UK Investors Hub
Buying, letting and owning Dubai property from the UK, explained by a team that knows both sides. We started in London property in 1993, opened in Dubai in 2003 to help British buyers on Palm Jumeirah, and still have offices in both cities.
Your guide in 5 parts
Start with the one that matches where you are. Each guide covers its subject in depth, with sources and a review date.
Guide 1 of 5
The purchase step by step, the costs on top of the price, buying without visiting, and what to check before buying off-plan.
Guide 2 of 5
How the UK taxes Dubai rent, gains and inheritances for UK residents, and the points owners most often miss.
Guide 3 of 5
What UAE banks lend to UK residents, the documents you need, and how to send money to Dubai safely.
Guide 4 of 5
Dubai landlord rules, managing from the UK, the Golden Visa through property, and moving to Dubai or back.
Guide 5 of 5
What happens to Dubai property when an owner dies, how British owners plan with UAE wills, and how to sell from the UK.
At a glance
Tap a fact to read more in the guide. Checked 7 October 2026.
British buyers in Dubai, 2025 to 2026
British buyers were the second-largest nationality buying Dubai homes in 2025, at 17% of buyers
Anarock analysis, reported by Khaleej Times, July 2026British nationals estimated to be in the UAE before spring 2026
Unofficial estimates reported by Bloomberg and the FT, 2024 to 2026; some include visitorsDubai real estate transactions in 2025, a record year, across more than 270,000 deals
Dubai Land Department, January 2026UAE tax on individuals’ rental income, capital gains and inheritances. UK tax can still apply if you live in the UK
UAE government and PwC tax summaries, 2026Top three nationalities
Source: Anarock, via Khaleej Times, 19 July 2026.
January to June 2026
Source: Harbor Real Estate using DXBinteract data, via Khaleej Times, 9 July 2026.
Share of overseas searches for Dubai property, June to August
Source: DXBinteract, via Emirates 24/7, 23 September 2026.
Dubai Land Department does not currently publish buyers by nationality, so these figures come from private analyses. Two measure buyers and one measures online searches, and all three put the UK near the top. Dubai recorded about AED 420 billion of transactions in the first half of 2026 (Dubai Land Department data).
See the full cost of buying, your mortgage payments, what the property could earn after costs and what you might make when you sell. Figures are in dirhams; the dirham is pegged to the US dollar.
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For illustration only. This calculator gives estimates based on the figures you enter and our standard assumptions. It is not financial, tax or legal advice, and actual fees, rents, prices and mortgage terms will vary. Official fees are set by Dubai Land Department and the UAE Central Bank; other figures are typical estimates. Please speak to us, your bank and a qualified adviser before making decisions.
Why UK buyers come to us
Our team started out in London property in 1993. Our Managing Director, Sajjad Hoque, bought and sold development sites in the UK with Barratt Homes and Galliard, and our partner Said Hawila moved from London to Dubai in 2008. With more than 25 years of experience, we are still family-run, with offices in Brentford and Barsha Heights.
Each guide answers more. Can’t see yours? Ask us and we’ll answer within one working day.
Yes. Foreign nationals, including British citizens, can buy freehold property outright in Dubai’s designated freehold areas, such as Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay and Jumeirah Village Circle. You do not need to live in the UAE to buy.
Not always. Many UK buyers sign through a power of attorney and let someone they trust attend the transfer. A power of attorney made in the UK has to be notarised, legalised by the FCDO and attested for use in the UAE, and Dubai Land Department now expects it to be less than two years old and to name the transaction. Some buyers prefer to fly out for the transfer day instead.
If you are UK tax resident, yes. The UAE does not tax individuals on rental income, but the UK taxes its residents on worldwide income, so your Dubai rental profit goes on the Foreign pages (SA106) of your Self Assessment return. From April 2027 property income will be taxed at 22%, 42% or 47% in England and Northern Ireland; Scotland and Wales can set their own rates. Speak to a UK tax adviser about your own position.
Yes. Several UAE banks lend to non-residents. The UAE Central Bank caps lending to expatriates at 80% of the value for a first home up to AED 5 million and 50% for off-plan, but banks set their own limits for non-residents, and brokers report that UK residents are usually offered 50% to 65%. Loans run for up to 25 years.
It can. Property worth AED 2 million or more, on its own or across several properties, can qualify. Dubai Land Department describes the property Golden Visa as a 10-year renewable residence permit, though some federal pages still show 5 years, so confirm the details with Dubai Land Department before you apply. Holding a UAE visa does not by itself change your UK tax residence.
Yes. We manage more than 600 homes in Dubai. We find and vet tenants, register the Ejari tenancy, collect the rent, handle repairs and renewals, and send monthly statements. Our London office is there if you would rather talk face to face.
Market statistics come from the named publishers. Each guide lists the official sources for its tax and legal points, checked on 7 October 2026.
Tell us what you are thinking about and we will call you back within one working day. Meet us at The Mille in Brentford or in Barsha Heights, or talk on WhatsApp. There is no charge for a first conversation.