Buying property in Dubai: A guide for investors

Buying property in Dubai: A guide for investors

When searching for properties in Dubai, investors should consider suitability (i.e., whether the property is located in an area designated for foreign ownership), rental yield, and rental demand in the area. Guest Ready can advise investors on areas with the best yield and guide you through the process of buying property in Dubai.

The process of buying a property in Dubai

Dubai is a city that attracts many real estate investors because of its high rental yields and lack of property tax.

Dubai also has an ever-growing population, is extremely popular with tourism places in Dubai, and is constantly offering new development opportunities. Many areas in Dubai are developing rapidly, with new innovative technologies and interesting structures making up a large part of the area.

1. What are the requirements for buying a property in Dubai?

Citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) can purchase real estate anywhere in Dubai, while foreign investors can only buy property in foreign-owned areas designated by the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. These areas are:The Palm Jumeirah

●Palm Jumeirah

● The World Islands

● Downtown Dubai

● Old Town

● Burj Khalifa

● Business Bay

● Dubai Marina

● Emirates Hills

● Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT)

● Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)

● Discovery Gardens

● Arabian Ranches

● Midriff (specified plots)

● Dubai Investment Park (DIP)

● Falcon City

● Dubai Sports City

● Dubai Motor City

● Dubai South

● International City

● Jumeirah Islands & Jumeirah Village

2. How much tax do I pay when buying a property in Dubai?

There is no income or inheritance tax payable on real estate in Dubai, although foreign investors may be subject to income tax in their country of residence if they do not live in Dubai. However, a transfer fee of 4% is payable to the Dubai Land Department when a property is transferred to this authority. In addition, a "Housing Fee" of 5% of the average rental value of the area is payable monthly.

Due to the low taxation, buying real estate in Dubai is a very attractive option for foreign investors. In combination with the good rental yields, there is the possibility to earn a high income with investment properties in Dubai.

3. How to find a property in Dubai?

Several websites are excellent for finding investment properties in Dubai, including Find Properties, Rightmove, Bayut, and PropertyFinder. In addition, foreign investors can also contact real estate agents in Dubai directly to find investment properties.

When searching for properties in Dubai, investors should consider suitability (i.e., whether the property is located in an area designated for foreign ownership), rental yield, and rental demand in the area. Guest Ready can advise investors on areas with the best yield and guide you through the process of buying property.

4. Where can you buy real estate in Dubai?

Palm Jumeirah

The Palm Jumeirah, built between 2001 and 2006, is a series of man-made islands in the Persian Gulf. With a mix of commercial and residential units, the area is popular with investors and tourists. The average selling price for an apartment on the Palm Jumeirah is AED 3.4 million, or about $926,000 or £789,000, making it the most expensive area in Dubai. The average selling price for a garden home is AED 18.5 million, which is USD 5 million or £4.3 million.

The average gross rental yield for an apartment is 5.33% for apartments and 3.39% for garden houses. The tourist nature of Palm Jumeirah makes it a fantastic place to invest in short-term rental opportunities.

CityWalk Dubai

The average selling price for an apartment is about AED 3.2 million, which is approximately $872,000 or £740,000. The area is primarily a neighborhood with shopping, entertainment, and restaurant facilities for residents and tourists place in Dubai. The average gross rental yield for investment apartments in CityWalk is 5.25%.

Jumeirah Beach Residence

Jumeirah Beach Residence is another of Dubai’s most desirable and expensive areas, with an average selling price of approximately 2.4 million AE or USD 650,000. This is equivalent to approximately £550,000.

This stretch of coastline on the Persian Gulf was completed in 2010. The average gross rental yield is 4.76%, making it an attractive opportunity for foreign investors looking to invest in short-term rental properties.

Dubai Marina

The average gross rental yield in the Dubai Marina region of Dubai is 6.3% for apartments, and the average selling price is about AED 1.6 million, equivalent to $436,000 or £370,000. This man-made canal city is not yet completed but is expected to provide housing for about 120,000 people.

Arabian Ranches

Arabian Ranches is a gated villa community in Dubai that opened in 2004. The development consists of three phases, the third of which is still under construction. To date, there are nearly 6000 homes in the area, as well as shopping centers, a golf club, and an equestrian center.

The average rental yield in Arabian Ranches is 4.9%, and the average price of a villa is about AED 6.2 million, which is about USD 1.7 million or £1.4 million. The cheapest properties in Arabian Ranches are located in Al Reem, while the most expensive villas are found in Polo Homes.

Dubai Downtown

Dubai Downtown is home to some of Dubai’s most famous attractions and therefore attracts a large number of tourists every year. Short-term rental apartments are sought after by a large number of people in the area, making it a very popular option for foreign investors who appreciate the strong rental demand.

The average selling price of an apartment is just over AED 2.1 million, which is equivalent to USD 572,000 or £485,000. The average gross rental yield is 5.43%, making it a good opportunity for investors compared to many other popular areas in Dubai.

5. How to avoid problems when buying property in Dubai?

Some of the problems that foreign real estate investors may encounter when buying a property in Dubai are:

6. Why buy a property in Dubai?

Many foreign investors choose to purchase real estate in Dubai because of the high rental yields, lack of property taxes, growing population, constant development opportunities, visa requirements and low real estate costs.

First, rental yields in Dubai are among the best in the world. This means that the annual income from investment properties, especially short-term rental properties, is usually a good percentage of the purchase price of the property, which represents a good return on investment

After purchasing a property and paying the transfer fee to the Dubai Land Department, foreign investors do not have to pay property taxes on investment properties. This helps to increase the profits earned from investment properties. Keep in mind that if you are not a Dubai resident, you may be subject to income tax in the country where you live.

7. Is now a good time to buy real estate in Dubai?

Now is a good time to buy real estate in Dubai because property prices and rents are on the rise. Since the coronavirus pandemic, tourism place in Dubai has developed, and short-term rental properties are more popular than ever with tourists and investors.

8. Can foreigners buy Real Estate in Dubai?

Yes, foreigners can purchase property in Dubai in designated areas for foreign real estate ownership. These areas are designated by the Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai and include regions such as Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Arabian Ranches, and Jumeirah Beach Residence.

Foreign investors are advised to buy property in Dubai through regulated real estate agents to reduce the risk of fraud and fake properties.

Dubai has an ever-growing population, is extremely popular with tourists, and is constantly offering new development opportunities. Many areas in Dubai are developing rapidly, with new innovative technologies and interesting structures making up a large part of the area.

Foreign investors who purchase real estate in Dubai worth more than a certain amount are entitled to a residence visa. The duration of these residency visas is roughly proportional to the value of the property, which means that owners of properties with a higher value can expect longer residency visas.

Finally, many of the properties in Dubai are cheaper than anywhere else in the world with similar rental yields. This makes them accessible to a wide range of real estate investors from around the world. If you are new to the short-term rental market, GuestReady offers several tools to help you calculate your property's daily rental rate and make informed decisions.

9. Is buying a property in Dubai a good investment?

Yes, the lack of property taxes and the growing population make Dubai a great place to invest and also a Great tourism place in Dubai. The visa program makes it an attractive investment opportunity, as do the high rental yields and relatively low property prices.

Therefore, buying property in Dubai is a good investment due to the high rental yields, lack of property taxes, constant development opportunities, visa requirements, and low property costs.

10. Invest in Dubai with Guest-Ready

At Guest Ready, we are experts in the short-term rental market in Dubai. Contact us to find out about the areas with the highest rental yields and how we can help you buy property in Dubai, whether it's a holiday home or an investment property only.

We help investors maximize their rental income by optimizing online listings, coordinating cleaning and maintenance services, property setup, and assisting with professional photography.