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Plain explanations of how buying property in Dubai and Abu Dhabi works: the costs, the rules and the questions worth asking. Every figure comes from an official or press source, listed with the article.

Featured · CostsThe real cost of buying property in Dubai: every fee, explainedThe price on the listing is not the price you pay, so here is every fee on a Dubai purchase, where it comes from and what it adds up to on a round-number example.7 min read

All articles

Off-planOff-plan in Dubai: how escrow, Oqood and payment plans protect youBuying a home that is not yet built means paying for a promise, so this is how Dubai law protects your money, and what you should check before you pay a deposit.6 min read
ResidenceThe UAE Golden Visa through property: what the AED 2 million rule really meansOwning property worth AED 2 million can lead to long-term UAE residence, but the detail matters: how the value is measured, what happens with a mortgage or an off-plan home, and what the visa does and does not give you.5 min read
Buying from abroadBuying in Dubai from the UK: a step-by-step guideFrom the first conversation to the title deed, this is how a purchase works when you live in the UK, including buying without being there and the questions to take to your own tax adviser.7 min read
OwnershipFreehold areas in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: where foreigners can buyForeign buyers cannot buy just anywhere in the UAE, so this explains freehold, leasehold and investment zones in plain terms, and how Dubai and Abu Dhabi each decide where you can own.5 min read
DecidingOff-plan or ready: how to decide which suits youNeither is the better choice in general, so here are the real trade-offs between buying off-plan and buying a finished home, in plain terms, with a short checklist to help you decide.5 min read