A.H.

    -- 3 of 3 --

Note: This legislation is sourced from the Dubai Legislation Portal (dlp.dubai.gov.ae). The original Arabic text is the authoritative version.

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