logo d

Investment guides

Investments compared in numbers, not promises

Dubai property, gold, crypto, stocks and ETFs side by side: what each one costs to enter, what it earns, how fast you can get out — and how you can lose money. Every figure has a date, a source and a formula you can check.

0%tax on rental income for individuals in Dubai
5–7%typical gross rental yield on Dubai apartments
3.6725dirhams per US dollar — a fixed peg since 1997
4%Land Department transfer fee. We count every cost

Calculator

Same money, five instruments

Choose an amount and a horizon. We show what each instrument could be worth at the end in three scenarios — after entry and exit costs.

Investment guides

Four ways to invest — one honest format

Each section explains how the instrument earns, what it costs, how fast you can exit and how you can lose money — with calculators you can check.

Data · 2026

86%

What a Dubai landlord keeps

Average annual rent of a one-bedroom apartment and the share left after the building service charge. Source: Property Monitor via Engel & Völkers, 2026.

Dubai property guides
Downtown DubaiAED 120,28582% kept after service charge
Emaar BeachfrontAED 149,48089% kept after service charge
Dubai Creek HarbourAED 102,25287% kept after service charge
Dubai Hills EstateAED 98,73088% kept after service charge
Dubai MarinaAED 97,43483% kept after service charge
Business BayAED 94,20685% kept after service charge
Dubai SouthAED 62,00088% kept after service charge

Investment guides

Latest guides

Stocks, bonds & ETFs

ETFs explained for international investors: costs, domicile and taxes

What an ETF is, which costs matter, and why an investor living in the UAE may keep about USD 10,000 more over 20 years by choosing the right fund domicile.

Updated 11.11.2026Read →
Gold & precious metals

How to invest in gold: bars, coins or ETFs — costs compared

Why investors hold gold, the real cost of bars, coins and gold ETFs, a five-year calculation on USD 20,000, and UAE rules on VAT and customs.

Updated 11.11.2026Read →
Crypto assets

How a crypto exchange works: orders, fees, custody and UAE rules

What happens when you press "buy", why the same USD 10,000 purchase can cost $10 or $300, who holds your coins and how crypto platforms are regulated in the UAE.

Updated 11.11.2026Read →
Dubai Real Estate

Dubai rents by area in 2026: apartments and townhouses

Average annual rents for studios to 3-bedroom apartments in seven Dubai areas, townhouse rents in three communities, service charges and what is left after them.

Updated 11.11.2026Read →
Dubai Real Estate

Off-plan or ready property in Dubai: a side-by-side calculation

Same budget, same apartment value, four years: we compare the profit of a ready unit with rent from day one and an off-plan unit on a payment plan, including a delay…

Updated 11.11.2026Read →
Dubai Real Estate

Buying property in Dubai as a foreigner: steps, fees and a worked example

Who can buy, how the purchase works and what it really costs: a line-by-line example for an AED 2 million apartment, with and without a mortgage.

Updated 11.11.2026Read →

FAQ

Questions investors ask us

Can a foreigner buy property in Dubai without living there?

Yes. In freehold areas non-residents can own property outright with a passport. Ownership is registered with the Dubai Land Department and a title deed is issued in your name.

How much does buying cost on top of the price?

About 6–7% for a ready apartment paid in cash — mostly the 4% Land Department fee and a 2% agency commission — and around 7–8% with a mortgage.

Is rental income taxed?

Dubai has no personal income tax on rent or capital gains. The country where you are tax resident may still tax that income.

Is property better than ETFs or gold?

Neither is better in general. Property gives monthly income and the option of a mortgage but is slow to sell; ETFs are cheap and liquid; gold is insurance without income. Our calculator shows the trade-offs.

Is this investment advice?

No. It is information with transparent assumptions. For a decision about a specific property, our team prepares a personal calculation.

Personal calculation

Turn these numbers into a decision

Tell us your budget and your goal. We will compare specific Dubai projects with the alternatives — real payment plans, real rents and an honest yield estimate. Free and without obligation.

Information only, not individual investment, tax or legal advice. Prices, rates and rules change — check the date and sources in each guide.

 

We are in social networks: Telegram WhatsApp Instagram * YouTube LinkedIn