Buying Dubai property as an international investor
Dubai property for sale falls into two very different investments. Off-plan property in Dubai is bought directly from the developer before or during construction, typically on a 10–20% down payment with the balance spread across construction milestones and, on many launches, one to three years post-handover. Ready property in Dubai is income-producing from day one: you inherit the existing tenancy or re-let at current market rent, and you can model actual service charges rather than projected ones.
Every unit on this page sits in a designated freehold zone, so buyers of any nationality take a title deed in their own name at the Dubai Land Department. There is no requirement to hold UAE residency, a local bank account, or to be physically present — a notarised power of attorney lets us complete a purchase remotely for buyers in the UK, the US, the EU, India and the GCC.
Apartments, townhouses and villas
Apartments carry the lowest entry price and the highest gross yields — studios and one-bedrooms in mid-market communities routinely clear 7–9% gross, with strong short-let demand where the building permits it. Townhouses trade liquidity for stability: family tenants stay longer, void periods are shorter, and land content supports capital appreciation. Villas are the capital-growth play — lower running yield, but the segment where Dubai's supply is genuinely constrained and where resale premiums have been strongest since 2022.
Costs, yields and Golden Visa eligibility
Budget 6–8% above the purchase price for the 4% DLD transfer fee, DLD and trustee administration, agency commission and conveyancing. Ongoing costs are service charges (AED 10–25 per sq ft per year depending on the building), management at 5–8% of collected rent for annual lets, and a realistic void allowance. There is no annual property tax, no capital gains tax and no income tax on rent in the UAE.
Any freehold investment property — off-plan or ready — with a value of AED 2,000,000 or more qualifies the owner for the 10-year renewable UAE Golden Visa, which can be extended to a spouse, children and domestic staff. Where a single unit falls short, multiple properties can be aggregated to reach the threshold.
Financing is available to non-residents at roughly 50–60% loan-to-value on ready stock; off-plan is usually paid from cash against the developer's plan and refinanced after handover. Exit routes are resale before handover (assignment, where the developer allows it), resale post-handover, or holding for income with professional management.