I'm looking at villas for sale in Dubai, and I'm wondering if the same rules and procedures apply in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah? They seem completely different, and no one talks about it openly. Where can I find useful information?

One might expect the rules to be uniform throughout the UAE, but frankly, that's not the case. In Dubai, freehold zones are quite specific, and outside of them, ownership rules vary. I encountered this in Sharjah, where residency status was very important, and stricter restrictions applied to foreigners.

I spent several months comparing the property purchasing processes in different emirates. Dubai stands out because its property rights system allows non-residents to purchase villas in designated areas without a mortgage. Abu Dhabi has investment zones, but registration fees vary by about one percent. For example, you can see villas for sale here https://atvir.com/uae/residential-complexes/villas