Market · United Arab Emirates
Investment Property in Dubai
Dubai is the world's most actively traded prime real estate market — $130B+ in 2024 transactions, freehold ownership for foreigners in designated areas, AED pegged 1:1 to USD, and a Golden Visa pathway from $545k.
Why Dubai
Dubai offers full freehold to foreigners in 60+ designated freehold zones, including Palm Jumeirah, Downtown, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah, Business Bay and JVC.
AED is pegged to USD, so investors hold a USD-equivalent asset with zero FX risk. The Golden Visa programme grants a 10-year renewable residency for property investments from AED 2M (~$545k).
Branded residences (Bulgari, Armani, Four Seasons, Atlantis, Address) trade at 20–40% premium with stronger rental yields and stronger resale liquidity.
Why investors choose Dubai
Freehold + Golden Visa
Direct foreign ownership and 10-year renewable residency in one transaction.
USD-equivalent yield
AED is pegged to USD, so rental yields of 6–9% are effectively USD yields.
Deepest secondary market
Dubai land registry processes $300M+ in daily transactions — exit liquidity is unmatched.
Zero income tax
No personal income tax, no capital gains tax on real estate.
Segments we cover
| Segment | Ticket | Yield | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Jumeirah branded residence | $1.2M – $8M | 6–8% | Trophy beachfront, strong appreciation |
| Downtown / Business Bay tower | $450k – $2M | 7–9% | Tourist-driven short-let demand |
| Dubai Marina lifestyle | $380k – $1.4M | 7–9% | Year-round resident + tourist demand |
| Jumeirah / Al Wasl villa | $1.8M – $6M | 5–7% | Family long-let, lifestyle hold |
Legal & ownership structure
Foreigners hold full freehold (Title Deed) registered with Dubai Land Department in any of the 60+ freehold areas.
Off-plan purchases are escrowed by RERA — funds released only against verified construction milestones, protecting the buyer.
Tax
No personal income tax. No capital gains tax. 5% VAT on commercial property only — residential is exempt.
Property registration fee 4% (one-off). Annual service charges 8–20 AED/sqft depending on building.
Risks
- Off-plan delivery risk — only buy from developers with completed projects on the ground.
- Service-charge inflation in newer towers — always run a 10-year service-charge model.
- Cyclical short-let regulation — short-let licence policy can shift, we underwrite long-let baseline.
How we work
- 1Discovery call — ticket, area, freehold vs Golden Visa.
- 2Shortlist 3–5 vetted units, developer track record verified.
- 3Reservation (typically 10–20%).
- 4SPA + Oqood registration with DLD.
- 5Payment plan against construction milestones (off-plan) or full payment (ready).
- 6Handover, snagging, rental setup.
FAQ
+Can a foreigner own freehold in Dubai?
Yes — in any of the 60+ designated freehold zones, full freehold title with the Dubai Land Department.
+Does property qualify for Golden Visa?
Yes — minimum AED 2M (~$545k) for a 10-year renewable residency.
+What yield is realistic in Dubai?
6–9% gross, 5–7% net of service charges and management. Short-let can push gross to 9–12%.
+How long does closing take?
Ready property: 14–30 days. Off-plan: instant reservation, payments against milestones.
Request the Dubai shortlist
Vetted freehold opportunities across Palm, Downtown, Marina and Jumeirah with full developer track-record check.