Since ancient times, the means of livelihood have been narrowing and expanding for humans. Traveling in search of it has always been like a magic wand, providing reasonable savings within a few years. The expatriate returns to his homeland with these savings, having bought land that feeds him from its produce, or built a house that shelters him and his family, or established a project that generates enough income to spare him from an unstable job with others.
However, in recent decades, working abroad has become an end in itself rather than a means to an end. With the increasing severity and duration of economic crisis, political conflicts, and civil wars in many countries around the world, fleeing from one’s homeland has become a dream pursued by millions.
The spending pattern of expatriates has shifted from being savings-oriented to that of someone without deferred big dreams. In fact, reality itself has turned into a dream from which the expatriate never wishes to wake up.
The disheartened have raised their eyes toward three destinations: either to the West, especially those with exceptional qualifications and rare expertise; to the Gulf, particularly for those with ordinary skills or untrained labor; or to countries that offer safe residence for those who haven’t found a suitable opportunity.
As the years passed, a new destination emerged for the expatriate. It is neither the homeland they left behind, which continues to sink, nor the foreign country. Instead, they now long for four walls and a roof that they own, like a bubble they can retreat to, resembling a kind of alternative homeland.
In general, before purchasing a property, it is essential to be cautious of fraud or deceit. This can be achieved by consulting a lawyer or an accredited legal advisor, while carefully considering the laws, procedures, fees, and taxes of each country.
Foreign Ownership of Real Estate in Turkey
Turkey became a destination for many Arabs following the aftermath and ripple effects of the Arab Spring. The real estate market flourished there, as purchasing property under certain conditions provided legal residency, with a good chance of obtaining Turkish citizenship.
However, within a decade, many began to doubt the viability of this step due to the plummeting value of the Turkish lira, rising inflation rates, and the emergence of a wave of racist behaviors towards Arabs, which the government is attempting to curb.
Foreigners from most countries can purchase property in Turkey, except for certain nationalities such as Syrians and Armenians. Additionally, foreigners are not permitted to buy property in military and security zones.
There are also restrictions on the area of agricultural land that foreigners can purchase, with a maximum limit set for the size of the property they can acquire.
Foreigners who purchase property in Turkey can obtain a residence permit, which is renewed annually, provided that the property’s value meets a minimum threshold set by Turkish laws.
When purchasing property, it must be registered in the Turkish land registry and the title deed (Tapu) must be obtained.
There are various types of title deeds (Tapu) in Turkey, including: the blue title deed for agricultural land and the red title deed for residential properties, offices, and commercial shops.
Foreign Ownership of Real Estate in the UK
There is also another group of wealthy Gulf individuals who buy property in Britain, the land of fog, as a precautionary measure against what their safe countries might face due to the Iranian-American conflict in the region. The city of London (pronounced with a soft ‘l’ and ‘d’ as they say it) has been familiar to them in collective memory for decades as a preferred tourist and educational destination. It also offers a multicultural environment, and geographically it is easy to reach by plane within a few hours. Additionally, its widely spoken English language does not pose a significant linguistic barrier.
The United Kingdom is considered one of the countries that allow foreigners to own property, whether they are residents or non-residents. There is no significant legal distinction between citizens and foreigners regarding property purchases. All properties in the UK must be registered with the Land Registry for official documentation.
Note that purchasing property does not automatically grant the right to reside in the United Kingdom. One must obtain an appropriate visa for residency, such as a work visa or an investor visa. Purchasing property may be one of the conditions for an investor visa.
There are many types of property ownership in the UK, including: individual ownership, divided ownership, common ownership, joint ownership, cooperative ownership, and social ownership.
Foreign ownership of property in the Gulf
Due to the high rental prices for properties in most Gulf countries, many expatriates working there consider purchasing residential property. Regulations vary from one Gulf country to another, and most do not grant property owners the right to apply for citizenship.
All these factors have led to the issuance of regulations in many countries allowing non-citizens to purchase property. Various forms of ownership have emerged, including ownership restricted to a specific time period, leasehold agreements that end in ownership, and freehold ownership.
Foreign ownership of property in the UAE
The UAE was at the forefront of Gulf countries that allowed foreigners to own property, attracting thousands of buyers from India, Russia, Iran, and many different Arab nationalities with its modern infrastructure and open lifestyle.
The laws regarding expatriate property ownership in the United Arab Emirates vary from one emirate to another and within specific areas, such as freehold zones or real estate investment areas. There are several systems, including ownership, usufruct, and long-term lease. Foreign ownership of property in the UAE may grant the right to apply for UAE citizenship, subject to certain regulations and conditions.
The categories targeted by the decision to grant UAE citizenship include investors, doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, intellectuals, and talented individuals
Foreign ownership of property in Qatar
The economic and urban development in Qatar, especially after its global success in liquefied natural gas projects, has led to the issuance of regulations allowing foreigners to own property in the country. The right to own property differs from the right to usufruct for foreigners; ownership is not time-restricted, while usufruct is limited to 99 years.
Law No. (16) of 2018 regarding the regulation of non-Qatari property ownership and usufruct allows foreigners to own and benefit from property under certain conditions and regulations. According to Article 2, “Non-Qataris may own and benefit from property in designated areas, according to the conditions, regulations, benefits, and procedures specified by a decision from the Council of Ministers, based on the committee’s proposal. In all cases, the usufruct rights granted to non-Qataris do not expire upon their death and are transferred to their heirs, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.”
The Council of Ministers Decision No. (28) of 2020 specifies the areas where non-Qataris are permitted to own and benefit from property, along with the conditions, regulations, benefits, and procedures for their ownership and usufruct. This decision details the conditions, regulations, benefits, procedures for ownership, usufruct, and the areas where foreigners are allowed to own property.
Article 2 stipulates that “Non-Qataris may own and benefit from property in the areas specified in Schedules (1) and (2) attached to this decision, and defined by the zoning and cadastral maps attached to them.”
Regarding residence visas based on property ownership or usufruct, Article 7 of the same decision clarifies that “Residence permits for property owners and usufruct holders are granted according to the provisions of Law No. (21) of 2015, as follows: The residence period in the country must be at least ninety days per year, whether continuous or intermittent, and the value of the property or usufruct must not be less than QAR 730,000. If the value of the property or usufruct is QAR 3,650,000 or more, the property owner or usufruct holder will receive the privileges granted to permanent residence cardholders in healthcare, education, and investment. Prices will be determined according to the market value approved by the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice.”
Owning or benefiting from property does not grant foreigners the right to apply for Qatari citizenship, which has specific conditions outlined in Law No. (38) of 2005 concerning Qatari nationality.
Foreign ownership of real estate in Saudi Arabia
The Law of Real Estate Ownership and Investment by Non-Saudis, issued on July 20, 2020, allows foreigners to own property under certain conditions and regulations. According to Articles 1 and 2, foreigners can own property necessary for their business activities, housing, and the accommodation of their employees. Additionally, expatriates living normally in the country can own their private residence, subject to approval from the Ministry of Interior.
Article 5 prohibits foreigners from owning, using, or benefiting from any property within the boundaries of Mecca and Medina, except for property acquired through inheritance. It states: “No non-Saudi may acquire ownership rights, rights of way, or usufruct on property located within the boundaries of Mecca and Medina by any means other than inheritance.”
“Other than by way of inheritance, a non-Saudi may not have the right to ownership, easement, or benefit of real estate located within the boundaries of the cities of Mecca and Medina. Acquirement of right to ownership shall be excepted if the owned real estate is endowed to a specific Saudi entity, in accordance with the provisions of Sharia, and provided that it is stipulated in the endowment document that the relevant endowment entity has the right to practice trusteeship over the endowed property, in accordance with the Regulations”.
The definition of a Saudi person in the first paragraph of this article is “The term Non-Saudi mentioned in paragraph (1) of this Article shall mean the following: a natural person not holding the Saudi nationality, or a non-Saudi company, or a Saudi company founded, co-founded, or partially owned by a natural or corporate person not holding the Saudi nationality”
With the exception of the following “Banks and real estate financing companies licensed by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, provided that their acquirement of real estate is for the purpose of financing Saudi nationals, for their offices or branches, or for the practice of their activities in accordance with the regulations set by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, Listed companies not engaged in real estate activities, provided that the whole real estate is designated for their offices or branches, or the practice of their activities in accordance with rules set by the Capital Market Authority, Entities specified by the Council of Ministers in accordance with rules set for this purpose, and Persons or categories listed as such pursuant to a decision by the Council of Ministers or the President of the Council of Ministers.”
In general, foreign ownership or use of property does not grant the right to apply for Saudi citizenship, which is regulated by the Saudi Arabian Nationality System. The specific conditions for acquiring citizenship are detailed in the executive regulations of the Saudi Arabian Nationality System.
Foreign ownership of real estate in Caribbean countries
Individuals with significant savings often seek citizenship in certain Caribbean countries to obtain passports that facilitate the visa application process for countries where obtaining visas with their original nationality is challenging.
These small Caribbean countries grant the right to apply for citizenship in exchange for purchasing property, with prices ranging between $200,000 and $400,000 depending on the country. Among these countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Grenada.
There are also websites and offices that act as intermediaries for applications in exchange for certain fees. However, caution is advised before entering into agreements with these intermediaries, as fraudulent sites and offices may be traps for stealing money. It is recommended to contact the official websites of these countries and consult with a lawyer or legal advisor before taking any steps in this direction.
The dream of stability versus national security
The sense of security is tied to psychological and material factors. An individual’s desire to own property in a foreign country contrasts with that country’s interest in protecting its national security, economic stability, and demographic integrity.
In general, each country needs foreigners to varying degrees. Some countries, like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, open their doors with well-considered facilitations to meet their needs. Others impose stricter regulations to protect their interests.
Historically, some countries have tried to isolate themselves completely by building great barriers to separate them from the rest of the world, such as China. The consequence of this was that, despite its long-standing civilization, China awakened from a deep slumber to the military threat posed by Japan during the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894.
In the age of the internet and global connectivity, it is no longer possible for a nation to isolate itself from what is happening in the rest of the world. Dealing wisely with these realities has become an existential necessity, requiring a controlled openness rather than a stifling isolation.
