Ownership guide for Sharjah: how foreigners buy

What you need to know

1. Can a foreigner own property in Sharjah?

   Sharjah Law 2 of 2022 amended Law 5 of 2010 to allow ownership by persons other than UAE and GCC citizens in real estate development areas and projects, under the Executive Council's rules.

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Law No. 2 of 2022 amending Law No. 5 of 2010 on real estate registration (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026

2. How many units in a project can foreigners own?

   Non-citizen, non-GCC ownership in a Sharjah development area or project may not exceed 50% of its units (Resolution 30 of 2022, Art. 1).

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Executive Council Resolution No. 30 of 2022 on ownership by non-citizens (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026

3. How many Sharjah projects are open to foreign owners?

   By the end of September 2026, 52 real estate projects in Sharjah had been approved for freehold ownership by people who are not UAE or Gulf citizens since Executive Council Resolution No. 30 of 2022, 8 of them approved in 2026.

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department: investors and freehold projects, January to September 2026, as published by Sharjah24 (Sharjah Government Media Bureau), read 5 November 2026

4. What fee does a foreign buyer pay in Sharjah?

   Sharjah charges non-citizen, non-GCC buyers an ownership fee of 2% of the sale contract value (Resolution 30 of 2022, Art. 2).

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Executive Council Resolution No. 30 of 2022 on ownership by non-citizens (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026

5. What fees apply when an off-plan contract is signed?

   Under Sharjah Resolution 37 of 2024, an initial sale contract is attested at the department on signing, with fees of 1% on the seller and 4% on a buyer who is not a UAE or GCC citizen, or 2% on a UAE or GCC citizen buyer (Art. 18).

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Executive Council Resolution No. 37 of 2024 on real estate development projects (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026

6. Which office must a developer register its project with?

   Under Sharjah Resolution 37 of 2024, a developer must register each real estate development project with the Real Estate Registration Department (Art. 3).

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Executive Council Resolution No. 37 of 2024 on real estate development projects (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026

7. Must an off-plan sale contract be registered in Sharjah?

   An initial sale contract not registered with Sharjah's Real Estate Registration Department has no effect against the department or third parties (Resolution 37 of 2024, Art. 18).

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Executive Council Resolution No. 37 of 2024 on real estate development projects (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026

8. Where do my off-plan payments go in Sharjah?

   Under Sharjah Resolution 37 of 2024, an off-plan buyer pays into the unit's escrow sub-account, and the developer may not receive any part of the price outside escrow or deduct the broker's commission from the unit's value (Art. 7).

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Executive Council Resolution No. 37 of 2024 on real estate development projects (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026

9. How much can the first off-plan payment be?

   Under Sharjah Resolution 37 of 2024, the first payment to a developer may not exceed 20% of the unit's value unless the parties agree otherwise, and payments follow construction progress (Art. 18).

   Where this comes from

   • Sharjah Executive Council Resolution No. 37 of 2024 on real estate development projects (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026

10. Does a lease end when the property is sold?

    In Sharjah, transfer of a leased property to a new owner does not end the lease; the new landlord takes over all the former landlord's rights and obligations (Law 5 of 2024, Art. 17).

    Where this comes from

    • Sharjah Law No. 5 of 2024 on leasing real estate (Sharjah Official Gazette), read 4 November 2026