Frequently asked questions

First of all, you need to answer the question, for what reason am I buying a property?

Over the years many buyers have bought blindly and made a good return purely due to the fact that Dubai and the UAE grew rapidly after COVID. Now however, investors need to be able to strategize their purchase in line with what they want out of their investment.

If you are looking for your own home, take care in choosing the right developer that can build long lasting quality, provide good support, and have a good track record in market.

Above all else, no matter what your reason for buying is, it all comes down to location, location, location.

A personal visit is optional, you can go through the entire transaction process remotely all contracts can be signed electronically. However, if you are more comfortable being there in person at the viewing or developers offices, our staff will be happy to meet you, accompany you, and guide you through the process.

Yes, this is extremely important, especially in Dubai as there are thousands of developers. Buying from the right developer can dictate very important attributes associated to property prices and the rental return you can achieve.

The reputation of the developer is paramount, whether it be a big governmental developer or a smaller boutique. Buying from the wrong developer can seriously impact any appreciation and/or rental return, and its ability to sell on the open market regardless of the location.

This is a loaded question as it depends on what you want out of your investment. Dubai and the rest of the UAE is extremely versatile allowing for different locations to offer different returns.

If you are looking for the highest ROI as possible and want the rent to reimburse you as quickly as possible, then commuter towns will offer a steady demand in young professional tenants, and steady prices. Areas such as JVC, Arjan, DLRC, and Town Square are apartment heavy areas within commuting distance to Business Bay and DIFC.

If you are looking for Short Term rental (AirBnB) then tourist hotspots will offer the best return and lower void periods. Think Golf Courses, Sea View, Downtown, Marina, and Expo City.

If you are looking for a longer-term investment and want a higher appreciation, you need to find a lower supply and a higher demand product, these include townhouses and villa communities, luxury apartments on the coast with a sea view, DIFC, and exclusive micro markets.

If you want a mix of all the above, then ensure to find an affordable apartment overlooking a golf course or the sea, still relatively close to the city centre.

When buying off-plan properties the total costs usually are:

20% Down payment (can vary)

4% DLD cost (upfront)

AED3,150 to 5,000 for admin charges (upfront)

Then as per the payment plan

Agents do not ask for commission as their commission is covered by the developer.

Typically, short-term holiday rentals generate a higher ROI, however this comes with higher fees and more risk. For a good management company, you can expect a management fee of circa 20-25% of the annual income. There is also the risk of void periods throughout the year depending on the season and all bills and charges are paid for by the owner.

Long term rental is more ‘hands off’. Landlords only pay for the buildings service charges and all other bills are covered by the tenant. Tenants will live in the property for a minimum of 12 months and will need a lot of notice to evict.

Make sure to choose the correct location based on which route you would like to go down. Some areas perform better for long term and short term will struggle and vice versa. If short term is the route, make sure to pick a high traffic area for tourists, a project that has an abundance of amenities, and close to local transport.

Mortgages are available to non-residents, certain banks offer this service, however it is subject to higher interest rates and dependant on the banks requirements. Speak to one of our trusted mortgage advisors for more information.

No, not entirely. There is no VAT on the price of a home: residential sales are generally exempt from VAT, and the first sale of a new home within three years of completion is zero-rated. When the sale is registered, the Dubai Land Department charges a registration fee of 4% of the price, plus small fixed fees.

VAT at 5% does apply to services around a purchase, such as the registration trustee's fee and usually the agent's commission, and to the service charges you pay every year for the building's shared parts.

Tax where you live is a separate question. If you are resident in the UK, for example, GOV.UK says UK residents normally pay UK tax on foreign income, including rent from overseas property, and Capital Gains Tax may be due when you sell. Ask your own tax adviser about your position. More detail: the real cost of buying property in Dubai and buying in Dubai from the UK. Last reviewed 28 September 2026.

Lots of developers offer DLD waivers or discounts from time to time especially during the holidays. Although these can seem like a good deal always do your due diligence to make sure the prices haven’t been inflated in order to incorporate any discounts.

Typically, the rule of thumb is, the easier the payment plan or the bigger the discount, the more inflated the price, or the developer is struggling to sell.

The best developers in the market rarely offer discounts or offer extremely long payment plans as they don’t need to.

Having an experienced agent to guide you will allow you to cut through the noise of the market and locate the best properties to buy.

By using other major cities as examples, Dubai is still a very young city with a tremendous amount of potential and space to grow into. Check property prices in similar areas of your home countries capital or major cities and see where the prices perform the best. The closer you are to Heathrow for example, the cheaper the price of accommodation.. The closer you are to beach in Barcelona, the more expensive.. The same rules apply all over the globe, so why would it be any different in Dubai?

To receive passive income from real estate, you do not have to be in the UAE.

According to Law No. 26 of 2007 “On the Regulation of Relations between Landlord and Tenant” and Law No. 33 of 2008 amending Law No. 26, any owner of real estate in the territory of the Emirate of Dubai has the full right to lease his property.

This is dependent on the demands of the landlord. Typically, landlords ask for 1 or 2 cheques, however this can be negotiated to 4, 6, and even 12 cheques.

Bank transfers can also be negotiated; however, security cheques will still need to be provided.

Tenants bear the costs in Dubai, a 5% deposit for an unfurnished property, and a 10% deposit for furnished. This is held either by the agent or the landlord and reimbursed at the end of the tenancy subject to the condition of the property.

Tenants also need to pay the agents commission either 5% of the annual rent, or AED5,000+vat if the percentage falls under this.

A deposit is also given to DEWA for the water and electric, AED2,000 for apartments and AED4,000 for villas. This is reimbursed at the end of the tenancy as long as you have paid all your DEWA bills.

Yes, this is possible. However, the tenant must notify the landlord 2 months before the termination of the contract and fully pay for these 2 months of accommodation, as well as all utility bills and fees prescribed in the contract.

Yes. The Dubai Land Department's investor residence service (Taskeen) offers a two-year residence visa linked to owning property in Dubai. DLD says an individual owner can apply regardless of the property's value, while a co-owner's share must be worth at least AED 400,000; the owner can sponsor a spouse and children. Property worth AED 2 million or more can lead to the Golden Visa: see the UAE Golden Visa through property. Rules change; check the current position with DLD. Last reviewed 28 September 2026.

Yes, the resident visa is extended for 30 days until the end of its validity period. To do this, a resident needs to submit an application to the General Directorate for Residents and Foreigners.

A resident visa does not impose territorial restrictions on the choice of place of residence. You have the right to reside in any emirate convenient for you.

Two routes are linked to owning property in Dubai. As the official sources describe them on 28 September 2026:

1. Investor residence (Taskeen), two years. The Dubai Land Department says an individual owner can apply regardless of the property's value; a co-owner's share must be worth at least AED 400,000. The owner can sponsor a spouse and children.

2. The Golden Visa, for property worth at least AED 2 million in total, in one or more properties owned in your own name. DLD, ICP and GDRFA Dubai describe a 10-year renewable residence permit; the UAE government portal's summary table lists five years for property investors, so confirm the term when you apply. A mortgaged property can qualify with a letter from the bank (DLD's service asks for one showing AED 2 million paid), and ICP accepts off-plan units bought from an approved local developer. Holders can sponsor a spouse, children and parents, do not need a sponsor, and are not limited by the usual six-month rule on time outside the UAE. GDRFA says the property may not be disposed of during the residence.

The applicant must apply in person in the UAE. Rules change; check the current position with DLD or GDRFA. More detail: the UAE Golden Visa through property.