DXB Dubai Hills
How buying works

Buying a home in Dubai Hills Estate

What happens, in what order, and what it costs — using Emaar's own published terms. Checked against Emaar's published terms on 7 November 2026. Other developers' terms differ; we confirm them project by project. We walk every client through it personally; this is the map.

Why buyers choose it

Why Dubai Hills Estate

Freehold, visa-eligible, developer payment plans, and a green community with a park, a golf course and a mall between Downtown and the Marina — in Emaar's words and the Land Department's numbers, not ours.

01

Freehold ownership, open to foreign buyers

Emaar's guide to buying freehold property says a freehold home in Dubai is one you can fully own, outright and indefinitely, with full ownership of both property and land, the ability to resell, lease or gift it, and inheritance rights for legal heirs. The same guide lists Dubai Hills Estate among the freehold areas open to buyers, describing it as family-friendly, with golf courses, parks and schools, and Emaar's Dubai Hills Estate guide calls it a freehold community that allows expats to buy with full ownership rights.

Source: Emaar

02

A park, a championship golf course and a mall inside the community

Emaar's Dubai Hills Estate guide puts Dubai Hills Park, a 180,000 sqm public space with jogging and cycling tracks, a skate park, an outdoor gym and splash parks, at the heart of the community. It describes Dubai Hills Golf Club as an 18-hole championship course with a floodlit practice facility, driving range and golf academy, and Dubai Hills Mall as housing over 650 retail outlets.

Source: Emaar

03

A route to the UAE Golden Residency (Golden Visa)

Emaar's investor-visa guide describes the UAE Golden Residency as a long-term residency programme and says that, for real estate investors, the current federal framework provides it to those who own one or more qualifying properties valued at a minimum of AED 2 million. Emaar also notes the Dubai Land Department's separate Taskeen investor-residence route for property owners, and advises verifying current requirements with the UAE authorities before buying or applying.

Source: Emaar

04

Between Downtown and the Marina, on Al Khail and Umm Suqeim roads

Emaar's Dubai Hills Estate guide places the community within Mohammed Bin Rashid City, at the intersection of Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road, and gives drive times of 15 minutes to Downtown Dubai, 20 minutes to Dubai Marina, 10 minutes to Mall of the Emirates and 25 minutes to Dubai International Airport.

Source: Emaar

05

Developer payment plans with a reservation booking fee

On the Emaar online booking page for a Greencrest apartment, checked on 7 November 2026, the reservation booking fee shown was AED 37,000, and Emaar states that your specialist confirms the payment plan for that collection before the balance falls due. Emaar's investor guide adds that phased payment plans on off-plan homes can spread payments across the development period.

Source: Emaar

06

Escrow protection on off-plan payments

Emaar says that for off-plan purchases, funds are held in escrow accounts managed by the Dubai Land Department, a mechanism that protects buyers by ensuring developers meet their contractual obligations before accessing the money. Emaar's own finance fact sheet likewise directs buyers to remit instalments directly to their project's assigned escrow account.

Source: Emaar

07

Schools and a hospital within the estate

Emaar's Dubai Hills Estate guide lists GEMS Wellington Academy, a British-curriculum school from Foundation Stage through A-Levels, and King's College Hospital Dubai as located within Dubai Hills Estate, and names GEMS International School, GEMS New Millennium School and nurseries among the options for families.

Source: Emaar

08

A registered rental and resale market

Dubai Land Department records for the 12 months to 31 October 2026 show 4,882 new tenancy contracts and 2,662 renewals registered for homes in Dubai Hills Estate, with a median rent of AED 90,000 across 2,683 one-bedroom apartment contracts. The same records show 697 ready-apartment sales and 216 ready villa and townhouse sales registered in that window; these are registered contracts and sales, not valuations or forecasts.

Dubai Land Department records

09

No annual property tax

Emaar's guide to buying freehold property says Dubai has no annual property tax, and that investors from Europe, India, China, Russia and the GCC have taken advantage of Dubai's zero property tax. Emaar still reminds buyers to budget beyond the purchase price for Dubai Land Department fees (4%), trustee fees and service charges.

Source: Emaar

Buying new from Emaar

Seven steps

  1. Reserve a unit

    You reserve a specific unit with a booking fee, online or at a sales centre. Emaar uses your passport, nationality and country of residence to issue the reservation form, and your specialist confirms the payment plan before the balance falls due. Source: Emaar

  2. Pay the down payment

    At Emaar launches bought through the Emaar Preferred Access Programme, Emaar's published terms ask for at least 20% of the price at the time of purchase, and do not allow a transfer until at least 50% has been paid. Outside the programme, your sale agreement sets the terms. Source: Emaar

  3. Sign the sale agreement

    Emaar says it typically issues the Sales and Purchase Agreement 21–40 days after a launch purchase, once the down payment, DLD registration charge and Oqood fee have cleared. It is in English, names the Emaar subsidiary selling the project, gives an estimated completion date and sets the instalment terms. Decide the names on the contract first: adding or removing one later counts as a transfer. Source: Emaar

  4. Register with the Dubai Land Department

    Your purchase is pre-registered in DLD's interim register (Oqood). Emaar's FAQ puts the DLD registration fee at 4% of the contract value, paid to the Land Department; Emaar says registration is required by law and is a requirement for taking possession. Source: Emaar

  5. Pay instalments into escrow

    Every instalment goes by cheque or bank transfer into the project's escrow account, in AED — never in cash. Emaar's finance team confirms the escrow details for each project. Source: Emaar

  6. Home orientation and handover

    Before keys, Emaar walks you through the home and records anything that needs attention for the contractor. For handover you bring the certificate of completion of payment, the land-registration application, your DEWA deposit receipt and your passport. Your home is then covered by Emaar's defect-liability warranty. Source: Emaar

  7. Title deed

    After full payment you apply for land registration through Emaar (admin fee AED 525 including VAT, about 30 days) and DLD issues an electronic title deed. Source: Emaar

What you pay on top of the price

Emaar's published figures as of 7 November 2026. Other developers' fees can differ; confirm the current amounts with us before you commit.

DLD registration fee4% of the contract valuePaid to the Dubai Land Department; Emaar collects it at purchase. Source
Mortgage registration (if financed)0.25% of the loan + AED 10Dubai Land Department fee. Emaar charges a further AED 5,000 to register the mortgage. Source
Emaar transfer NOC (resale)AED 5,000 + VAT off-plan · AED 500 + VAT after handoverValid 15 days. Source
Title deed applicationAED 525 incl. VATEmaar's administration fee for the land registration application. Source
DEWA security depositAED 2,000 for an apartment · AED 4,000 for a villa or townhousePlus connection charges, before handover. DEWA may change it. Source
Service chargesSet yearly per buildingVary by building; Emaar's investor guide says approved charges can be checked through DLD's Service Charge Index. Ask us for the approved rate of the exact building. Source

Emaar's administration and booking fees include 5% VAT.

Buying from overseas

  • —You can buy with just a passport; you do not need to live in the UAE.
  • —Sign through a power of attorney: from overseas it must be notarised and attested by the UAE embassy in your country and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai.
  • —Instalments go by international transfer into the project escrow account, in AED, converted at your own bank.
  • —Emaar does not issue visit visas for handover; a representative can attend the home orientation for you.
  • —Post-handover instalments are paid by post-dated cheques; a non-resident owner can give third-party cheques or register with a property management company.

Per Emaar's published guidance.

Buying a resale

No units with the developer? Buy from an owner.

  1. Agree the price

    When the developer lists no units, you buy from an existing owner. For an off-plan resale you normally reimburse what the seller has paid, agree any premium, and take over the remaining instalments.

  2. The developer's no-objection certificate

    Emaar's transfers need its NOC: AED 5,000 plus 5% VAT for a primary (off-plan) transfer, AED 500 plus VAT after handover, valid for 15 days. All outstanding dues must be cleared, and a minimum payment applies before an off-plan transfer. Source: Emaar

  3. Transfer at the Land Department

    The transfer completes at DLD, which charges its registration fee again on the new sale. A mortgaged unit needs the bank's clearance letter first. Source: Emaar

How we work

An independent Dubai broker, not a developer.

  • —We check availability and prices with the developer on the day, and confirm a seller's paid instalments before you commit to a resale.
  • —We quote a building's RERA-approved service charge, never an estimate, and show registered sales and rents rather than asking prices.
  • —Every payment goes to the project's escrow account or the seller through DLD — never to us.
Ask us anything
Good questions. Clear answers.

Frequently asked

All the projects
Is this Emaar's website?

No. DXB Dubai Hills is an independent property showcase run by Felicity Properties L.L.C, a Dubai brokerage registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (ORN 33951). The projects are developed by Emaar Properties and by the other developers named on each project page; we help buyers compare them, find available units and buy. This site is not owned, operated or endorsed by Emaar or any other developer.

Are the prices current?

Every price is the developer's own published figure, checked on 7 November 2026: the advertised starting price for the project and, where the developer lists units, the cheapest unit on its site that day. Prices and availability change often — message us on WhatsApp for today's price list.

What do 'Off-plan' and 'Ready' mean here?

'Ready' means Dubai Land Department records show the building's construction as completed. 'Off-plan' means DLD records show construction under way or not yet started, or the developer has only announced the project. 'Now selling' means the developer listed units on its website when we checked, or is registering interest for a launch; 'resale' means you buy from an owner — a finished home if it is ready, or the owner's contract and payment plan if it is off-plan. Where DLD records show no construction status we say so and you ask us.

Which developers build in Dubai Hills Estate?

Most projects here are Emaar's. Ellington Properties, National Properties, City View Developments, Fortimo, Ginco Properties, Iman Developers, Soho Development and others have built or are building apartments and villas in the community too. Each project page names its developer as the developer publishes it or as the Dubai Land Department records it, and says so where no developer is confirmed.

Can foreigners buy in Dubai Hills Estate?

Yes. Emaar's Dubai Hills Estate guide says it is a freehold community, allowing expats to buy property with full ownership rights. Source

Does buying here get me a residence visa?

Emaar's investor-visa guide says the current federal framework gives a five-year Golden Residency to owners of one or more qualifying properties worth at least AED 2 million, that a mortgaged property may also qualify subject to the Dubai Land Department's requirements, and that owners can apply through DLD's Taskeen service for a two-year residence permit whatever the property's value (a jointly owned share must be worth at least AED 400,000). Eligibility is decided by the UAE authorities, not by the developer or by us. Rules change — we check the current requirements with you. Source

Can I buy with a mortgage?

On a completed home, yes — UAE banks lend to residents and non-residents within their own lending limits. Off-plan is mostly paid from your own funds during construction; Emaar's investor guide says that for selected off-plan projects eligible customers may have access to financing with pre-approval for up to 50% of the property's value, renewable annually until handover. Emaar registers a mortgage for AED 5,000 and DLD charges 0.25% of the loan plus AED 10. Source

How is my money protected on an off-plan purchase?

For off-plan purchases, Emaar's guidance is that funds are held in escrow accounts managed by the Dubai Land Department, and every Emaar instalment is paid into the project's own escrow account; the purchase is pre-registered in DLD's interim register (Oqood). Ask us for the project's escrow account details and cross-check them with the developer before you transfer. Source

What are the service charges?

Service charges are an annual cost per unit that vary by building; Emaar's investor guide notes that approved charges can be checked through DLD's Service Charge Index. We quote the approved rate for the exact building — never an estimate. Source

Can I rent it out?

Yes. Emaar says you are free to lease the home once it is handed over. Long-term lets are registered with Ejari; short-term holiday letting is separately regulated in Dubai — ask us before you plan on it. Source

Can I sell before handover?

Yes, with the developer's no-objection certificate — at Emaar, AED 5,000 plus VAT, valid 15 days — once all outstanding dues are cleared and the minimum payment in your sale agreement has been made. The transfer completes at DLD. Source

How do I get a brochure or floor plans?

Where the developer publishes a brochure or floor plans, the links are on the project page. For anything else, tap WhatsApp and we'll send it over.

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Tell us your budget, bedrooms and timing — we'll send what's available today, with the developer's current terms and the registered prices to compare.

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