Where you buy decides what you pay at transfer and, more importantly, which companies are allowed to rent your office.
For an investor the real question is not the licence but the tenant pool. A freezone company must usually occupy premises inside its own freezone; a mainland company needs a lease registered in Ejari. The zone of the building decides who can be your tenant.
| Location | Jurisdiction | Transfer fee | Who rents it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Bay, Downtown, Al Barsha, Deira | Mainland, DLD | 4% | Companies with a mainland (DET) licence; lease registered in Ejari |
| JLT, Uptown Dubai | DMCC freezone, DLD title | 4% | Mainly DMCC-licensed companies |
| Dubai Internet City, Media City, Knowledge Park | TECOM freezones | varies | Most units leasehold from the master developer; few for sale |
| DIFC | DIFC, own registry | 5% | DIFC-registered firms; English common law, leases outside Ejari |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | DSO freezone, DLD title | 4% | DSO-licensed companies and mainland firms in permitted buildings |
Tell me whether you buy to use or to rent out. I shortlist buildings by zone, with prices paid and Ejari rents for each.
Yes, in freehold areas such as Business Bay, Downtown, JLT, Dubai Marina and Dubai Silicon Oasis. Title is registered with DLD.
5% of the price, paid to the DIFC Registrar of Real Property, against 4% at DLD.
Generally a freezone licence is tied to premises in that freezone. To operate from a mainland office a company usually needs a mainland licence. Check with the licensing authority for the specific activity.
Transactions: Dubai Land Department, commercial units (offices, shops, showrooms, warehouses), deduplicated, medians. Rents: Ejari new single-unit leases. Fees reflect published DLD and market practice at the date above; confirm with your trustee office before you sign. Not investment, legal or tax advice.