Foreign Ownership of Land in Abu Dhabi: A Major Reform

Opening Freehold Ownership of Land within Investment Areas to Foreigners

On 16 April 2019, the Abu Dhabi Government issued Law No. (13) of 2019 amending certain provisions of Law No. (19) of 2005 on Real Estate Ownership (‘Law’). The Law implements major changes to the rules on foreign ownership of real estate in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and the Western Region).

Effective from 16 April 2019, foreign individuals (non-UAE/non-GGC nationals) and companies wholly or partially owned by such individuals (‘Foreign Owners’) can now own freehold interests in land located within the investment areas of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (see list of investment areas below). Freehold ownership means ownership of land to the exclusion of all others, that is unrestricted in time. It is a superior interest to the rights previously available to Foreign Owners.

Prior to the issuance of the Law, while Foreign Owners were able to own freehold interest/title to apartments, offices, villas and other real estate units, a Foreign Owner’s interest, in respect of land, was limited to a Musataha (a concept akin to a long term development right), a usufruct (a long term use right) and long term lease, each for a period not exceeding 99 years.

Accordingly, pursuant to the Law, Foreign Owners may now own, acquire and dispose of all principal real rights (including freehold ownership) and accessory real property rights (including mortgage) over real estate properties located within the investment areas of Abu Dhabi.

The Law also extends the right for public joint stock companies to own a freehold interest in land and property anywhere in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, provided that at least 51 percent of such companies is owned by UAE nationals (‘Qualifying PJSC’).

We understand that Foreign Owners and Qualifying PJSCs that currently have a leasehold, usufruct or Musataha interest registered on the Real Estate Register in respect of land within the relevant areas will be able to apply for the conversion of such interests into a freehold title. The Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities will set out the requirements, procedures and fees payable (if any) for converting a leasehold interest into a freehold title.

Controls over Disposals of Real Estate subject to Musataha or Usufruct

The Law also restricts a freehold owner from dealing with land that is subject to Musataha or usufruct rights.
In accordance with the Law, a holder of a usufruct or Musataha right for a term exceeding ten years may, without the freehold owner’s consent, dispose of such right, including by way of mortgage, and the freehold owner of the land may not mortgage the same, except with the consent of the holder of the usufruct or Musataha right. In either case, the parties may agree otherwise.

Investment Areas of Abu Dhabi

A current list of the main investment areas in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is set out below:

Al Tamimi & Company’s Real Estate team regularly advises on real estate investment in Abu Dhabi. For further information please contact Maha Dahoui (m.dahoui@tamimi.com) or David Bowman (d.bowman@tamimi.com).