--- title: "Guides" canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/guides.md type: collection updated: 2026-11-13 publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)" language: en-GB usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting." --- # Guides to buying property in the UAE ## Off-plan - [Buying off-plan property in the UAE: how it works and how buyers are protected](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-off-plan-in-the-uae): How off-plan purchases work in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah: escrow, Oqood, what you lose if you default, your rights on delay, resale and snagging. - [Off-plan payment plans explained: 80/20, 60/40, 1% monthly and post-handover](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/off-plan-payment-plans-explained): How UAE off-plan payment plans work, with AED examples: construction-linked and time-linked plans, post-handover terms, handover mortgages and incentives. - [Off-plan vs ready property in the UAE: an honest comparison](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/off-plan-vs-ready-property): Off-plan or ready property in Dubai and the UAE compared on price, risk, cash flow, mortgages, rental income and visa eligibility, with AED examples for 2026. - [Post-handover payment plans in Dubai: eight real 2026 plans and whether the rent covers them](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/post-handover-payment-plans-dubai): Eight published 2026 post-handover plans from Danube, Samana, Imtiaz, Expo City and others, what is owed after handover, whether rent covers it, and the resale, mortgage and visa catches. - [Selling off-plan property before handover in Dubai: assignment step by step, costs and the 2026 market](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/selling-off-plan-property-before-handover): How to sell an off-plan property in Dubai before handover: the developer NOC, how much must be paid first, who pays which fee, a worked example and Abu Dhabi's rules. - [Off-plan handover in Dubai: the process, snagging, charges and getting your title deed](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/off-plan-handover-and-snagging): What happens when an off-plan home in Dubai is completed: the completion certificate, handover notice, charges, snagging, defect cover, delays and moving to a title deed. ## Buying from abroad - [Buying UAE property from the UK: process, currency, mortgages and a budget in pounds](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-uae-property-from-the-uk): How UK residents buy UAE property remotely: sending sterling, source-of-funds checks, mortgages, HMRC reporting, wills and an all-in budget in pounds. - [UK tax on Dubai property: rental income, capital gains and inheritance tax explained](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/uk-tax-on-dubai-property): How a UK tax resident is taxed on UAE property in 2026/27: rental income, CGT at 18% and 24%, inheritance tax, the treaty, companies and returning expats. - [Buying Dubai property from India: the LRS limit, TCS and how to pay a developer](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-dubai-property-from-india): How a resident Indian pays for a Dubai home: the USD 250,000 LRS limit, 20% TCS above ₹10 lakh, Form A2, co-owners, payment plans across financial years and costs in rupees. - [Indian tax on Dubai property: rent, capital gains, Schedule FA and the Black Money Act](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/indian-tax-on-dubai-property): How a resident Indian is taxed on a Dubai home: rent, 12.5% long-term gains, the pre-July 2024 indexation option, Schedule FA reporting and the ₹10 lakh Black Money Act penalty. - [Buying Dubai property from Pakistan: moving money lawfully, FBR tax and what the UAE side asks for](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-dubai-property-from-pakistan): For Pakistanis buying in Dubai: SBP approval for money sent abroad, why hundi and hawala are off limits, FBR tax on foreign rent and gains, overseas Pakistanis and costs in rupees. - [Buying property in Dubai from Saudi Arabia: GCC ownership rights, money, tax and family use](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-dubai-property-from-saudi-arabia): For Saudi buyers in Dubai: GCC nationals may own outside freehold areas, the riyal and dirham pegs, Saudi tax and zakat, no residence visa needed, and buying for family use. - [US tax on Dubai property: rental income, 30-year depreciation, FBAR and capital gains](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/us-tax-on-dubai-property): How a US citizen or resident is taxed on a Dubai home: worldwide income, no US and UAE treaty, 30-year ADS depreciation, FBAR and Form 8938 rules, gains and the dollar peg. - [Canadian tax on Dubai property: world income, Form T1135 and capital gains](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/canadian-tax-on-dubai-property): How a Canadian resident is taxed on a Dubai home: world income, rent in Canadian dollars, when Form T1135 is required for foreign property, and the one-half capital gains inclusion. ## Costs & tax - [Dubai property buying costs in 2026: every fee, off-plan and resale](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/dubai-property-buying-costs): Every cost of buying property in Dubai in 2026: the 4% DLD fee, Oqood, trustee, agent and mortgage fees, with worked totals at AED 1m, 2m and 5m. - [UAE property tax guide 2026: what you pay, what you do not, and what your home country still taxes](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/uae-property-tax-guide): No income tax or capital gains tax for individuals, but VAT, 9% corporate tax, housing fees and home-country tax can all apply. The 2026 rules, with examples. - [Service charges in Dubai: what they are, what they cost and how to check a building's approved rate](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/service-charges-in-dubai): How Dubai service charges work in 2026: RERA approval through Mollak, the DLD index, typical costs per sq ft, chiller fees and the effect on net yield. ## Investing - [Dubai rental yields by area and property type: gross, net and what 2026 changed](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/dubai-rental-yields): Sourced, dated gross yields for Dubai areas from DLD records, Property Finder, Bayut and Betterhomes, plus how to work out the net yield you will actually keep. - [Is Dubai property a good investment in 2026? An honest assessment](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/is-dubai-property-a-good-investment): What happened to Dubai prices and sales in 2026, the supply still to come, the bull and bear cases, and who should and should not buy. Sourced and dated. - [Dubai vs Abu Dhabi vs Ras Al Khaimah: where to invest in UAE property](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/dubai-vs-abu-dhabi-vs-ras-al-khaimah): An investor's comparison of the three emirates: market size, liquidity, prices, yields, ownership rules, fees, 2026 performance, catalysts and risks. - [Where to invest in Dubai property: areas compared on yield, price and supply](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/best-areas-to-invest-in-dubai): Dubai areas grouped by investor goal, with Property Finder's DLD-based gross yields, prices per sq ft and rents for each, and the supply risks our area research found. - [Branded residences in the UAE: premiums, running costs and how to assess one](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/branded-residences-uae): What a branded residence is, what the premium buys, running costs, rental programmes, what happens if the brand leaves, and how to assess one before buying. - [Dubai property price history: the 2008 crash, the 2014 peak, the 2021 to 2025 boom and 2026](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/dubai-property-price-history): How Dubai home prices have moved since 2008, from the crash and the 2014 to 2020 decline to the post-pandemic rise and the 2026 correction, using named indices with dates. - [Holiday home rental in Dubai: the DET permit, short-term letting rules and the real costs](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/holiday-home-rental-dubai): How to get a DET holiday home permit in Dubai, owner versus licensed operator, building rules, fees, Tourism Dirham and fines, and a worked net comparison with a long let. - [Renting out property in Dubai: a landlord's guide to Ejari, rent increases, eviction and letting from abroad](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/renting-out-property-in-dubai): What Dubai law requires of a landlord: registering the tenancy in Ejari, the RERA rent increase bands, 12 months' eviction notice, your repair duties and how to let from abroad. - [Selling property in Dubai: the process, seller costs and how to sell as a non-resident](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/selling-property-in-dubai): How to sell a completed property in Dubai, including from abroad: Form A, the developer NOC, clearing a mortgage, tenants, power of attorney, transfer day, costs and tax. ## Buying process - [How to buy property in Dubai as a foreigner: the step-by-step guide](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-property-in-dubai): Who can buy in Dubai, where, what it costs and how a purchase runs from reservation to title deed, for overseas buyers. Checked against the law, November 2026. - [Buying your first home in Dubai: the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, costs and steps](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-your-first-home-in-dubai): For UAE residents ready to stop renting: the Dubai Land Department's First-Time Home Buyer Programme, who qualifies, what it gives you, and the costs and timeline of a first purchase. - [How to buy property in Abu Dhabi as a foreigner: zones, fees and the 2026 rules](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-property-in-abu-dhabi): Where foreigners can own in Abu Dhabi, the 2% registration fee, how ADREC and DARI work, and the 2025-26 off-plan rules on escrow and cancellation. - [Buying property in Ras Al Khaimah as a foreigner: zones, fees, the 2026 law and the risks](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-property-in-ras-al-khaimah): Where foreigners can own in Ras Al Khaimah, what the 2026 development law changes, why fee quotes conflict, and the risks of a thin resale market. - [Renting or buying in Dubai: the true cost of each, worked out for a UAE resident](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/renting-vs-buying-in-dubai): Should you keep renting or buy in Dubai? The full cost of each in dirhams, rent increase rules, service charges, opportunity cost and how long you need to stay for buying to pay. - [Buying property as a UAE national: housing programmes, loans and where you can own](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-property-as-a-uae-national): For Emirati buyers: the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, MBRHE in Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, how they combine with a bank mortgage, nationals' loan limits and where you can own. - [Can foreigners buy property in the UAE? Ownership rules emirate by emirate](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/can-foreigners-buy-property-in-the-uae): Where non-UAE nationals can own property in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, what freehold, leasehold and usufruct mean, and how inheritance works. - [Buying property in Sharjah as a foreigner: ownership law, fees, process and residency](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-property-in-sharjah): How foreigners buy in Sharjah since Law No. 2 of 2022: approved projects, freehold or usufruct, registration fees, off-plan, residency, yields and how it compares with Dubai. - [Upsizing in Dubai: selling your apartment and buying a villa, in the right order](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/upsizing-from-apartment-to-villa-dubai): Moving from a Dubai apartment to a villa or townhouse: sell first or buy first, why the second-home mortgage cap matters, bridging and mortgage settlement, costs on both sides and timelines. - [Family communities in Dubai: prices, rents and drive times compared for residents](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/family-communities-in-dubai): Dubai's villa and townhouse communities for families, compared on published price per sq ft, rents, yields and drive times, with what each one suits and what to weigh before you buy. - [Ready to move in: buying a completed home in Dubai, step by step](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/buying-a-ready-home-in-dubai): For residents who need a home now: how a resale or completed purchase in Dubai works, what it costs, the mortgage on a ready home, inspecting before you buy, tenanted homes and how long it takes. - [How to choose a property agent in Dubai: licence checks, fees and the questions to ask](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/choosing-a-property-agent-in-dubai): How to check a Dubai real estate agent is licensed, what BRN, ORN and Trakheesi mean, what agents charge on resale and off-plan, red flags, and checking brokers in Abu Dhabi. ## Finance & mortgages - [Non-resident mortgages in the UAE: how much you can borrow, 2026 rates, fees and how to apply](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/non-resident-mortgages-uae): Can non-residents get a UAE mortgage? Yes, usually 50% to 60% of the price. Bank LTVs, dated 2026 rates, fees, documents and off-plan handover finance. - [Mortgages for UAE residents: how much you can borrow, salary rules, rates and fees](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/uae-mortgages-for-residents): How much a UAE resident can borrow: Central Bank loan-to-value caps for expats and nationals, the 50% debt-burden rule, tenor, minimum salary, EIBOR rates and every fee. ## Visas & residency - [UAE Golden Visa by property investment: the AED 2 million rules, costs and process in 2026](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/uae-golden-visa-property): How to get the 10-year UAE Golden Visa through property in 2026: the AED 2 million threshold, off-plan and mortgage rules, fees, steps and limits. - [Dubai 2-year property investor visa: the rules after the April 2026 change](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/dubai-property-investor-visa): Since 29 April 2026 a sole owner of a completed Dubai property can apply for the 2-year investor visa at any value. Eligibility, costs, steps and limits. - [Sponsoring your family on a UAE property visa: Golden Visa and 2-year investor visa rules](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/uae-property-visa-family-sponsorship): Who a property investor can sponsor on the Golden Visa and Dubai's 2-year visa: spouse, children over 18, parents, domestic workers, documents, fees, and what happens on sale or death. --- Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.