The questions worth asking first.

Yes. In designated freehold areas any nationality can own property outright, with no residency requirement and no local partner. You do not need to be in Dubai to complete — purchases can be done by power of attorney or remotely.

Budget roughly 6 to 7 percent above the purchase price. That is the Dubai Land Department transfer fee of 4 percent, registration and trustee fees, an agency fee of 2 percent, and a conveyancing fee. Mortgage buyers should add bank arrangement and valuation costs.

A property purchase at or above 2 million AED can qualify you for the 10-year Golden Visa, and there is a 2-year investor visa at a lower threshold. Off-plan purchases can qualify depending on how much you have paid in. We check eligibility against your specific purchase before you commit.

You pay a deposit on booking, then instalments tied either to construction milestones or to fixed dates, with a final payment on handover. A 60/40 plan means 60 percent across the build and 40 percent at handover. Post-handover plans let you keep paying after you have the keys. Every plan on this site is shown in full on the project page.

Payments on registered off-plan projects go into a RERA-supervised escrow account, and the developer draws from it against verified construction progress rather than taking the money directly. We check escrow registration and the developer's delivery history before recommending any launch.

Yes, though terms are tighter. Non-residents typically borrow up to 50 to 60 percent of value against 80 percent for residents, over shorter terms. We introduce you to brokers who work with non-resident applications rather than sending you to a branch.

An annual per-square-foot charge covering building maintenance, security and shared facilities, set by RERA. Rates vary widely by building — a serviced tower with extensive amenities costs considerably more per square foot than a simple mid-rise. We give you the actual figure for any property before you offer, because it changes the yield.

Gross yields in Dubai commonly run between 5 and 8 percent depending on district and unit type, with smaller units in outer communities at the higher end. Net figures are what matter: deduct service charges, management and vacancy. We will show you the net before you buy, not the headline.