Scenario · Ownership

Freehold for foreigners — where full ownership is available

Freehold is full, perpetual ownership with the right to inherit and resell. For a foreigner it is not available everywhere and is often limited by zones or property type. Below are the destinations where freehold is open to non-residents, with the restrictions for each country.

21destinations match

Comparison

Matching destinations

CountryOwnership regimeEntry price · yield

GeorgiaFREEHOLD 100% — no restrictions for foreignersfrom $40,000 · 7-12% gross, short-term up to 12-15%

CambodiaFREEHOLD on condos above the ground floor (strata title), 70% quota per buildingfrom $40,000 (~4M ₽) · 6-9% long-term Phnom Penh, 8-12% resort Sihanoukville

Cabo VerdeFREEHOLD with no restrictions for foreigners + residence permit through investmentfrom €50,000 (~5.5M ₽) · 6-10% resort Airbnb, 5-7% long-term

ThailandFreehold condo within the building's 49% quotafrom $80,000 · 5-8% net

TurkeyFREEHOLD + citizenship by investment of $400K in 3-6 monthsfrom $80,000 · 5-9% gross, short-term up to 8-12%

SerbiaFREEHOLD under the reciprocity principle for Russiansfrom €80,000 (~8.8M ₽) · 5-7% long-term rental in Belgrade, 8-12% Airbnb in Kopaonik

ArmeniaFREEHOLD on real estate (land — no, only via a legal entity)from $80,000 · 6-9% long-term, 8-12% Airbnb Tsaghkadzor winter

Sri LankaLeasehold 99 years on land/villa; FREEHOLD on condominium units (any floor)from $80,000 · 6-10% long-term expat, 10-15% boutique villa Airbnb

MontenegroFREEHOLD + residence permit for any property purchasefrom €100,000 · 5-9% long-term, 8-12% Airbnb

MexicoFREEHOLD via fideicomiso (bank trust) in the coastal zonefrom $120,000 · 8-12% Airbnb at resorts, 10-15% total return

GreeceFREEHOLD + Golden Visa (3-tier: €250K/€400K/€800K)from €150,000 · 4-7% long-term, 8-12% Airbnb on the islands

MalaysiaFreehold for foreigners (min RM 1M, in Kuala Lumpur — RM 600K)from $150,000 · 4-7% gross

Dominican RepublicFREEHOLD with no restrictions — same rights as citizensfrom $150,000 · 8-10% gross, short-term Airbnb

OmanFreehold for foreigners — only within an Integrated Tourism Complexfrom $180,000 · 6-8% gross

UAEFreehold in designated zones + Golden Visa $545K for 10 yearsfrom $200,000 · 6-10% net, premium residences up to 8-12%

CyprusFREEHOLD + Permanent Residency for €300K (EU)from €200,000 · 4-7% long-term, 6-10% short-term Airbnb

BahrainFREEHOLD in designated zones + Golden Residency from BHD 130Kfrom $200,000 · 5-9% gross

Saudi ArabiaFREEHOLD in designated zones (new law 01.2026) + Premium Residencyfrom $300,000 · 6-8% gross, NEOM rental yields after completion 8-10%

MauritiusFREEHOLD for foreigners under PDS / IRS / Smart City / R+2 schemesfrom $300,000 (PDS entry), from $375,000 (residence permit) · 4-7% long-term, 6-9% short-term villa Airbnb

SeychellesFREEHOLD ONLY in approved projects (Eden Island, Meliá Residences)from $500,000 (Eden Island apartments) · 5-8% net via hotel rental program

KuwaitFREEHOLD for GCC nationals only. Non-GCC: long-term lease OR 10+ years of residenceunavailable for non-GCC · 5-7% (for GCC nationals)

FAQ

Common questions

What is freehold and how does it differ from leasehold?

Freehold is full ownership with no term, with the right to inherit and resell. Leasehold is a long-term lease (usually 30-99 years) with the option to renew. Freehold is more secure but is not available to foreigners in every country or for every property type.

In which countries can a foreigner get freehold?

Among our destinations, freehold is open to non-residents in the UAE (in designated freehold zones), Oman (in ITCs), Turkey, Cyprus, Georgia and others. In Thailand freehold is available only for condos within a building's 49% quota; land and villas go through leasehold.

Is freehold in the UAE available in any district?

No. In the UAE, freehold for foreigners is available only in specially designated freehold zones (Dubai Marina, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, JVC and others). Outside those — leasehold or ownership only for UAE/GCC citizens.

Can freehold be inherited?

Yes, freehold is inheritable. But in some jurisdictions (e.g. the UAE) non-residents should draw up a will under local law or DIFC Wills, otherwise inheritance follows Sharia rules. This is covered on each country page.

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