Answers

Dubai property answers

These are the questions I get asked most, answered in the first fifty words and then explained properly. Every fee, threshold and visa rule is checked against the Dubai Land Department, u.ae or the Central Bank, and the market numbers come from my own community guides. Where I give an opinion, I say so.

Updated September 2026

• Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?Yes, outright freehold in the designated areas, with no visa, partner or age requirement.
• Where can foreigners buy? Dubai’s freehold areas explainedThe areas set by Regulation 3 of 2006 and the additions since, which is most of new Dubai.
• How much does it really cost to buy property in Dubai?Budget roughly 7 to 8% on top of the price for a resale, most of it the 4% DLD fee.
• What is the DLD transfer fee in Dubai?4% of the sale price, formally split 2% and 2% but in practice paid by the buyer.
• How long does it take to buy property in Dubai?A cash resale can close in a few weeks; a mortgage adds the bank’s valuation and approval.
• Can I buy property in Dubai without being there?Yes, through a notarised power of attorney, and the transfer itself is done at a trustee office.
• What documents do I need to buy property in Dubai?Your passport, and for a mortgage your income and bank paperwork; a residence visa is not required.
• What’s the minimum budget to buy property in Dubai?Studios in JVC start around AED 450K, and Motor City apartments from about AED 700K.

• Off-plan or ready: which is better in Dubai?Ready pays rent from day one; off-plan buys a lower launch price with a payment plan. It depends what you need the money to do.
• Is off-plan property in Dubai safe?Payments go into a RERA-supervised escrow account under Law 8 of 2007, which removes the worst risks but not all of them.
• What do I check before a client signs off-plan?The 49 questions I work through on every project, from the developer to the exit. Free, no sign-up, and it saves your ticks on your phone.
• Can you sell off-plan property before handover?Yes, by assigning the contract with the developer’s NOC once you have paid the share your SPA requires.
• How do post-handover payment plans work?Part of the price is paid in instalments after you get the keys, so the unit can start earning while you pay.
• What happens if an off-plan project is delayed?Your SPA sets the grace period, and beyond it Law 13 of 2008 and RERA govern your options.
• What is Oqood in Dubai?The Land Department’s interim register for off-plan contracts, and the certificate that proves your purchase before handover.
• What is snagging, and do I need an inspection?The defect check you do before accepting handover. I would always do one.

• Can non-residents get a mortgage in Dubai?Yes, from a handful of UAE banks, at a lower loan-to-value than residents get.
• How much down payment do I need in Dubai?At least 20% for an expat resident’s first home under AED 5 million, plus the fees in cash.
• Can I get a mortgage on off-plan property?Yes, but the Central Bank caps off-plan lending at 50% of the price.
• Cash or mortgage: which is better for Dubai property?Cash keeps the full yield; a mortgage keeps your capital free. The rate decides which wins.
• What fees come with a Dubai mortgage?Registration at 0.25% of the loan, plus the bank’s valuation, arrangement and insurance.

• How much property do you need for a golden visa?AED 2 million of purchase value in your name, one property or several, mortgaged or not.
• Does off-plan property qualify for the golden visa?It has been accepted in practice through the Land Department; confirm before you rely on it.
• Can a mortgaged property get you a golden visa?Yes. The Land Department asks for a no-objection letter from the bank.
• Does buying property give you residency in Dubai?Yes: a two-year investor visa at any value, or the ten-year golden visa from AED 2 million.

• What rental yield can I expect in Dubai?About 6 to 7% gross on apartments and 4.5 to 5% on villas, less roughly 1.5 to 2 points net.
• Which Dubai areas have the highest rental yields?Motor City, JVC and Al Jaddaf sit at the top of my guides; Downtown and branded towers at the bottom.
• What are service charges in Dubai?The yearly per-square-foot fee for running the building, roughly AED 3 to 40 depending on the area.
• Is there property tax in Dubai?No annual property tax, no capital gains tax and no tax on rent for individuals.
• Can I rent my Dubai apartment on Airbnb?Yes, with a holiday home permit from Dubai Economy and Tourism.
• Short-term or long-term rental: which earns more?Short-term can gross more; after management and vacancy the gap is smaller than it looks.
• How much can a landlord raise the rent in Dubai?Only what the RERA rental index allows, in steps from 0 to 20%, with 90 days’ notice.
• What is Ejari, and who registers it?The registration of every tenancy contract with RERA, normally done by the landlord or agent.

• Is 2026 a good time to buy property in Dubai?For a home or a long hold, usually yes; for a quick flip, the easy money was earlier.
• Will Dubai property prices drop?Supply arriving in 2026 to 2028 will test some areas more than others.
• What is the best property investment in Dubai right now?It depends on whether you want income or growth, and I answer both.
• Apartment or villa: which is the better investment?Apartments yield more; villas have grown faster and cost less to run per square foot.

• How do I sell my property in Dubai?Price it against DLD transactions, get the NOC, and transfer at a trustee office.
• What happens to Dubai property if the owner dies?Without a registered will, local rules may apply. Register one.
• How do I check a title deed in Dubai?Through the Dubai REST app, against the Land Department’s own records.
• How do I check if a Dubai agent is licensed?Look them up in Dubai REST; every broker has a RERA number.

• Is JVC a good investment in 2026?For yield, yes; for capital growth, be selective about the building.
• Dubai Hills Estate or Downtown: where should you buy?Downtown for the address and liquidity, Dubai Hills for space and families.
• Is Business Bay a good place to invest?You buy the building, not the area. The right tower is a solid yield play.
• Is Dubai Creek Harbour worth buying into?A Downtown view at about 14% below Downtown prices, with more supply still to come.
• Is DAMAC Lagoons a good investment?Early buyers did well; today it is a yield and lifestyle buy more than a growth one.
• Emaar or DAMAC: which developer should you buy from?Different products for different buyers. I compare delivery, quality and resale.
• Is Al Jaddaf a good area to invest in?A real discount to Business Bay next door, with yields of 6 to 8% in my guide.
• Which Dubai developers are the most reliable?Judged on delivery history and resale, not on marketing.