Off-plan and ready homes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, matched to your budget, your timeline and your goal: a home, rental income, capital appreciation or the Golden Visa.
2-minute quiz · no cost · results on screen
The right property depends on what you want it to do for you.
Turn your rent into equity. Ready now, or off-plan with a staged plan while you keep renting.
Areas with steady tenant demand, and a yield you can check before you commit.
Buy at launch pricing in areas that are still being built out, and hold to handover.
A 10-year residency that no longer depends on your employer. Property from AED 2M qualifies.
Not sure what your goal is yet? Let's schedule a call and work out together which option fits your plans.
Schedule a callIn the UAE there are off-plan studios from around AED 550,000. And you don't need all the money up front: you pay in parts.
20% down payment + 4% registration. On an AED 700,000 studio that is about AED 168,000.
Depending on the project's payment plan: on that same studio, between AED 35,000 and AED 210,000.
In stages during construction and when you get the keys, in cash, with a mortgage or a post-handover plan.
Some projects ask for a smaller down payment (5–10%). For a ready home with a mortgage you need at least 20% down plus fees.
Off-plan needs less cash today. Ready gives you the keys now. Here is how they compare.
| Off-plan | Ready | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash at signing | 5–20% down + registration fee | At least 20% down with a mortgage, plus feesOr the full price in cash |
| How you pay | In stages during construction; some plans continue after handover | In full at transfer (cash or mortgage) |
| Move in or rent out | At handover, usually 1–4 years | Right away |
| Financing | Developer payment plan; bank financing is limited until completion | Mortgage, up to 80% for a first home under AED 5MUAE Central Bank limits for expat buyers |
| Price | Launch pricing, with room to grow during construction | Market price; what you see is what you get |
| What to watch | Delivery date and the market at handover | Higher entry cost, less upside |
Example using Kore, a studio in Dubai Land Residence Complex. Real numbers depend on the unit, the market when it is handed over and how it is managed.
| Price | AED 700,000 |
|---|---|
| At signing · 20% + 4% registration | AED 168,000 |
| During construction · 30%, until 2028 | AED 210,000 |
| At handover · 50% | AED 350,000cash or mortgage |
| Estimated rent | AED 54,600 a year7.8% gross, at today's rents |
| Service charges and management | − AED 8,900 a yearestimate |
| Estimated net income | ≈ AED 45,700 a year≈ 6.5% of the price |
Rent is calculated at today's prices. By the time you get the keys, in about 2 to 3 years, it would normally be expected to be higher, although that is not guaranteed. Estimates, not guarantees. Rent: average gross yield for the area. Service charges: ≈ AED 15 per sq ft a year. Management: 5% of rent.
I came to Dubai for an MBA after working in marketing in Paris, then spent two years as a product and project manager before moving into real estate in 2024. Since then I have closed more than 70 sales and rentals.
"If the numbers don't work, I'll tell you. I'd rather lose a sale than a client."
Sales, purchases and rentals in Dubai.
Your review helps other investors know what to expect. I read every one and, with your permission, publish it here.
Did you buy, sell or rent with me?
Leave a reviewThese are just 3 examples from my current shortlist: there are many more options available. The quiz shows the ones that fit your numbers.
Apartment · Dubai Design District · Dubai
Payment plan: 20% at signing · 30% during construction · 50% at handover
In d3, the creative district next to Downtown and the Creek, with only 30% to pay during construction.
At signing you pay 20% plus 4% registration, and half is due at handover in 2029.
Ask about Artistry
Villa · Hudayriyat Island · Abu Dhabi
Payment plan: 5% at signing · 40% during construction · 55% at handover
Waterfront villas on Hudayriyat, the least dense island in my waterfront analysis, with 5% down and a government-backed developer.
Pre-launch with handover in 2031, and 55% is due at the end: a long-term purchase.
Ask about Wadeem Gardens
Commercial · City of Arabia · Dubai
Payment plan: 10% at signing · 30% during construction · 60% at handover
Offices from Omniyat's Beyond brand, launching 19 October 2026: for your own company or to lease to businesses.
Offices are delivered shell and core and are financed differently from homes, with 60% due on completion.
Ask about The Yards PlazaDeveloper "from" prices as of 16 Oct 2026, subject to availability.
Today your visa is probably tied to your employer. A property worth AED 2M or more can give you a renewable 10-year Golden Visa for you and your family, with no minimum stay.
Join for free and get what I review before I recommend a project. When you sign up you can download the guide to investing in the UAE straight away.
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We go over your budget, how much you can put down, your timeline and what the property is for.
| Cost | Dubai | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee | 4% of the price (DLD) + admin fees | 2% of the price |
| Agency commission | Off-plan bought from the developer: normally none for the buyer. Ready and resale: usually 2% + VAT. | |
| Mortgage (if any) | Bank arrangement fee, valuation and mortgage registration. Your bank quotes these. | |
| Service charges | Yearly fee per sq ft for building upkeep. It varies by community, so we compare it before you choose. | |
Approximate figures for guidance only. Fees change and depend on the unit, the developer and the bank.
Usually when you plan to stay in the UAE for several years and your monthly mortgage plus service charges comes close to your current rent. In our first call we put your rent next to the real cost of owning, so you can see it in numbers.
Off-plan: the down payment (usually 5–20%) plus the registration fee (4% in Dubai, 2% in Abu Dhabi). Ready with a mortgage: at least 20% down for a first home under AED 5M, plus registration, bank and agency fees.
Most off-plan purchases are paid through the developer's plan, and many buyers take a mortgage at handover for the remaining balance. Some developers now partner with banks for off-plan financing, such as Modon with ADIB in Abu Dhabi.
Your payments go into a regulated escrow account for the project (supervised by RERA/DLD in Dubai and ADREC in Abu Dhabi) and are released to the developer as construction progresses. Your contract sets the handover date and grace period. That is also why I check each developer's delivery record before recommending them.
Yes. I find the tenant and handle the rental contract, and I can also manage the resale when you decide to sell.
No. Many residents buy to stop renting or to earn rental income, with budgets well under AED 2M. The Golden Visa is one option, not a minimum.
No. Residents and non-residents can buy freehold property in designated areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Take the 2-minute quiz and get your shortlist, or message me and we'll run your numbers together.
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