Areas & planning
Freehold Zone
A freehold zone is a designated area where expatriates can hold full freehold title, in Abu Dhabi typically within its investment zones.
Freehold zones are the specific districts where non-GCC nationals are permitted to own property outright with a registered title deed. In Abu Dhabi these coincide with the emirate's designated investment zones, where the 2019 law amendment extended freehold rights to expatriates on islands and communities such as Saadiyat, Yas, Al Reem, and Al Raha Beach. Outside these zones, freehold in Abu Dhabi is generally limited to UAE and GCC nationals, so buyers should confirm a specific plot's status with ADREC.
Related terms
- Investment Zone — An investment zone is an Abu Dhabi area designated by law where expatriates and foreign investors can own property under freehold or other tenures.
- Freehold — Freehold is outright, perpetual ownership of a property and its land, giving the owner the right to use, lease, sell, or bequeath it.
- Master Community — A master community is a large planned development with shared infrastructure and amenities governed by a single set of community rules.
- ADREC (Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre) — ADREC is Abu Dhabi's real-estate regulator, overseeing property registration, brokerage licensing, and the emirate's official transaction data.