International investors
Buying Dubai property from abroad, answered for your country.
Real Dubai prices from the Land Department record, and what you still owe at home.
Why a guide per country
Around nine in ten Dubai buyers are foreign nationals, and every one of them arrives with a different problem to solve. An American is escaping annual property tax. A British landlord is escaping Section 24 and stamp duty. An Indian or Nigerian saver is escaping a falling currency. These guides answer each market honestly, from the registered Dubai Land Department record, and they tell you what you still owe at home.
Where a foreign buyer can own, and what it costs
Registered sale prices from the Dubai Land Department, not asking prices. Every one of these communities is freehold, so a foreign buyer can own the title outright. Last measured 16 October 2026.
| Community | Sold, 12 months | AED per sqft |
|---|---|---|
| Jumeirah Village Circle | 11,433 | 1,475 |
| Business Bay | 4,952 | 2,364 |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | 3,926 | 2,558 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 2,473 | 2,381 |
| Downtown Dubai | 2,374 | 2,924 |
| Dubai Marina | 2,076 | 1,912 |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers | 1,674 | 1,643 |
| DAMAC Hills | 1,555 | 1,671 |
Median price per square foot across registered home sales in the last 12 months. Source: Dubai Land Department.
Before you talk to anyone
Found a property? Check the price against the register first.
Paste any listing you are considering, from anywhere. We compare the asking price against what comparable homes actually sold for on the Dubai Land Department register and tell you plainly whether it stacks up. Free, and you do not need an account.
Check a propertyGuides by country
Each guide leads with what your market is actually up against, then the Dubai position, the practical route to buying, and the honest home-country caveats.
- Read the guide
From the United States
Property tax every year you own it, income tax on the rent, capital gains when you sell. Dubai charges none of the three.
- Read the guide
From the United Kingdom
Section 24, a 5% stamp duty surcharge, and 45% income tax. British landlords know exactly why they are looking abroad.
- Read the guide
From India
The rupee has lost roughly 30% against the dollar in a decade. Indian rental yields sit near 2% to 3%.
- Read the guide
From Russia
A hard-currency asset, a five-hour flight from Moscow, and residency that comes with it.
- Read the guide
From China
Domestic income tax reaching 45%, a slowing property market, and a 50,000 dollar annual transfer limit.
- Read the guide
From Pakistan
When the rupee falls, savings held only at home fall with it.
- Read the guide
From Canada
Toronto and Vancouver yields near 3%, with property tax, land transfer tax and 50% of gains taxable.
- Read the guide
From Germany
German rental yields near 2% to 3%, with purchase costs approaching 10% before you even start.
- Read the guide
From France
Taxe foncière every year, heavy purchase costs, and Paris yields near 3%.
- Read the guide
From Nigeria
When the naira slides, wealth held only at home slides with it.
- Read the guide
From Saudi Arabia
A weekend away, a second home, and a yield your domestic market rarely matches.
- Read the guide
From Turkey
Persistent lira depreciation makes a hard-currency asset less a preference than a necessity.
- Read the guide
From Egypt
Repeated devaluation has taught Egyptian savers what a hard-currency asset is worth.
The trusted route in, from anywhere
Buying in a market you do not live in, the real risk is not the property, it is who you trust. Here is why international investors start with us.
Rated by the government, not by us
We introduce you only to gold-rated brokerages, the Dubai Land Department's own top classification. The rating is the government's, not a badge we invented.
Independent by design
We do not sell property and take no developer commissions, so nothing here is talking a listing up. Our only job is showing you what the record says.
Free to join, from any country
A Dubai Diligence account is free for investors worldwide: the registered figures on any area or building, and a video meeting with an agent when you want one, instead of whoever happens to answer a portal enquiry.
A real meeting, not a lead sale
You get a scheduled video meeting with a vetted agent. Free to you: the agent pays us for the meeting, never you.
Buying from overseas: common questions
Can foreigners buy property in Dubai?+
Yes. Foreign nationals of any country can buy and own property outright in Dubai's designated freehold areas, which cover most popular communities. You do not need to be a UAE resident to purchase, and the title is registered in your name at the Dubai Land Department.
Do I need to be in Dubai to buy a property?+
No. Overseas buyers routinely complete remotely by granting a power of attorney to sign on their behalf. Most investors still visit to see the community before committing, which is sensible.
Does buying property in Dubai give me residency?+
A qualifying purchase at or above the published threshold can make you eligible for a renewable 10-year Golden Visa, which can extend to your spouse and children. Lower-value purchases may qualify for shorter property investor visas. Confirm current thresholds before buying, since UAE rules are updated periodically.
What tax do foreign investors pay on Dubai property?+
On the Dubai side there is no annual property tax, no tax on rental income and no capital gains tax. You pay a one-off Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4%, plus agency and registration costs, typically around 7% all-in. You may still owe tax at home depending on your own country's rules, which each country guide covers honestly.
What rental yield can an overseas investor expect in Dubai?+
Gross yields commonly run 5% to 9% depending on community and property type, which is materially higher than most Western markets. Rather than trusting an average, check the specific building against the registered Dubai Land Department record before you buy.
Weekly reports
Set up your weekly reports
Tell us the area you are watching and we send you honest Dubai Land Department numbers on it, once a week: real prices, real volumes, nothing dressed up. We ask for your email only so we can send it, we don't sell your data, and whenever you are ready to buy or sell, you book a meeting with a gold-rated agent.
International investors
Buy through the top of the Dubai market, wherever you are
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll set up a video meeting with a gold-rated Dubai brokerage, the Dubai Land Department's own top tier, at a time that works in your timezone.
Book a meeting with a gold-rated agentFree to you. The agent pays for the meeting, not you.
Dubai figures come from the registered Dubai Land Department record. Home-country tax and regulatory points are general orientation only, not financial, investment, legal or tax advice.
