Who can buy, what it costs and how residency works is different in every Gulf country. Here's how the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman compare — in plain language.

UAEFreehold in designated areasExplore →

KSADesignated zones (law in force since Jan 2026)Explore →

Qatar10 freehold areas + usufruct areasExplore →

KuwaitRestricted — conditional routesExplore →

BahrainFreehold in designated zonesExplore →

OmanITCs; wider ownership under the 2026 lawExplore →

Side by side

How the six markets
compare.

Key rules for foreign buyers, last reviewed October 2026.

Market	Foreign ownership	Main purchase cost	Residency through property	Regulator
United Arab Emirates	Freehold in designated areas	Dubai transfer fee: 4% of the price	Golden Visa — Property worth AED 2 million or more	DLD / RERA (Dubai) · ADREC (Abu Dhabi)
Saudi Arabia	Designated zones (law in force since Jan 2026)	Real Estate Transaction Tax: 5% of the price	Premium Residency — Qualifying property worth SAR 4 million or more	REGA
Qatar	10 freehold areas + usufruct areas	Transfer fee (freehold): 0.25% of the property value	Property residency — Property worth QAR 730,000 (about USD 200,000) or more · Permanent residency — Property worth QAR 3.65 million (about USD 1M) or more	Aqarat (since 2025)
Kuwait	Restricted — conditional routes	Registration: Through the Ministry of Justice real estate registration	No property-based route	Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Bahrain	Freehold in designated zones	Registration fee: 2% of the property value	Golden Residence Visa — Property worth BHD 130,000 or more (reduced from BHD 200,000 in late 2025)	RERA Bahrain · SLRB
Oman	ITCs; wider ownership under the 2026 law	Registration fee: About 3% of the price	Owner residence permit — No minimum value · Investor residency — OMR 250,000 (5 years) or OMR 500,000 (10 years)	Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning

What's changed

A fast-moving
two years.

The rules for foreign buyers have changed in most GCC markets since late 2024.

Nov 2024

Kuwait

New conditions for non-GCC residents: 10 years' residence, one home up to 1,000 m²

Apr 2025

Bahrain

Bilaj Al Jazayer added to the zones open to non-GCC buyers

2025

Qatar

Real estate oversight moves to Aqarat, the new sector regulator

Late 2025

Bahrain

Golden Residence property threshold cut from BHD 200,000 to BHD 130,000

21 Jan 2026

Saudi Arabia

Law on real estate ownership by non-Saudis takes effect

May 2026

Oman

Real Estate Registry Law extends foreign ownership beyond tourism complexes

Jun 2026

Oman

Owner residence permit introduced — no minimum property value

Market guides

Go deeper,
country by country.

United Arab EmiratesUAE dirham (AED)

The GCC's most open property market

Market guide →Property →

Saudi ArabiaSaudi riyal (SAR)

The GCC's largest market, newly opening to foreign buyers

Market guide →Property →

QatarQatari riyal (QAR)

Freehold zones with residency attached

Market guide →Property →

KuwaitKuwaiti dinar (KWD)

A tightly held market, opening step by step

Market guide →Property →

BahrainBahraini dinar (BHD)

Island freehold with a 10-year visa

Market guide →Property →

OmanOmani rial (OMR)

From tourism complexes to nationwide ownership

Market guide →Property →

FAQ

GCC property,
answered.

01Which GCC countries let foreigners buy property?

The UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman allow foreign ownership in designated areas. Saudi Arabia opened designated zones to non-Saudis in January 2026. Kuwait remains the most restricted, with conditional routes only.

02Do GCC citizens have different rights?

Usually, yes. GCC nationals can typically buy in more areas than other foreigners, and may be exempt from some fees under reciprocity arrangements. Check the rules of the specific country.

03Can buying property give me residency?

In several markets: the UAE (Golden Visa from AED 2M), Qatar (from QAR 730,000), Bahrain (Golden Residence from BHD 130,000), Saudi Arabia (Premium Residency from SAR 4M) and Oman (owner and investor permits). Conditions apply in each case.

04Are these rules final?

No — several markets have changed their rules in 2025–2026, and implementing regulations are still being issued. This page was last reviewed in October 2026; always confirm with the official authority before you buy.

Sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the official authority before you buy. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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How the six markets
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two years.

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GCC property,
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Six markets.Six rulebooks.

How the six marketscompare.

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GCC property,answered.

Compare them with a specialist.One conversation, six markets.

How the six markets
compare.

A fast-moving
two years.

Go deeper,
country by country.

GCC property,
answered.

Compare them with a specialist.
One conversation, six markets.