Guides
Dubai property, explained for European buyers.
Plain answers on what to buy, where, what it really costs and what the rules are, checked against official sources. 28 guides and counting.
Residential
What each type of home costs, who it suits, and the launches worth a look, from studios under €250k to branded penthouses.
Residential · 9 min
Branded residences in Dubai: is the designer name worth the premium?
Luxury apartments in Dubai with a designer name cost far more per square foot. What branded residences include, what the premium buys and when it pays back.
Read the guideResidential · 9 min
Dubai apartments for sale: what €200k to €1M buys in 2026
Dubai apartments for sale in 2026, priced in euros: what €200k, €500k and €1M buy, the fees on top, rental yields and the risks European buyers should weigh.
Read the guideResidential · 7 min
New off-plan projects in Dubai: 2026 launches for overseas buyers
Eleven new off-plan projects in Dubai grouped by budget, from about €196,000 to €973,000, with handover dates, payment plans and what to check before booking.
Read the guideResidential · 9 min
Penthouses in Dubai: prices, towers and what to check before buying
Dubai penthouse buyer's guide for 2026: prices in euros, record sales, off-plan towers in Business Bay and Dubai Harbour, and what to check before you buy.
Read the guideResidential · 9 min
Studio apartments for sale in Dubai: the cheapest way into the market
Studio apartments in Dubai are the lowest-priced way to own property in the city. Prices in euros, payment plans, yields, and the downsides of buying small.
Read the guideResidential · 8 min
Townhouses for sale in Dubai: a guide for families buying off-plan
Townhouse for sale in Dubai: 2026 prices and rents in euros, off-plan townhouse communities, payment plans and mortgages, and what families should check first.
Read the guideResidential · 9 min
Villas for sale in Dubai: off-plan villa communities for European buyers
Dubai villa for sale guide for Europeans: 2026 prices in euros, off-plan villa communities, payment plans, Golden Visa rules and the downsides to weigh first.
Read the guideCommercial
Offices, shops and managed hotel apartments: higher headline yields, different rules, and more ways to get it wrong.
Commercial · 9 min
Buying an office in Dubai as an overseas investor
How to buy an office in Dubai from Europe: where to look, what office space costs per square foot, VAT and fees, letting to a business tenant, and the risks.
Read the guideCommercial · 9 min
Commercial property for sale in Dubai: what foreign investors can buy
Commercial property for sale in Dubai: what foreigners can own, what offices and shops cost per square foot, VAT and licensing rules, and the risks to weigh.
Read the guideCommercial · 9 min
Hotel and serviced apartments in Dubai: investing in a managed unit
Hotel apartments in Dubai for investors: how hotel-licensed units differ from serviced flats and holiday homes, what you keep after fees, and the risks.
Read the guideInvestment
Prices, yields after costs, short-term letting and the risks, written for investors who want the numbers straight.
Investment · 9 min
Airbnb in Dubai: holiday-home rules, permits and returns for owners
Airbnb in Dubai is legal with a holiday home permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism. The rules, fees, Tourism Dirham, management and 2026 returns.
Read the guideInvestment · 9 min
Dubai property prices in 2026, in euros and pounds
Dubai property prices in October 2026: average values per square foot and square metre in euros and pounds, how far prices have dipped, and what new homes cost.
Read the guideInvestment · 9 min
Is it worth buying property in Dubai? An honest answer for Europeans
Is it worth buying property in Dubai in 2026? A straight answer on prices after the spring dip, real yields, costs, tax at home and who should wait.
Read the guideInvestment · 9 min
Rental yields in Dubai: what you really earn after costs
Dubai rental yields average about 6% gross in 2026. See what you really earn after service charges, fees and empty months, and which areas yield the most.
Read the guideInvestment · 10 min
Will the Dubai property market crash? Reading the cycle calmly
Will the Dubai property market crash? Prices have dipped in 2026. What the data shows, how 2008 and 2014 compare, and what the forecasts say, without hype.
Read the guideBuying guide
From reservation to title deed: the process, every fee on top of the price, mortgages for non-residents and how off-plan money is protected.
Buying guide · 9 min
Buying off-plan in Dubai: escrow, Oqood and how your money is protected
Buying off-plan in Dubai explained: how escrow and Oqood registration protect your money, the steps to buy, the 4% DLD fee and the risks the law leaves to you.
Read the guideBuying guide · 8 min
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai? Freehold rules explained
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai? Yes, as freehold in designated areas. What the law allows, where you can buy, and what ownership does not give you.
Read the guideBuying guide · 9 min
Dubai property buying costs: the DLD fee and every charge on top
Dubai Land Department fees explained: the 4% DLD fee, Oqood, trustee and title deed fees, commission, mortgage costs and service charges, with examples.
Read the guideBuying guide · 8 min
Getting a mortgage in Dubai as a non-resident
Can you get a mortgage in Dubai as a non-resident? Yes, from some UAE banks. Loan-to-value limits, off-plan and buy-to-let rules, documents, costs and examples.
Read the guideBuying guide · 10 min
How to buy property in Dubai from the UK and Europe, step by step
How to buy property in Dubai from the UK or Europe: freehold rules, documents, the 4% DLD fee, buying remotely by power of attorney and getting the title deed.
Read the guideBuying guide · 8 min
Off-plan payment plans in Dubai: 60/40, 1% a month and post-handover
How a Dubai payment plan works: 60/40, 75/25, 1% a month and post-handover plans explained, with real instalment figures, handover funding and the risks.
Read the guideResidency & tax
Residency through property, relocating with a family, and the tax you may still owe at home.
Residency & tax · 9 min
Dubai Golden Visa through property: requirements, cost and process
How the Golden Visa in Dubai works through property in 2026: the AED 2 million rule, off-plan and mortgage conditions, fees, family cover and timing.
Read the guideResidency & tax · 10 min
Dubai property tax for UK and EU residents: what you owe at home
Dubai property tax for UK and EU residents explained: no UAE income tax on your rent, but HMRC and EU tax offices can still tax the income and gains at home.
Read the guideResidency & tax · 10 min
Moving to Dubai from the UK: visas, costs and buying a home
Moving to Dubai from the UK in 2026: the visa routes, what to tell HMRC, set-up costs, schools and healthcare, and whether to rent or buy a home first.
Read the guideAreas
Which part of Dubai suits your budget and goal, and how neighbouring communities really compare.
Areas · 9 min
DAMAC Hills vs DAMAC Hills 2: which community suits you
DAMAC Hills vs DAMAC Hills 2 compared: location, homes, golf, schools, commute, price level and rental appeal, plus the current launch in DAMAC Hills.
Read the guideAreas · 9 min
DAMAC Lagoons vs DAMAC Islands: two lagoon communities compared
DAMAC Lagoons vs DAMAC Islands and DAMAC Islands 2: location, homes, prices, handover dates, payment plans and Golden Visa status, compared side by side.
Read the guideAreas · 10 min
The best areas to buy property in Dubai in 2026, by budget and goal
The best areas to invest in Dubai depend on your goal: yield, resilience or a family home. Eight areas compared by entry price, strengths and risks for 2026.
Read the guideDevelopers
Independent reviews of the developers behind the launches: track record, delivery and what to check before you commit.