Dubai Marina
A district of towers built around a man-made canal, with a waterfront promenade close to the JBR beach. Lively all year round.
- Typical
- 1–2 bedroom apartments in towers
- Suits
- letting, an active city life
United Arab Emirates · Dubai
Dubai property, with the risks in view.
Tax-free rental income, new apartments you can pay for in instalments, strong international demand. These are real advantages. To decide well, though, you also need to see the costs and the risks, so we show you both here.
0%personal income tax in the UAE, and no annual property tax
4%DLD registration fee as a rule, on top of the price
4.6–6.4%average apartment yields in the main areas, Property Monitor, August 2026
2mAEDproperty value from which a Golden Visa can be requested
BUD DXB
About 5.5 hourson a direct flight from Budapest
+2 h in summer, +3 h in wintertime difference to Central Europe
One point of contactin English or Hungarian, throughout
Possible remotelymany off-plan purchases need no trip
Pros and risks
What speaks for it, and what to weigh against it
Every advantage has a counterpart that brochures rarely mention. We've put them side by side, topic by topic.
What speaks for it
Topic
What to plan for
ProNo personal income tax
The UAE does not tax individuals' income, so letting a property held in your own name is, as a rule, tax-free locally.
Tax
RiskStructure matters
Company ownership, licensed holiday letting or your tax residence at home can change the picture. We always look at this case by case.
ProNo annual property tax
You pay no yearly wealth or property tax for holding the property.
Costs
Risk4% DLD fee and annual service charges
The registration fee is, as a rule, 4% of the price, plus administrative fees. Every year there are service charges, management and maintenance.
ProPaying the developer in instalments
With off-plan apartments the price can be spread over several years, in some projects even past handover.
Payment
RiskHandover can slip
Instalments fall due even if the apartment isn't finished or stands empty. Reselling before handover is only possible on the contract's terms.
ProStrong rental demand
According to Property Monitor's August 2026 data, average apartment yields in the main areas were 4.6–6.4%, highest in the mid-market communities.
Yield
RiskGross is not net
The 8–10% you see in adverts is not guaranteed. After service charges, management, voids and furnishing, the net yield is lower.
ProA large, active market
In 2025 there were 215,736 property transactions worth AED 686.8bn, based on DLD data. It was a record year.
Prices
RiskPrice growth isn't automatic
A record year's pace can't be projected onto every year. About two thirds of transactions were off-plan, and some areas see a lot of new supply at once.
ProRegulated, pegged to the dollar
Projects are registered with the DLD and RERA, and buyers' payments go into escrow accounts. The dirham is pegged to the US dollar.
Security, currency
RiskDue diligence and exchange rates
Escrow doesn't replace checking the developer's track record. If you think in euros or forints, you also take on currency risk.
“Exceptional capital growth is not a general promise. It is potential to be examined project by project.”Monvero Estates, Investing in Dubai property in 2026
Off-plan payment plan
How do you pay for an apartment that's still being built?
You don't pay the price at once, but in line with construction. Switch between the two typical plans to see when you need how much money.
Plan
Example price
- Month 0
Booking, contract
20%AED 140kFirst instalment and DLD registration. The contract position is registered in your name.
- During construction, approx. 2–3 years
Instalments
50%AED 350kInstalments linked to construction progress, typically every few months.
- Handover
Keys
30%AED 210kBefore you accept the apartment, we have it inspected by a specialist.
- After handover, e.g. 2–4 years
Post-handover
0%noneThe apartment may already be let, but the instalments are due regardless of rental income.
Plus DLD registration (4% as a rule): AED 28kAn example, not a specific project's offer. The contract sets the actual percentages and dates.
Areas
Four neighbourhoods, four different Dubais
The area decides who your tenant will be, how strong demand is and what the entry price looks like. These are the ones we work with most.
Downtown Dubai
Around the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Dubai Opera: the heart of the city. Striking views, walkable streets, lots of visitors.
- Typical
- apartments in high-rises, from compact to large
- Suits
- a central address, letting
Dubai Hills Estate
A planned, green community with a golf course, a large park and its own mall. Calmer and family-friendly.
- Typical
- villas, townhouses and apartments
- Suits
- families, longer-term tenants
Palm Jumeirah
A palm-shaped man-made island with private beaches, beachfront villas, apartments and hotels. Entry prices are the highest here.
- Typical
- beachfront apartments and villas
- Suits
- beach living, long-term value
Areas in numbers, 2026
Price per m² and yield in six sought-after areas
Averages: even within one project, floor, view and developer make a big difference. We always run the numbers for the specific unit.
| Area | Apartments, average price 1 Jan – 6 Jun 2026 | Average apartment yield August 2026 | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
 Jumeirah Village CircleJVC, mid-market | AED 1,510/sq ft | 6.36% | Entry level, letting, many new projects with payment plans |
 Business Baynext to Downtown | AED 2,547/sq ft | 5.92% | Letting to young professionals, a central address |
 Dubai Hills Estateplanned, green community | AED 2,432/sq ft | 5.82% | Families, longer-term tenants, own use |
 Dubai Marinawaterfront towers | AED 2,058/sq ft | 5.51% | Letting, an active city life near the beach |
 Downtown Dubaiaround the Burj Khalifa | AED 3,011/sq ft | 5.10% | An iconic address, short and long-term letting |
 Palm Jumeirahbeachfront island | AED 4,240/sq ft | 4.58% | Beach living, long-term value |
Sources: prices: Property Monitor / DLD transaction data on built-up area, 1 January to 6 June 2026 (as published by Engel & Völkers); yields: Property Monitor, August 2026. Converted to square metres (1 m² = 10.764 sq ft) and rounded. Yields are gross, before costs.
Service charges are set per square foot. For every option we show you how much of the rent you keep.
Costs at a glance
What do you pay on top of the price?
One-off costs when you buy, and annual costs while you own. We include all of them in every project comparison.
One-off, on purchase
- DLD registration fee
- 4% of the purchase price, usually paid by the buyer
- Title deed registration
- AED 4,000 + VAT for properties over AED 500,000; below that AED 2,000 + VAT
- Agency fee
- 2% + 5% VAT typically on resales; on off-plan the developer usually pays
- NOC from the developer
- AED 500–5,000 on resales
Every year, as an owner
- Annual property tax
- none
- Service charge
- AED 12–25/sq ft mid-market; in prime projects it can exceed AED 40/sq ft
- Housing fee
- 5% of annual rental value collected through the DEWA utility bill
- With a mortgage: registration
- 0.25% of the loan plus a bank fee, typically 1% + VAT, and a valuation
Example
A ready apartment at AED 1.5m
Purchase priceAED 1,500,000
DLD fee (4%)AED 60,000
Registration + VATAED 4,200
Agency fee (2% + VAT)AED 31,500
Total, approx.AED 1,595,700
An indicative estimate for a cash purchase. We always total the exact items for the specific deal up front.
Sources: Dubai Land Department fee schedule and agency cost summaries (2026). Fees can change; the contract and the DLD confirm the final amounts. Work it out for your own price
Full ownership as a foreigner
In designated freehold areas such as Marina, Downtown, Dubai Hills or JVC, foreigners can acquire full ownership.
A passport is enough
You don't need a residence visa to buy. Off-plan contracts are registered in your name in the DLD system (Oqood).
Escrow and RERA
With off-plan projects your payments go into a project escrow account, and the developer is registered with RERA.
Tax at home, too
Depending on where you're tax resident, rental income may be taxable at home. Our partner tax adviser helps you check this.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
Dubai properties
We don't advertise. We select for you.
Prices and availability of Dubai projects change within weeks, so we don't keep a standing list online. Instead we review current options against your goals and only show you what we have checked ourselves.
- 1 working dayA short call. We clarify your goal, budget and timing, and whether you'd pay cash, in instalments or with a mortgage.
- 3 working days3–5 projects compared in one table: entry price, payment plan, handover date, service charge, expected gross and net yield.
- AlongsideDeveloper background: timeliness and quality of past handovers, escrow and RERA details, floor plans.
- On requestA video walkthrough of the site or show apartment, plus a written summary, with no obligation.
Selection within 3 working daysThe first selection is free.
FAQ
Dubai, straight answers
What people ask us most often before buying in Dubai.
Réka Urbánfounder, lead adviser
How much do I need to get started?
Some studio apartments start at a total price of roughly AED 600,000–700,000, though this varies with stock and timing. With off-plan, the first instalment in many projects is 10–20%.
Do I need to travel to Dubai to buy?
Many off-plan purchases can be completed without travelling, and you can register as a non-resident with your passport. For ready properties, digital transfer is in some cases tied to a local ID.
Is an 8–10% yield guaranteed?
No. Some projects can reach that gross range, but according to Property Monitor's August 2026 data, average apartment yields in the main areas were 4.6–6.4%. Net yield after costs is lower.
What are the annual running costs?
There's no annual property tax, but service charges are due every year, typically AED 12–25 per square foot in mid-market projects. If you let the property, add management, the housing fee and voids. We show these on separate lines in the yield calculation.
How is the rental income taxed at home?
That depends on your tax residence and how you hold the property; many countries, Hungary included, have a double tax treaty with the UAE. Before you buy, we review your case with our partner tax adviser.
Does the property come with residency?
With property worth at least AED 2 million you can apply for a renewable five-year Golden Visa, provided the scheme's other conditions are met. It can extend to your family members.
Journal
More on Dubai
Buying a home in Dubai from abroad, step by step
Deposit, Form F, NOC, DLD transfer, Oqood: how a Dubai purchase works for a buyer based in Hungary or elsewhere in Europe, and how to pay safely.
Off-plan or ready in Dubai? How to decide in 2026
Staged payments or rent from month one? We compare Dubai off-plan and ready apartments on cost, risk and cash flow, and who each one suits.
Six Dubai communities, six different buyers: Marina, Downtown, Business Bay, JVC, Dubai Hills, Palm
2026 prices, rents, yields and service charges, and which Dubai community suits which buyer: investor, family or own use.
Owning Dubai property as a Hungarian resident: what is taxed in the UAE, and what at home?
Rental income, resale gains, holiday letting, tax residence and the Hungary–UAE double tax treaty, explained in plain terms.
Exiting a Dubai investment: selling, the resale market and supply risk in autumn 2026
How a Dubai apartment is sold, what selling costs, what 2026 transaction data shows, and how worried to be about the large wave of handovers.
The Dubai Golden Visa through property: what it gives you, what it costs, and what it doesn't do
A ten-year residence visa with AED 2 million of property. The 2026 conditions, off-plan and mortgages, fees, family members, and the limits of the visa.
Free guide
Buying property in Dubai from Hungary
A 5–8 page A4 guide you can save as a PDF.
- Ready and off-plan step by step
- Fees, mortgage and net yield worked through
- Checklist and what to do after handover
Dubai consultation
Let's see whether Dubai fits your plans.
In a 30-minute call we go through your goals, budget and the risks. If Dubai isn't right for you, we'll tell you that too.
Phone, WhatsApp · Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 CET+36 70 603 3333
Emailinfo@monveroestates.com
Réka Urbánfounder, lead adviser
We're happy to arrange a video call. Because of the time difference, Budapest mornings line up well with our Dubai partners' working day.
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