In our previous guide, we talked about renting in the UAE. But if you have more serious plans and intend to buy property for living or as an asset, then this guide is for you!

Why Buying Property in the UAE is Profitable
In 2024, the price per square meter in Dubai rose by 12%. For comparison, the average deposit rate at Emirates NDB Bank is around 1.5% per year. Real estate looks attractive not only compared to local financial instruments but also to property markets in other developed countries: in the UK, prices rose by 4.7% in 2024, in the EU by 4.9%, and in the US by 5.1%.
Even if you are not interested in investments, the UAE is one of the safest countries in the world with a high standard of living. This is the main reason for the demand for real estate here. Moreover, even in the second half of 2025, there are still no personal taxes.

How Property is Purchased in the UAE
As everywhere, there is a primary and secondary market. In the primary market, you buy from a developer — either a government entity or one of many private companies. In any case, you should check:

• the company has the necessary license and the project is registered (or in the process) with the Dubai Land Department (DLD);
• all payments go only to a special escrow account;
• the developer’s reputation and completed projects. Also check if the unit is furnished, whether parking is included in the price, and if short-term rental is allowed.

After checks, you can proceed to booking. You can reserve a property even before official sales start by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) and paying a deposit of 20,000–200,000 AED. In most cases, it is refundable and does not oblige you to buy.

Next is the Booking Form, where the specific unit (number, floor, size, price) is listed and a down payment of 5–20% is made. Usually, it is non-refundable. You will need a passport or Emirates ID.

Then comes the SPA (Sales & Purchase Agreement) or OSA (if the property is not yet registered with DLD).

Payment
If buying during construction, payments can be in stages (e.g., 10% upfront, another 10% later, and the rest at handover). You can pay via mortgage, bank transfer, card, or cheque.
Clarify:

• the final payment date;
• penalties for delays;
• early payment terms.

After Booking
The property must be registered in Oqood under your name. All payments go only to an escrow account. The developer is responsible for quality and deadlines, and the handover date must be in the contract (plus a “grace period” of 6–12 months).

When the Property is Ready
After construction is complete, you receive a notification, pay the balance, inspect the unit, sign the handover form, and get the keys.
Then register the property in DLD (Title Deed) and connect utilities.

Additional Costs

• DLD registration fee — 4% of the price;
• Administrative fee — 3,000–5,000 AED;
• Annual service charges — 10–50 AED/sq. ft.

Secondary Market
Here, you must check the owner, ensure there are no debts, verify the Title Deed, sign an MOU, pay a 10% deposit by cheque, and settle the seller’s mortgage (if any).
Documents: passport/Emirates ID, MOU, cheques for DLD and administrative fees. After signing in the Trustee Office, you become the owner and must update utility accounts.

Buying property in Dubai is not that difficult, but it has its specifics. We hope this guide will help you become a property owner in Dubai as soon as possible!

In the modern world, anyone can choose where to live and work. Changing countries and continents is now easier than ever: governments are interested in attracting new residents who will engage in productive work or create jobs. That is why many governments create attractive conditions for relocators, and the UAE is one of the leading countries in this regard.
Why is relocation to the UAE in 2025 one of the best decisions if you are thinking of changing your country of residence?
When moving to the UAE, you will feel less of a stranger than anywhere else in the world: about 9 out of 10 residents are expatriates. The Emirates is a country of foreigners, where they can work and start businesses, get an education, buy property, and invest. At the same time, the UAE boasts a high standard of living, and the analytical portal Numbeo recognized the Emirates as the safest country in the world in 2025. Therefore, the UAE is a good choice for relocation. But is it difficult to move here?
It should be noted that foreigners in the UAE make up 90% of the population, which means obtaining a residence visa here is absolutely realistic. There are many visas: work visas, investor visas, visas for business owners, visas for the whole family, long-term “golden” visas with the right to reside for 5-10 years. We will talk about visas in detail in a separate article.

Taxes in the UAE
The tax system is one of the advantages of the Emirates. Until recently, this was practically a tax-free jurisdiction: the 5% VAT was introduced only in 2018, and the 9% corporate tax (which must be paid when the annual income reaches 375 thousand dirhams) in the summer of 2023. But there is still no personal income tax here.
By introducing a moderate tax burden, the UAE government managed to balance the fiscal system so that the pressure on business was not too high, but at the same time the country would not be considered a “tax haven” and would not fall into the black and grey lists of the EU, FATF, OECD. This significantly facilitates foreign economic activity.

What about work in the UAE?
For those who do not have a job in the UAE, there is a special type of visa – a job seeker visa, which allows you to come to the country for 90 days and find a job. For the employed, there is the Employment Visa (“work visa”), which allows you to stay in the country for 2-3 years.
If you plan to start a business in the UAE – then you can also apply for a “golden visa”, the validity of which can be extended to the whole family. It allows you to live in the country for up to 10 years, is processed quickly, but may require significant financial resources.

Is it difficult to start a business here?
For business in the UAE, you will need a company. The registration process itself is not particularly complicated, many services in the Emirates are available online, bureaucracy is minimal, so there should be no difficulties. But the cost of a company is quite high and, frankly speaking, the UAE is not a jurisdiction for everyone. But if you have a strong business model and certain financial reserves – then it can become a very good investment. In addition, the jurisdiction offers a good choice of different types of companies for any type of activity, for work inside the country and in external markets. One of the features of the UAE is the abundance of Free Economic Zones (Free-Zones), which are tailored to specific activities and provide residents with special working conditions, up to zero tax rates.

Is it possible to transfer an existing business to the UAE?
In the Emirates, there are official mechanisms that allow transferring a legal entity to the UAE – this is company redomiciliation. The essence of redomiciliation is that a company registered in another country changes its jurisdiction to the UAE but continues to exist as the same legal entity, retaining its brand, contacts, bank accounts (some points need to be adapted to UAE legislation). At the same time, there is no need to liquidate the company in the country of initial registration (unless required by that country’s law).
Many free economic zones accept relocating companies, such as Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), as well as mainland jurisdictions in some emirates.

What is needed to move a business:

• Provide relocation permission from the regulatory authority of the country where the company is registered;
• The company must have no unresolved legal disputes or debts;
• The company must provide an economic justification for the relocation, financial statements (as confirmation of the financial condition of the company), a relocation plan, and any other information requested during the relocation process.

Documents required for relocation:

• Shareholders’ decision to move the company
• Articles of incorporation
• Certificate of Good Standing
• Financial statements
• Licenses and permits

In some cases, approval from UAE regulatory authorities may be required (for companies in finance, medicine, telecommunications).

Is it comfortable to live in the UAE?
Everyone has their own criteria for comfort, but judge for yourself:

• The UAE has ultra-modern infrastructure: ports, airports, a good transport network, and all modern services are available here;
• The UAE has a high standard of living and is one of the safest countries in the world;
• The UAE has a high level of digitalization of services, which means you can get everything you need quickly and without unnecessary bureaucracy;
• The UAE offers unique conditions for doing business, with a wide choice of companies for different needs, a moderate level of corporate taxes, and no direct personal taxes – everything you earn is yours;

Therefore, if you plan to move to the UAE or transfer your business here – our specialists will be happy to help you. We are also planning a series of events dedicated to the issue of relocation to the United Arab Emirates, so follow the announcements and see you soon!

According to the latest Expat Essentials ranking in 2024, the United Arab Emirates became the most popular jurisdiction for relocation. And that is not surprising, as nearly 90% of the country’s population consists of expats. Everything is designed to make foreigners feel comfortable here.

However, relocation is impossible if you have nowhere to stay in the UAE. Of course, if you’re a tourist, renting an apartment or hotel room for a few days is not an issue. Global rental platforms like Booking and Airbnb operate in the Emirates. But if you want to live in the UAE permanently as a resident, you will need long-term housing, which follows completely different rules.

How Does Long-Term Rental in the UAE Differ from Short-Term?

• Duration: Long-term rental is for a minimum of one year, while short-term ranges from a few days to several months.
• Cost: Short-term rentals are significantly more expensive than long-term ones.
• Payment method: Short-term rent is paid like in other countries, but long-term rent is usually paid with bank cheques.

How Does Cheque Payment Work?

The cheque used to pay rent in the UAE is the same kind of paper cheque that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s, where the account holder writes the amount by hand. To rent long-term housing in the UAE, you will need a cheque book and a local bank account. You also need to have UAE residency status.

The standard practice in the UAE is to pay rent with one or two cheques per year. Occasionally, you can negotiate quarterly payments. If you manage to secure monthly payments, consider it a sign of exceptional flexibility from the landlord.

What Additional Costs Might There Be?

• Security deposit — usually equal to one month’s rent.
• Broker commission — 2–5% of the annual rent.
• Contract registration — in Dubai, for instance, this is done through the Ejari system. Without registration, you cannot connect utilities, open a bank account, or officially confirm your residence.

Where to Search for Rentals in the UAE?

Here are the three most popular services:

• Dubizzle
• Bayut
• Property Finder

These are user-friendly platforms with filters, maps, photos, and even video tours. You are free to search on your own, but if you want to save time, you can use a broker’s service. In any case, during the housing search stage, be ready to make calls and attend viewings. The real estate market in the UAE is very dynamic, with constant new developments, so there are plenty of options. A bit of patience, and you will find something suitable.

What to Pay Attention to When Renting?

• Location. Rent is most expensive in Dubai, a global metropolis with developed infrastructure and the highest prices. Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah are more affordable options, but for comfortable living there, you will need a car.
• Type of apartment. In the UAE, apartments may be rented:
  • completely unfurnished;
  • with basic furniture;
  • or fully furnished, ready to move in.
    The last option is the most expensive. In most cases, apartments are rented unfurnished, which can be an additional expense.
• Household details: Are utilities included? Does the building have parking, an elevator, a pool? It is also wise to check whether the apartment has any debts and to document its condition upon moving in (a video on your phone will suffice).
• Lease term: Usually 12 months. Also note that a security deposit equal to one month’s rent is required before moving in. This amount will be used if any damage occurs. If all is well, the deposit will be returned upon move-out.

When Is the Best Time to Look for Housing?

The best time to search is late spring to early summer. During this period, many people leave the country, more housing becomes available, landlords become more flexible, and prices may be more favorable.

Renting a home in the UAE is a straightforward process if you understand how it works and pay attention to the details, even if some may seem unfamiliar. Prepare your documents, get ready to use cheques, and go for it — the UAE has plenty to offer to those who are willing to search!

Meydan Free Zone has introduced the Fawri service, allowing entrepreneurs to obtain a business license in just 60 minutes.

Fawri is a fully digital, comprehensive licensing solution created specifically for solo entrepreneurs. Thanks to a simplified application process, eligible individuals can receive all key legal documents — including a business license, certificate of registration, memorandum of association, and more — within one hour.
After obtaining the license in less than an hour, entrepreneurs can immediately proceed with applying for a visa and opening a corporate bank account using Meydan Free Zone’s integrated digital ecosystem.

The Dubai Department of Finance (DOF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the cryptocurrency trading platform Crypto.com, which envisions the future implementation of cryptocurrency payments for government services. The signing took place during the participation of DOF and Crypto.com in the Dubai FinTech Summit.

The partnership supports the implementation of the Dubai Cashless Strategy and paves the way for the creation of a fully digital, cashless society by enabling the Dubai government to launch a new digital payment channel across its official platforms. This initiative will provide convenient and secure payments for government services using stable cryptocurrencies, further strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for financial innovation.

The cashless strategy is expected to boost Dubai’s economic growth. Once all technical preparations are complete, individuals and businesses will be able to pay for government services using Crypto.com’s digital wallets. The platform will securely convert cryptocurrency into UAE dirhams and transfer the funds to DOF accounts, ensuring an innovative, convenient, and reliable payment system.