Can I buy property in my child's name?

Whether you can buy property in your child's name in Dubai depends mainly on one thing: their age. An adult child (the applicable age of majority is confirmed by your lawyer) can hold title to a Dubai property directly, in their own name, the same as any other buyer. A minor cannot hold title in the same way; ownership on behalf of a minor typically runs through a guardian or a trust structure, confirmed with your lawyer and the Dubai Land Department before you sign anything.

Buying for an adult child

If your child is already an adult, the property can be registered fully in their name from the start. They sign the reservation form and the sale agreement themselves, or a power of attorney can let you or another representative sign on their behalf, a common arrangement when a parent is funding the purchase but wants the title in the child's name. Our power of attorney for a remote purchase guide explains how that document is prepared and used. Funds can come from you as a gift, but the transfer and its source-of-funds documentation should reflect the actual arrangement, since both banks will ask about it.

Buying for a minor

For a child who has not reached adulthood, direct title in their name is generally not available. The usual paths are for a parent or guardian to hold the property in trust or under a recognised guardianship arrangement, or for the parent to buy in their own name with a plan to transfer or gift the property once the child reaches adulthood. Each route has legal implications specific to your family and country of residence, and none should be assumed without independent legal advice. Our guide on buying in Dubai for your child's future walks through how families commonly plan around this.

Transferring or adding a child later

If you already own a unit and want to bring a child onto the title later, that is generally a separate transaction, not an automatic update. Before handover, some developers allow a transfer of an off-plan contract to a spouse or child under specific conditions; our guide on transferring your unit to a spouse or child before handover covers what that typically involves. After handover, adding a co-owner or transferring title is handled through the Dubai Land Department, with its own fees and paperwork.

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What this means for your paperwork

Whichever path applies, plan for the same underlying costs as any purchase: the Dubai Land Department registration fee of 4% on the property price, plus the Oqood registration fee for an off-plan sale, at a fixed amount confirmed in the contract. No fee, threshold or legal structure should be assumed beyond what your lawyer and your Orven adviser confirm for your situation; family and inheritance law varies by nationality and country of residence, which is why independent legal advice matters here more than in a standard purchase.

Working through this with Orven

Tell your Orven adviser whether the intended owner is an adult or a minor, and share your country of residence.
Your adviser points you toward the documentation the Dubai Land Department and the developer will require for the ownership structure you have in mind.
You confirm the legal structure with an independent lawyer before signing any reservation form.
The reservation and sale agreement are prepared to reflect the confirmed ownership, with your passport and your child's passport as required.
Funds are wired to the project's escrow account, with the source-of-funds documentation your bank requests.

Orven charges the buyer no commission; our fee comes from the developer. Brokerage is provided through ORVEN REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE L.L.C S.P.C (Economic License No. CN-6800129, ADRA). Message us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or by email at sales@orvenproperties.com to talk through your family's situation before you choose a project.

FAQ

Can a minor own property in Dubai at all? Not through direct title in the usual sense. Ownership on behalf of a minor generally runs through a guardian or trust structure, confirmed with a lawyer and the Dubai Land Department.

Can I gift money to my adult child so they can buy in their own name? Yes, that is a common arrangement. The transfer and its source-of-funds documentation should reflect the actual gift, since both your bank and the receiving UAE bank may ask about it.

Can I add my child as a co-owner after I have already reserved a unit? Adding a co-owner is generally a separate step from the original reservation, with its own paperwork before or after handover depending on timing. Your adviser and a lawyer confirm what applies to your contract.

Do I need a lawyer to buy in my child's name? Independent legal advice is strongly recommended, since family and inheritance rules vary by nationality and country of residence, and Orven's adviser does not replace that legal guidance.

Does buying in my child's name affect Golden Visa eligibility? Golden Visa eligibility depends on the investment threshold and conditions confirmed by the relevant authorities; ask your adviser how ownership structure may interact with your family's plans.