What does buying cost?
Budget beyond the price for transfer and administration, professional advice, finance where relevant and immediate work. Ask for a transaction-specific cost schedule before committing.
Buying guides
Dubai property buying guides for the decisions that matter.
Start with your purpose and budget, then understand the property, costs, papers and timing before making an offer.
Updated 24 July 2026 · Written by Joshua Khoury
Six useful questions
Prepare before the right home appears.
These are starting points, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm the exact requirements and costs for your property and circumstances.
Can a non-resident buy?
Eligibility depends on the location, property and buyer. Prepare identity and source-of-funds documents early, and obtain legal, tax and finance advice suited to your country and plans.
Villa or apartment?
Villas place more weight on land, external maintenance and garden use. Apartments add building management, service charges and exact unit position to the comparison.
Cash or mortgage?
Cash and finance change preparation and timing. A financed buyer should understand borrowing capacity and lender requirements before treating an offer as ready.
Vacant or tenanted?
Occupancy affects access, possession, income and timing. Review the tenancy and notice position for the exact home rather than assuming a label tells the whole story.
What should I inspect?
Look at structure and systems, alterations, maintenance, room flow, noise, light, privacy and the area immediately around the property. Bring specialist help where appropriate.
A practical path
Define, compare and verify.
The right order makes it easier to move when a suitable home appears.
Write the brief
Set intended use, budget, timing, preferred areas, must-haves and the points where you can stay flexible.
See the trade-offs
Use the area guides and property hub to compare homes on the same criteria.
Check before the offer
Confirm condition, documents, occupancy, costs, finance and the transfer path for the individual property.
Ready to turn the guide into a shortlist?
Share what you need from the home, what you want to avoid and the budget you are working with.