Should I buy Dubai property in my own name or through a company?

Dubai allows foreign nationals to own freehold property either personally or through a corporate vehicle. The choice has implications for estate transfer, confidentiality, exit flexibility, financing, and, for sufficiently large portfolios, tax efficiency. There is no single right answer; the structure should follow the strategy.

Personal name: when it works

• One or two units, held long-term for rental income or family use
• Single Golden Visa application (AED 2M threshold counts personal-name property)
• Simplest DLD registration and resale process
• Lowest holding cost: no annual licence fees
• Inheritance handled via DIFC Will (see related Q&A)

Corporate structure: when it makes sense

• 3+ units or active flipping strategy
• Family wealth holding across multiple jurisdictions
• Confidentiality preference (DLD title shows company name, not individual)
• Future sale via share transfer instead of property transfer (saves 4% DLD fee on exit in some cases)
• Planned multi-generational succession

Common corporate vehicles

• RAK ICC (Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre): AED 12,000–15,000 setup, fully offshore, can hold Dubai freehold via SPA registration with DLD
• JAFZA Offshore (Jebel Ali Free Zone): AED 18,000–22,000, the only offshore vehicle DLD lists directly on title deeds
• DIFC Prescribed Company: AED 25,000+, common-law, ideal for HNWIs needing English-law contracts
• Mainland LLC: only required if the company also trades commercially in UAE

Tax considerations (2026)

UAE Corporate Tax (introduced 2023) applies a 9% rate above AED 375,000 annual profit, but rental income from real estate held by individuals is explicitly exempt. A holding company that does nothing but own and rent property may still benefit from Small Business Relief or fall outside the scope; specialist advice is essential. Selling property held in a JAFZA Offshore company via share transfer can avoid the 4% DLD transfer fee, a meaningful saving on large units.

Golden Visa interaction

AED 2M Golden Visa qualification requires property in personal name OR in a 100%-owned company where the applicant is the sole shareholder. Mixed-ownership corporate vehicles disqualify the application. If Golden Visa is a goal, keep the qualifying unit in personal name even if the rest of the portfolio is corporate.

Practical sequence

1. 01Decide strategy: long-hold rental vs flip vs family wealth
2. 02Confirm Golden Visa intent (forces personal-name on at least one AED 2M+ unit)
3. 03Engage UAE-licensed corporate services agent for company formation (2–3 weeks)
4. 04Open UAE corporate bank account (4–8 weeks: the longest step)
5. 05Sign SPA in company name with notarised PoA
6. 06Register title at DLD