Find property in Dubai: 50 apartments, villas and townhouses

The Dubai property market in numbers

Our base holds 50 listings right now: 43 for sale and 7 to rent. The average asking price is AED 18,627 per square metre. These figures update every day, so you can plan a budget against them.

What a square metre costs in Dubai

Across all listings the average is about AED 18,627 per square metre, but the spread between communities is wide. Mid-market areas such as Jumeirah Village Circle and Dubai South cost a fraction of the prime addresses, while Palm Jumeirah, Bluewaters and Downtown sit at the top. The view, the floor, the building's age and whether the unit is finished or off-plan move the price as much as the location does.

Where most of the supply sits

Most listings fall into the AED 1-3 million range, which in Dubai buys a one- or two-bedroom apartment in an established community or a townhouse further out. Studios start below a million dirhams in the mid-market areas. Above five million you move into large apartments on the waterfront, penthouses and villas with private pools.

Sale and rental listings

Most of the base is for sale (43 properties) and the rest is for rent (7). Dubai rents are quoted per year and are usually paid in one to four cheques; the tenancy is registered through Ejari. If you are relocating, start with the rental section and contact owners directly.

What people buy in Dubai

Dubai sells everything from compact studios in new towers to beachfront villas. The type of property decides the budget, the rental income it can earn and how easily you can resell it.

Apartments

Apartments make up 26 listings, the largest share of the market. They range from studios to four-bedroom flats in towers with pools, gyms and concierge. Apartments earn the highest rental yields because the entry price is low relative to the rent, which is why most first-time investors start here.

Villas and townhouses

There are 12 villas and townhouses in the base. Families buy them in gated communities with schools, parks and community pools, such as Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate and Damac Hills. Villas return less in rent than apartments but have historically gained more in value.

Penthouses

Penthouses occupy the top floors of towers in Dubai Marina, Downtown and on Palm Jumeirah, often with private terraces and pools. Supply is small and buyers are mostly end users, so prices hold up well.

Off-plan projects

There are 5 off-plan projects listed, sold by developers before completion with payment plans spread over construction. Payments are held in a regulated escrow account. Off-plan lowers the entry price but you wait for handover before the property earns anything.

Offices and retail

Offices and retail units are bought by business owners and by investors looking for longer leases. They are concentrated in Business Bay, DIFC and Jumeirah Lake Towers, where commercial demand is strongest.

Dubai communities at a glance

The same budget buys very different things across the city. Each community has its own page in Dubai communities, with live prices and listings.

Dubai Marina and JBR

Dubai Marina is built around a canal lined with towers, and JBR sits directly on the beach next to it. Together they are the city's strongest short-term rental location, with the promenade, the tram and the metro on the doorstep.

Downtown Dubai and Business Bay

Downtown Dubai surrounds the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, and Business Bay runs along the canal next to it. Both suit professionals and investors who want a central address with a skyline view.

Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters

Palm Jumeirah offers beachfront villas on its fronds and apartments on the trunk, while Bluewaters Island holds a small number of residences with sea views on every side. Both are supply-limited prime addresses.

Dubai Hills Estate and the villa communities

Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches and Damac Hills are green, master-planned communities built around golf courses and parks, popular with families who want space and schools nearby.

Value communities

Jumeirah Village Circle, Jumeirah Lake Towers and Dubai South offer the lowest entry prices close to the centre and steady tenant demand, which makes them the usual choice for rental investors.

What Dubai property earns in rent

Gross rental yields in Dubai typically fall between about 5% and 8% a year, and there is no tax on rental income for individuals. The real return depends on the type of letting and on running costs.

Long-term letting

Annual leases give predictable income with little involvement from you. Tenants are professionals and families who have moved to the city for work. For long lets, transport links, schools and supermarkets nearby matter more than a sea view.

Short-term holiday letting

Nightly letting in tourist areas can earn more than a long lease, especially in the cooler months from October to April when visitor numbers peak. It needs a holiday-home permit and active management, and summer occupancy is lower because of the heat.

Working out the real yield

Subtract service charges, maintenance, vacancy between tenants and management fees from the gross rent. Service charges vary widely between buildings, so compare them before comparing yields. Worked figures are in our investor guide, and you can ask the developers active in each community about their buildings.

Buying property in Dubai as a foreigner

Foreign nationals can own property outright in Dubai's designated freehold areas, which cover most of the newer communities. The transfer is registered by the Dubai Land Department.

Freehold ownership

Freehold means you own the unit and a share of the building or land with no time limit, and you can sell, let or pass it on. Most of the communities on this site are freehold; we confirm the status of every building before a viewing.

Documents and the transfer

A passport is enough to buy. The buyer and seller sign a sale agreement, the developer issues a no-objection certificate and the transfer is completed at a Dubai Land Department trustee office, where the new title deed is issued. You can complete the purchase under a power of attorney if you are abroad.

Costs on top of the price

Budget about 4% for the Dubai Land Department transfer fee, plus agency commission on resale and mortgage registration if you finance. There is no annual property tax and no capital gains tax for individuals.

Golden Visa through property

Under current rules, property worth AED 2 million or more can qualify the owner for a 10-year UAE Golden Visa that covers the family and does not need a sponsor. The threshold, mortgage and off-plan rules are on our Golden Visa page.

Financing a property in Dubai

Most buyers in Dubai pay with a mix of savings, a bank mortgage and, for new projects, a developer payment plan. Knowing the rules before you make an offer tells you what you can actually afford.

Mortgages for UAE residents

Residents can usually borrow up to 80% of the value of a first home worth up to AED 5 million, and a little less above that. Banks look at your salary, existing loans and length of employment, and the total monthly repayment on all debts is capped at half of your income. Fixed rates are typically agreed for one to five years before switching to a variable rate.

Mortgages for non-residents

Several UAE banks lend to buyers who live abroad, usually up to 50-60% of the price and with more paperwork: bank statements, proof of income and a credit report from your home country. Approval takes longer, so a pre-approval before you start viewings saves time.

Developer payment plans

For off-plan projects developers often ask for 10-20% on booking, further instalments during construction and the balance at handover, sometimes with part of it spread over the years after completion. A payment plan needs no bank approval, but check the schedule against your cash flow. Our services team can connect you with a mortgage broker, and the investor guide shows how financing changes the yield.

The cost of borrowing

On top of interest, budget for the bank's valuation fee, a processing fee of up to about 1% of the loan, mortgage registration at the Dubai Land Department at 0.25% of the loan amount, and the life and property insurance most banks require. These are paid at purchase, so add them to the transfer costs in your budget.

Off-plan or ready property

A large share of Dubai sales are off-plan, bought from developers before completion. Ready property sells at a premium for the certainty it gives.

What to check in an off-plan project

Check that the project is registered with the Dubai Land Department, that payments go into its escrow account, what the developer has already delivered, and how the payment plan is structured. Handover dates in Dubai can move, so plan your finances with some margin.

Why buyers choose ready homes

A ready unit can be seen in full, including the real view and the condition of the building, and it can be let from next month. You pay the full price up front, but you carry no completion risk, which settles it for buyers who want income straight away.

Living in Dubai: transport, schools and seasons

Where you buy also decides your daily routine. If you plan to live in the property or let it long term, the surroundings matter as much as the unit.

Metro and roads

The Dubai Metro runs along Sheikh Zayed Road through Dubai Marina, JLT, Al Barsha, Business Bay and Downtown, with a tram serving the Marina and JBR. Villa communities are car-dependent but sit close to the main highways.

Schools and healthcare

International schools and private hospitals are spread across the city, with clusters in Al Barsha, Dubai Hills Estate and the villa communities. For family buyers and long-term tenants, the school run often decides the community.

The seasons

From October to April the weather is warm and dry, and that is peak season for tourism and short lets. Summers are very hot, so covered parking, shaded walks and efficient cooling matter more here than in most markets.

How EstatesGate works

We cover 18 Dubai communities and keep the site in English and Arabic. We work with owners selling or letting, and with buyers in Dubai and abroad.

Checks before every viewing

We confirm the title deed, the seller's identity, the freehold status and the service charges before showing a property, and for off-plan we check the developer and the escrow account. Most questionable listings drop out before you spend time on them.

Support from shortlist to title deed

We send a shortlist against your budget, arrange viewings in person or over video, handle the sale agreement and the transfer, and help with utilities and tenants afterwards. Send your requirements through contact, see everything we do on services, or list your own property.

How to buy property in Dubai: 6 steps

The purchase of a ready property on the secondary market usually takes four to six weeks from offer to title deed. These are the steps in order.

1. Set the budget and financing

   Add about 7% to the price for fees and decide how you will pay. If you need a mortgage, get a pre-approval first; lending rules are set by the UAE Central Bank.

2. Shortlist communities and view properties

   Compare prices per square metre, service charges and rents across Dubai communities, then view the best options in person or by video.

3. Agree the price and sign the agreement

   Buyer and seller sign a memorandum of understanding (Form F) with the price, the deposit and the transfer date.

4. Pay the deposit

   The deposit, usually 10% of the price, is held by the agency or a trustee until the transfer.

5. Get the developer's no-objection certificate

   The seller applies to the developer for the NOC, which confirms there are no unpaid service charges on the unit.

6. Transfer at the Dubai Land Department

   The transfer is completed at a trustee office of the Dubai Land Department, the fees are paid and the new title deed is issued in your name.

Property in Dubai by community

Prices, listings and a short guide for each community we cover.

• Dubai Marina 4 listings
• Downtown Dubai 4 listings
• Palm Jumeirah 3 listings
• Business Bay 5 listings
• Jumeirah Village Circle 6 listings
• Jumeirah Lake Towers 2 listings
• Dubai Hills Estate 2 listings
• Arabian Ranches 2 listings
• Dubai Creek Harbour 3 listings
• DIFC 3 listings
• Jumeirah Beach Residence 3 listings
• Al Barsha 2 listings
• Dubai South 2 listings
• Damac Hills 2 listings
• Mohammed Bin Rashid City 4 listings
• Bluewaters Island 0 listings
• Jumeirah 2 listings
• Meydan 1 listings