Freehold means outright ownership in perpetuity. Leasehold means rights to use the property for a fixed period (usually 99 years).
Freehold property is owned outright in perpetuity, with full rights to sell, lease, or pass on to heirs. Leasehold is the right to use a property for a fixed period, typically 99 years, after which ownership reverts to the head lessor. In Dubai, designated freehold areas allow foreign nationals to own freehold; the rest is reserved or leasehold.
All the areas Mario actively works in (Palm, Marina, Downtown, Creek, Hills, Business Bay, JVC, etc.) are designated freehold, meaning a European or any non-UAE national can own outright with a clean title deed. Leasehold in Dubai is rare for residential purposes and not something most investors should engage with. If a deal is described as leasehold, it's usually a commercial unit or a very specific older project, and the diligence required is meaningfully different.
Mario walks every European investor through these mechanics on the first call. The diligence trail is what separates a clean deal from a regret.