A library on Dubai property

Off-plan property, sold directly by a developer before or during construction, makes up a substantial share of the Dubai market. It offers a different buying process and a different risk…

A Dubai off-plan payment plan spreads the price of a home over the time it takes to build. You pay a booking deposit when you sign, the Dubai Land Department's 4% fee when the sale is…

Buying property in Dubai involves a series of fees on top of the purchase price. Government transfer charges, registration costs and, for off-plan purchases, developer administration fees…

A growing number of buyers from the Netherlands are discovering Dubai as a destination for real estate investment. The combination of zero income tax, high rental yields and a stable…

As an international buyer, you can obtain a mortgage from banks in Dubai even without living in the UAE. The conditions for foreigners (non-residents) differ from those for residents: lower…

Dubai's luxury villa market runs from custom-built mansions in Emirates Hills to waterfront estates on Palm Jumeirah, each inside a designated freehold area where a foreign buyer holds full…

A new-build apartment in Dubai is bought directly from the developer, on a payment plan that spreads the price across the construction period, paid in stages as the building goes up. Buying…

A penthouse in Dubai sits at the top of its building and, in most cases, at the top of its price bracket too: full-floor and duplex layouts, private terraces, and often a private pool or…

A studio is the smallest, and in absolute terms the most affordable, unit type in Dubai's apartment market: the same price per square foot as a larger apartment adds up to a smaller total…

A townhouse in Dubai sits between an apartment and a villa: your own front door, usually a garden or roof terrace, and running costs lower than a detached villa on a similar plot. As an…

A villa in Dubai buys space, privacy and a plot you own outright, from three- and four-bedroom homes in gated family communities to architect-designed estates on Palm Jumeirah and in…

Dubai Hills Estate is a joint venture between Emaar and Meraas, an 11-million-square-metre district built around an 18-hole championship golf course, with a range of villa types…

Emirates Hills is one of Dubai's original freehold areas, designated for foreign ownership by Regulation No. 3 of 2006, and the one community in the city where an owner can design and build…

Palm Jumeirah is a man-made, palm-shaped island where villas run down each frond to a private beach on the Arabian Gulf, one of the freehold areas the Ruler designated for foreign ownership…

Business Bay sits along the Dubai Water Canal, immediately south of Downtown Dubai, and has shifted over the past decade from a purely commercial district into a mixed residential and…

Downtown Dubai sits around the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Opera and the Dubai Fountain, built out by Emaar as a district in its own right within the wider city. For many of our…

Dubai's apartment market runs from studios in newer districts to full-floor penthouses on the water. As a foreign buyer you can hold full freehold title in the designated areas, regardless…

Dubai Hills Estate is a joint venture between Emaar and Meraas: a 2,700-acre master-planned community built around an 18-hole championship golf course and Dubai Hills Park, about ten…

Dubai Marina is built around a 3.5-kilometre canal lined by high-rise towers, restaurants and a continuous waterside promenade. It has been one of Dubai's most established residential…

Palm Jumeirah is the man-made island shaped like a palm tree, built by Nakheel and visible from the air long before it was finished. It carries the highest price per square foot of any area…

Off-plan means buying into a project that is still under construction, or not yet started, directly from the developer, before any existing owner has held the unit. The price is paid in…

Dubai is a global business hub, and office space runs from a single unit in a flexi tower to a full floor in a landmark building, across areas from Business Bay to DIFC. You can hold full…

When buying property in Dubai, various additional costs arise on top of the purchase price. In total, buying costs amount to around 7–8% of the purchase price. In this guide we give a…

Buying a home in Dubai is simpler than many international buyers expect. The process is transparent, digitised and can be completed within two to four weeks. In this guide we walk through…