Who can own, what to budget, which forms you sign, and what happens at the registration trustee when the home becomes yours.
Commercial property advisory in Dubai
Grade-A offices, prime retail, logistics warehouses and commercial freehold acquisitions across DIFC, Downtown, Business Bay, and Dubai South.
5%–10% of annual rent for commercial leases; 2% + VAT for commercial freehold sales
In short
- Enesco advises local enterprises, multinational corporations, and international family offices on commercial leasing, acquisitions, and asset management across Dubai.
- Commercial leases in Dubai are regulated under Law No. 26 of 2007 (and amendment Law No. 33 of 2008), registered via Ejari, and subject to 5% UAE Federal VAT.
- Commercial freehold property can be acquired by 100% foreign-owned corporate entities in designated investment zones, yielding average annual net returns of 7.5% to 9.5%.
Zoning and trade license verification.
We evaluate your commercial jurisdiction: Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET / DED Mainland) versus Freezone authorities (DIFC, DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA). Every commercial lease must match the economic activity permitted on your commercial license before Ejari registration.
Portfolio shortlisting and inspection.
We assemble on- and off-market options: fitted offices, shell & core corporate floors, retail storefronts, or bonded warehouses. We inspect parking allocations (customary 1 bay per 500 sq.ft), ceiling heights, electrical loads (three-phase kW), and Civil Defence certificates.
Fit-out grace period and lease negotiation.
For shell & core spaces, we negotiate rent-free fit-out periods from 30 to 120 days. We structure rent payment schedules in post-dated cheques, cap maintenance liabilities, and formalize security deposit terms in RERA Form B.
Ejari registration and utility commissioning.
We register the commercial lease on the official Ejari system, providing the authenticated certificate required to open corporate bank accounts, issue residency visas, and activate commercial DEWA meters.
Dubai commercial asset classes
Dubai's commercial market is bifurcated into four primary investment categories: Grade-A corporate office towers in the central business districts; prime retail and F&B frontages in high-footfall tourist corridors; industrial logistics warehouses in airport and port zones; and full commercial freehold buildings held for recurring yield.
- Grade-A Offices: DIFC, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Sheikh Zayed Road, DMCC / Jumeirah Lakes Towers (fitted, Cat-A, shell & core)
- Prime Retail & F&B: Waterfront dining promenades, luxury street retail, and mall-adjacent storefronts with grease trap and terrace permissions
- Industrial & Logistics: Bonded storage and distribution centers in Dubai South (Al Maktoum Airport), JAFZA, and Dubai Industrial City
- Commercial Freehold Buildings: Income-generating office blocks, boutique hotels, and educational/medical plots
UAE commercial property VAT and corporate tax
Unlike residential leases which are generally exempt from VAT, commercial property leases and sales carry 5% UAE Federal VAT under Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017. Registered businesses with a UAE Tax Registration Number (TRN) can reclaim this VAT as input tax on their quarterly Federal Tax Authority (FTA) returns.
Under the UAE Corporate Tax Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022), standard taxable profits above AED 375,000 are taxed at 9%. Qualified Free Zone Persons (QFZPs) enjoying 0% corporate tax on qualifying income must ensure their commercial premises satisfy regulatory economic substance requirements.
What it costs
5%–10% of annual rent for commercial leases; 2% + VAT for commercial freehold sales
Questions about this service
Can a foreign company own commercial property in Dubai?
Yes. Foreign individuals and foreign-registered corporations can acquire 100% freehold ownership of commercial offices, retail units, warehouses, and full buildings in designated Dubai freehold zones like Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, JLT, and Dubai South.
What is the customary fit-out grace period in Dubai?
For shell & core office space, landlords customarily grant 60 to 120 days rent-free fit-out grace periods. For semi-fitted offices, 30 to 45 days is standard. Rent payments only commence after the agreed fit-out window concludes.
How is commercial Ejari different from residential Ejari?
Commercial Ejari requires the tenant's trade license (or initial approval certificate from DED / Freezone), the landlord's title deed, the commercial tenancy contract, and utility premise numbers. Commercial Ejari serves as the legal proof of physical office presence required to issue investor and employee visas.
What is the difference between DED Mainland and Freezone commercial leases?
A company holding a Dubai Economy and Tourism (DED / Mainland) license can operate anywhere in Dubai mainland and lease offices in non-freezone or mainland-designated commercial buildings. A Freezone company (e.g. DMCC or DIFC) must lease space located within that specific freezone's physical boundaries, unless holding an official dual-license permit.
What are the commercial broker fees in Dubai?
Under standard RERA commercial practice, leasing brokerage commission is between 5% and 10% of the first year's annual base rent, paid by the tenant or landlord per the agreement. For freehold commercial acquisitions, the fee is 2% of the purchase price plus 5% VAT.
Guides that go with this service
The cost of buying property in Dubai, fee by fee
Costs and mortgages
What the Dubai Land Department charges, what the broker, developer and bank charge, who pays each one, and a worked example at AED 2,000,000.
The AED 2 million threshold, how a mortgage or a co-owner changes the count, the silence on off-plan, the two-year investor visa below the line, and where to apply.
What changes when you are not in the UAE: the documents, the power of attorney rules, moving the money, borrowing, visas and tax.
Other services
A buyer's broker who shortlists, checks every advert, negotiates the price and stays with you to the title deed.
A valuation from real sales data, a permitted listing, qualified buyers and a transfer handled from the first viewing to the trustee office.
A tenant's adviser who shortlists, checks the landlord, negotiates the terms and registers the contract on Ejari.
