Question 1

Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Foreign nationals of any nationality can buy freehold property in designated freehold zones — Dubai Marina, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay, Dubai Hills, JVC, Damac Islands and dozens more. You own the property and the land outright, with a title deed issued in your name by the Dubai Land Department.

Question 2

Do I need to be a UAE resident to buy?

Accepted Answer

No. You do not need residency, a UAE bank account, or to be physically present. Purchases can be completed remotely with a notarised Power of Attorney, and many off-plan reservations are signed digitally.

Question 3

What documents do I need?

Accepted Answer

For most off-plan purchases: a passport copy and proof of address. For ready/secondary purchases you will also need funds evidence for anti-money-laundering checks, and a Dubai Land Department NOC from the developer.

Question 4

How long does the purchase take?

Accepted Answer

Off-plan: 1–3 days from reservation to signed Sales & Purchase Agreement. Ready property: typically 3–6 weeks from offer to title deed transfer, or 6–10 weeks if a mortgage is involved.

Question 5

Is buying off-plan in Dubai safe?

Accepted Answer

Payments on registered off-plan projects go into a RERA-supervised escrow account and are released to the developer against construction milestones. Always confirm the project is registered with DLD and that the escrow account number appears on your SPA — we verify this for every project we present.

Question 6

What is the minimum investment to enter Dubai property?

Accepted Answer

Entry-level investment-grade studios and one-bedrooms start from roughly AED 450,000 (about £95,000 / €110,000). Most of our international clients enter between AED 1M and AED 3M, which is the sweet spot for rental yield plus Golden Visa eligibility.

Question 7

What are the total transaction costs?

Accepted Answer

Budget 6–8% on top of the purchase price: 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee, roughly AED 4,200 in DLD admin and title deed fees, 2% agency commission on secondary sales (usually nil on off-plan, as the developer pays), plus AED 2,000–5,000 in trustee and conveyancing charges.

Question 8

Are there annual property taxes in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

There is no annual property tax, no capital gains tax, and no income tax on rent in the UAE. You pay annual service charges to the building's owners association — typically AED 12–25 per sq ft per year depending on the tower and amenities.

Question 9

How do off-plan payment plans work?

Accepted Answer

A typical plan is 20% on booking, 40–50% across construction milestones, and the balance on handover. Post-handover plans spread 20–40% over 2–5 years after you receive keys, meaning you can be earning rent while still paying instalments. Some launches start from as little as 10% down.

Question 10

Can I get a mortgage as a non-resident?

Accepted Answer

Yes. UAE banks lend to non-residents at up to 50–60% loan-to-value on ready property, typically at 4.5–6% over 15–25 years. Off-plan mortgages are usually only available at or near handover.

Question 11

What rental yield can I expect in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Gross yields typically run 6–9%, versus 3–4% in London and 2–3% in most of Western Europe. Net yields after service charges and management sit around 5–7.5%. Short-term/holiday-let operation in prime tourist areas can push gross yields to 9–12%, with higher volatility.

Question 12

Which communities give the best yields?

Accepted Answer

The highest gross yields are usually in JVC, Dubai Sports City, Arjan, Discovery Gardens and International City. Prime areas like Palm Jumeirah and Downtown deliver lower yields but stronger capital appreciation and better tenant quality. Use our yield and ROI calculators to model both.

Question 13

Will Dubai property keep appreciating?

Accepted Answer

Dubai has seen strong post-2020 growth driven by population inflow, Golden Visa reform and limited prime supply. No one can guarantee future appreciation, and 2026–2027 handover volumes are high in some segments. We underwrite deals on rental income first and treat capital growth as upside — not as the business case.

Question 14

What are the main risks?

Accepted Answer

Oversupply in commodity segments, developer delivery delays on unregistered projects, service charges rising faster than rents, and buying at launch premiums in areas without infrastructure. All four are avoidable with the right selection discipline.

Question 15

Can I sell before handover?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most developers permit assignment ("resale" of the SPA) once 30–40% of the purchase price has been paid, subject to a developer NOC and fee. This is how many investors realise gains without ever taking handover.

Question 16

How much property do I need for a Golden Visa?

Accepted Answer

AED 2,000,000 in freehold property qualifies you for the 10-year renewable UAE Golden Visa. Multiple properties can be combined to reach the threshold, and mortgaged properties count if your equity exceeds AED 2M.

Question 17

Does off-plan qualify for the Golden Visa?

Accepted Answer

Yes, once you have paid at least 50% of the property value and the purchase is registered with the Dubai Land Department.

Question 18

Who can I include on the visa?

Accepted Answer

Your spouse, children of any age, your parents, and unlimited domestic staff. Each dependant is sponsored under your Golden Visa.

Question 19

Do I have to live in the UAE?

Accepted Answer

No. The Golden Visa has no minimum stay requirement — you will not lose it by being outside the UAE, unlike standard residence visas.

Question 20

How long does the Golden Visa take to issue?

Accepted Answer

Typically 14–30 days from title deed registration, including medical, Emirates ID and biometrics.

Question 21

Can you manage the property for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We arrange full property management — tenant sourcing, Ejari registration, rent collection, maintenance and annual renewals — typically at 5–8% of annual rent for long-term lets, or 15–20% for short-term operation.

Question 22

How is rent paid in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Long-term tenants usually pay annually in 1–4 cheques, in advance. That means your rental income arrives largely up front, which materially improves cash flow compared with monthly-rent markets.

Question 23

Can I repatriate rental income and sale proceeds?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The UAE has no exchange controls. Rent and sale proceeds can be transferred abroad freely, though your home country may tax the income — always take local tax advice.

Question 24

What happens at handover?

Accepted Answer

You complete a snagging inspection, settle the final instalment and DLD fees, receive your title deed and keys, and register with the owners association. We coordinate snagging and handover on your behalf if you cannot travel.

Question 25

What does Metrolux charge the buyer?

Accepted Answer

On off-plan launches, nothing — the developer pays our commission, and you pay the same price you would pay going direct, often with an additional negotiated incentive. On secondary purchases the standard 2% agency fee applies.

Question 26

Are you licensed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Metrolux Real Estate is a RERA-registered brokerage operating under Dubai Land Department regulation, with registered agents across our advisory team.

Question 27

Do you only sell your own stock?

Accepted Answer

No. We are independent across developers — DAMAC, Emaar, Sobha, Danube, Nakheel and others — so our recommendation is driven by your budget, yield target and timeline rather than by inventory we're obliged to shift.

Question 28

How do we start?

Accepted Answer

Book a no-obligation consultation. We'll ask about budget, timeline, whether you want yield or capital growth, and whether Golden Visa eligibility matters — then send a shortlist with full numbers, not a brochure dump.

Dubai property, answered honestly.

Buying as a foreign investor

Costs, fees and payment plans

Returns, yields and risk

Golden Visa and residency

After you buy: rent, manage, exit

Working with Metrolux

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