Villas & houses for sale in Abu Dhabi, UAE

What you need to know about Villas for sale in Abu Dhabi 

The emirate of Abu Dhabi has transformed from just a collection of 200 desert islands to a diverse well-known cultural hub over the past 48 years. Often known as the quieter neighbor to the popular city of Dubai, Abu Dhabi provides its own unique invocable charm from gorgeous natural sights to breathtaking infrastructure and iconic landmarks such as the Louvre, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Yas Islands attracting visitors from all over. That, along with a diverse range of real estate properties from luxury villas to affordable apartments to choose from makes Abu Dhabi a highly sought-after city to live and invest in.

Can I buy a villa in Abu Dhabi?

Up until last year, there was a law that restricted non-UAE nationals from purchasing leasehold properties in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In simpler terms, it basically means that if an expat or a foreigner purchases a home, they would have the right to reside in and occupy the property from the proprietor for a period no more than 99 years. After the 99-year threshold has passed, the house is returned to the proprietor. The law has since been revoked with a new law that now allows expats and foreigners to own freehold estate in designated areas in the emirates, including highly sought after locations like Saadiyat Islands, Yas Islands, and Al Raha Beach. This opens up a lot of opportunities for expats looking to invest in property in Abu Dhabi as they can not only buy the house but also the land it resides on, giving them the complete liberty to lease, occupy or sell the land. 

Is this the right time to purchase in a villa in Abu Dhabi?

The present state of the real estate and property market in the country makes it the ideal time to buy a house in Abu Dhabi whilst securing the best prices. Over the past year, property prices have dropped in the emirate, resulting in an increased demand for affordable investment opportunities. With an extensive selection of estates to choose from, the process of finding and purchasing houses for sale in Abu Dhabi can be a daunting task. With a plethora of verified villas ranging from affordable with easy payment plans to fully furnished luxury properties, dubizzle has everything you need!

What is the process to buy a house in Abu Dhabi? 

Once you have browsed through dubizzle for a villa, shortlisted and visited the property, and are fully satisfied with your choice, the next step for you would be to apply for a mortgage, if necessary. If you are applying for a mortgage, you would need to be a resident of the country with a valid visa of at least six months. As a minimum, you will need to put down a 25% down payment as a deposit.

After this, you are required to negotiate and sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the buyer where you will have to pay 2% of the property purchase value to your real estate agency as a fee for their service and an additional 2% towards the Abu Dhabi Municipality for transferring the property to your name. This process is usually guided and witnessed by an agent. After starting the home loan process, the bank will send over a valuation company to assess that you’re paying the best price, and are within the market range. 

If the seller of the villa has a mortgage in place, your bank will clear the loan leaving the property free to be sold void of any liabilities. 

In case there is no mortgage on the property, your bank will organize a manager’s cheque for the day of the transfer and directly hand it over to the seller. After this transaction is completed between the banks, your agent will book the transfer of the property. 

Once that process is complete, you will receive an ownership certificate from the developer of the property who you will have to pay an administrative fee. Depending on the developer and the development you might also be additionally charged for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to ensure that the property you are buying is free of any incumbrancers. 

For the final sale, you, the seller, agent, and if applicable, the bank representatives meet at the developer’s office or the Abu Dhabi Municipality to complete the process and officially transfer the villa to you, the new owner. 

Under the new Abu Dhabi real estate laws, owners of villas in completed developments receive a title deed, which serves as a legal recognition that you are the owner of the villa. This makes it easier for you to get a mortgage in the future and to get insured against any legal difficulties that may occur. 

As a villa owner, you are now obliged to annually pay property service charges, which is calculated differently in every development and should be checked and agreed upon with the developer before considering signing off on the purchase. Now you are ready to move into your newly owned villa. 

That’s how easy it is to buy a villa in Abu Dhabi!

What are the best areas to purchase a villa in Abu Dhabi?

Finding the perfect location is vital while finding a home, but the answer to this question differs from individual to individual as not everyone has the same preferences. Abu Dhabi caters to a variety of different needs from quaint, affordable villas to fully furnished luxury houses. Few of the best communities for expats to invest in are;

Al Reef: one of the most popular communities in Abu Dhabi. The family-friendly environment, prime location, affordable villa prices, and the bounty of amenities make it an ideal place for people looking for a great place to invest in.

Yas Island: offers an exquisite luxury lifestyle with its selection of expertly designed residential properties. The man-made island is a world-renowned entertainment and leisure destination. It is home to several upcoming villa projects making it one the capital’s biggest investment hotspots.

Saadiyat Island: With a picturesque location and being the capital’s cultural hub, Saadiyat Island is one of the most prestigious addresses in the emirate. The up and coming area with several off-plan developments, Saadiyat Island, is the perfect place to invest in for people looking for luxurious, exclusive, and upscale waterfront properties.

Other exceptional communities that non-UAE nationals and foreigners can buy villas in Abu Dhabi are Sayh Al Sedairah, Lulu, Reem Island, Mariya, Al Raha Beach, and Masdar City.