Buying Property in Dubai from the UK

The process is the same for a British buyer as for anyone else. What changes is how you sign and move money from the UK.

Budget about 4% of the price for the DLD transfer fee, plus the trustee fee (AED 4,000 + VAT on properties from AED 500,000), the AED 250 title deed fee and a few small admin charges. Agency commission is usually 2% of the price plus VAT. If you borrow, add the bank's arrangement fee, valuation and the mortgage registration fee at the DLD, commonly quoted at 0.25% of the loan.

The dirham is pegged to the US dollar at 3.6725, so your cost in pounds moves with the pound against the dollar, not against the dirham on its own. Many UK buyers use a currency specialist to fix the rate between exchange of contracts and transfer.

UAE banks lend to UAE residents and to non-residents. For UAE resident expatriates, Central Bank rules cap the loan at 80% of value on a first home up to AED 5 million and 70% above that, and at 50% on off-plan property. Non-resident lending depends on each bank's policy and is usually lower, so a UK based buyer should plan for a larger deposit.

Banks ask for passport, proof of income, UK bank statements and a credit report. Get a pre-approval before you view, so a seller takes your offer seriously.

The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals, and Dubai has no annual property tax. Owners pay service charges to the building or community, and tenants pay a housing fee through the utility bill.

The UK side depends on your residence. GOV.UK states that if you are UK resident you will normally pay UK tax on foreign income, which includes rent from a Dubai property. The UK and the UAE have a double taxation convention, in force since 2017, and your UK residence status is set by the Statutory Residence Test. If you plan to move to Dubai, sell later or let the property, speak to a UK tax adviser before you buy. We can introduce advisers who work with British clients in Dubai.

You can complete without flying back for the transfer. Sign a power of attorney before a UK notary, have it apostilled by the FCDO, attested by the UAE Embassy in London and then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE, and translated into Arabic where required. The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so the apostille alone is not enough.

Start this early. Attestation takes time, and a POA with the wrong wording can hold up a transfer.

A property worth AED 2 million or more, owned outright or with a mortgage and a bank no objection letter, can qualify you for a 10 year renewable Golden Visa, according to the Dubai Land Department. Dubai also offers a two year property investor visa; in April 2026 Khaleej Times reported that the minimum property value for a sole owner had been removed. Rules change, so we check the current conditions with the DLD when you buy.

Palm Jumeirah is the first choice for beachfront villas and branded apartments. Families moving from the UK look at Arabian Ranches, Jumeirah Park, The Springs and The Meadows for schools and gardens, while Dubai Marina and Downtown suit a lock-up-and-leave apartment. See the live EQT listings below and our Palm guides linked at the foot of this page.