Buying Property in Ras Al Khaimah as a Foreigner: Your Rights, the Golden Visa and the Wynn Al Marjan Effect

Yes. Foreigners of any nationality can own property in the freehold areas of Ras Al Khaimah. The sale is registered with Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, and the buyer pays a fee of 2% of the property’s market value. If the total value of your property in the UAE is AED 2 million or more, you may qualify for the Golden Visa.

Why People Are Asking About Ras Al Khaimah Now

I get this question a lot from buyers of many nationalities: from India, from Europe and from the Gulf. Google searches in five languages confirm that the interest is real.

The first reason is the size of the market. According to the Emirates News Agency (19 February 2025), the Lands and Properties Sector at Ras Al Khaimah Municipality recorded real estate transactions worth more than AED 15 billion in 2024. These included 2,985 sales worth more than AED 6 billion (WAM).

The second reason is the Wynn project, a large resort on Al Marjan Island that is drawing attention to the whole emirate.

But interest alone is not a reason to decide. So in this article I have put together only what the official authorities say.

Can Foreigners Own Property in Ras Al Khaimah?

Yes, in the freehold areas. Ras Al Khaimah Municipality’s service card for the “Real Estate Sale Contract” states that both UAE nationals and non-nationals may own property in the freehold areas (Ras Al Khaimah Municipality).

According to the same page, the freehold areas are:

• Al Hamra Village
• Mina Al Arab
• Al Marjan Island
• RAK Central
• Julphar Towers
• Al Mairid (land plots)
• The upcoming Beach District

The Ras Al Khaimah Government portal also says that RAK Properties projects in Mina Al Arab and Julphar Towers are sold on a freehold basis to individual investors of all nationalities (Government of Ras Al Khaimah).

So the answer is the same whether you are Indian, German, French or Arab: you can own property, as long as it is in a freehold area.

How to Buy, Step by Step

If the Property Is Ready

According to Ras Al Khaimah Municipality’s official service card (source):

1. Prepare the documents: the Emirates ID of the seller and the buyer, the original title deed, a no-objection letter (NOC) from the developer in freehold areas, and a power of attorney if someone is acting for you.
2. Go to the Customer Happiness Centre: an employee checks the documents.
3. Sign the contract: the sale contract is drawn up and both parties sign it.
4. Pay the fees: at the payment machines in the centre or through the mRAK app.
5. Receive the title deed: the service takes 3 working days.

A note: the page asks for the Emirates ID of both seller and buyer, and it does not mention an alternative document for someone who does not hold an Emirates ID. If you are buying from outside the UAE, ask the Customer Happiness Centre at Ras Al Khaimah Municipality which document they accept before you travel.

If the Property Is Off-Plan

Here you are protected by the rules of the Real Estate Regulatory Administration at Ras Al Khaimah Municipality. They require the developer to (Ras Al Khaimah Municipality):

• Register with the Administration before carrying out any real estate development.
• Register every off-plan project separately.
• Open an escrow account in the project’s name with an escrow agent registered with the Administration. Buyers’ payments are deposited into this account.
• Get written permission before advertising units for sale.

The same Administration also registers real estate brokerages and regulates the work of real estate brokers.

The Official Fees

According to Ras Al Khaimah Municipality’s “Real Estate Sale Contract” service card (source):

A simple example: if the apartment is worth AED 1 million, the buyer’s registration fee is AED 20,000, plus the issuing fees.

Important: I could not find the registration fee for off-plan sales clearly stated on a recent official page. Ask the developer and Ras Al Khaimah Municipality about it in writing before you pay.

The Golden Visa Through Property

The Golden Visa is issued by a federal authority, and the property can be in any emirate, including Ras Al Khaimah. According to the guide from the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP):

• You must own one or more properties in the UAE with a total value of at least AED 2,000,000.
• The ownership must be full and registered in your name.
• The property may be financed with a loan, as long as the loan is from an approved local bank.
• Off-plan property is accepted at the same value, as long as you buy it from a local real estate company approved by the relevant authority.
• You must have valid comprehensive health insurance for yourself and your family for the whole period of residence.

ICP’s “Issue Entry Permit for Real Estate Investor Residence” service (ICP) asks for: a passport valid for at least 6 months, a personal photo, and a letter from the real estate registration department confirming that you own property worth at least AED 2,000,000. The published fees for this service are AED 100 for the application, AED 100 for issuing and AED 100 for smart services.

On the duration: the ICP guide and the service page say 10 years for property investors. The official UAE government portal, u.ae, still says 5 years for property investment at the same threshold of AED 2 million (u.ae). ICP is the authority that issues the residence, so confirm the duration with ICP before you base your decision on it.

The Wynn Project on Al Marjan Island: What Has Been Officially Announced?

The announced facts:

• The project is a partnership between Wynn affiliates, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding (Wynn).
• The resort has 1,530 rooms and suites (same source).
• The company announced that the building topped out on 15 December 2025, and says the opening is scheduled for 2027 (same source).

What does this mean for you as a buyer?

• It means a major tourism project is really being built, and it has an announced opening date.
• It does not mean that any property near it will go up in price. No official body guarantees that, and I do not forecast prices or returns.
• It does not mean that every unit with “Marjan” in its advert is actually on Al Marjan Island. Check the location in the title deed or the sale contract.
• If the property is off-plan, its handover date is set by your contract with the developer, not by the resort’s opening date.

The rule I have taught sales teams for years: big news sells the dream, but it is the contract that protects the money.

Checklist Before You Pay Anything

1. Is the property in a freehold area on the official list?
2. Are the brokerage and the broker registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Administration at Ras Al Khaimah Municipality?
3. If it is off-plan: is the project registered, and will you pay into the project’s escrow account, not a personal account?
4. If it is a resale, do you have a no-objection letter from the developer?
5. Have you included the 2% registration fee and the issuing fees in your budget?
6. If your goal is the Golden Visa: is the total value AED 2 million or more, and is the financing from an approved local bank?
7. Have you read the whole contract, especially the handover date, the payment plan and the cancellation terms?

Want to Be Sure Before You Decide?

Book a free property consultation with me. Together we will go through your questions, the area, the checklist, and the questions you should ask the developer and the broker.

Book your free consultation

I am Ahmed Moawad, a real estate sales trainer for more than 13 years. I have trained more than 9,000 professionals in more than 80 developers and brokerages. I am not a licensed real estate broker: I offer free, general guidance, and any purchase is completed through a licensed real estate brokerage. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.