Where the world's capitalis moving next.
AED 320 billion transacted across Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the first half of 2026. Zero property tax. Ten-year residency from AED 2 million. Here is what the numbers actually say.
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Investor questionnaire · 3 minutes
What do you really think of the UAE market?
Four short parts: your situation, your view of the market, your experience and a bit about you. Your consultant reads every answer before the call.
Two minutes
Get your 2026 investment guide
Six quick questions so your consultant arrives with the right numbers, not a generic file.
- Tax-free rental income
- Developer-direct pricing
- RERA-regulated brokerage
Which market interests you?
Why the UAE
Three reasons the capital keeps arriving
No property tax, no capital gains tax, no income tax.
Rental income and capital gains are yours in full. One hundred per cent foreign ownership in designated freehold areas.
Ten-year residency from AED 2 million.
The Golden Visa is renewable and requires no employer sponsor. Dubai has issued more than 250,000 since 2021, and the rules were relaxed again in 2026.
A market that grew through a difficult quarter.
Regional conflict broke out on 28 February 2026. Dubai still posted a 31% increase in Q1 transaction value. Abu Dhabi recorded its strongest quarter on record.
The UAE
Islands, penthouses and branded residences
Island livingTropical island villas on private lagoons
Branded residencesHypercar-inspired branded tower, Business Bay
Downtown DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain
Palm JumeirahThe fronds of Palm Jumeirah at golden hourDubai Hills penthousesDouble-height penthouse over the golf course
WaterfrontMarina yachts and Bluewaters at dusk
Signature villasInfinity-pool villa facing the skyline
Luxury interiorsMarble interiors, Burj viewsThe three markets
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, side by side
| Dubai | Abu Dhabi | Sharjah | |
|---|---|---|---|
| H1 2026 transactions | AED 286.4B in sales | AED 117B total | Smaller, entry-led volumes |
| Annual growth | +31% (Q1) | +112% | Not reported at the same cadence |
| Registration fee | 4% | ~2% | 2% |
| Rental yields | 5–9% | 6–8% | 6–8% |
| Foreign ownership since | 2002 | 2019 | 2022 (designated areas) |
| Market depth | Highest in the region | Growing fast | Thinner resale, lowest entry price |
Three markets, three jobs
Dubai is the liquidity market — deeper resale, faster exits, 5–9% yields. Abu Dhabi is the stability market — tighter supply, institutional tenants, 6–8% yields. Sharjah is the entry market — lowest ticket prices, 6–8% yields, thinner resale.
Entry cost differs more than price
Registration is 4% in Dubai and around 2% in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. On the same AED 2M ticket that is a AED 40,000 swing before you count service charges.
Foreign ownership is still young outside Dubai
Dubai opened freehold in 2002, Abu Dhabi in 2019 — now 50 investment zones — and Sharjah opened designated areas to all nationalities in 2022. Pricing has not finished catching up.
Residency follows the same rule everywhere
AED 2M of property gets the renewable ten-year Golden Visa in any emirate; off-plan qualifies at completion and registration, not at signing.
Three markets, three types of buyer. We work across all of them, so we have no reason to push you toward one.
UAE market insight
Who is arriving, who is staying, what they are buying
Demand here is not speculative sentiment — it is people landing, residing and registering title. These are the published figures behind the 2026 market.
Sources: Dubai Land Department, Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, Dubai Statistics Centre, Dubai Airports and Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism — latest published data.
Remote purchase
How to buy in the UAE without flying in
Most of our overseas buyers complete without boarding a plane. This is the route, step by step.
Shortlist by video, not by viewing
Your consultant sends live walkthroughs, floor plans, payment plans and honest yield numbers for three to five units that fit your budget.
Reserve online
A booking form and a reservation deposit by card or transfer holds the unit. Developer contracts are issued digitally.
Sign digitally or by power of attorney
Off-plan contracts are e-signed. For resale, a POA notarised at the UAE embassy in your country lets us sign on your behalf.
Pay into the escrow account
Off-plan money goes to the developer's RERA escrow account, not to an agent. You transfer internationally from your own bank.
Register the title remotely
Dubai Land Department and ADREC issue the title deed digitally. A UAE bank account is useful but not required to buy.
Hand over to management
Snagging, furnishing, tenancy and service charges are run by the management team. You can hold the asset without ever visiting.
Your consultant handles developer paperwork, the escrow account and registration on your behalf. Nothing is signed without you seeing it first.
Payment calculator
Work out what a UAE property actually costs you monthly
Set the price, the plan and the yield. See the down payment, the monthly during construction, the handover amount and the rent it should produce.
What's inside the guide
Written for a decision, not for a download
We do not publish this as a download. A consultant walks you through it, because the right answer depends on what you are trying to achieve.
Golden Visa
Ten-year residency, explained in four lines
AED 2 million in property for the renewable ten-year visa.
AED 1 million for the retirement visa if you are 55 or over.
Off-plan qualifies once completed and registered — not at signing.
No employer sponsor required, and family can be included.
Guides your consultant walks you through
The true cost of buying
Registration, service charges, agency and mortgage costs, line by line.
Yields by community
Where 5% becomes 9%, and why the emirate-wide average misleads.
Payment plans
Construction-linked and post-handover structures compared.
Developer delivery record
Who hands over on time, and who has slipped.
Market insights
Read before you buy
Latest analysis from the Realtree desk, published on realtree.ae.
Official partner
RERA-regulated · 0% buyer commission · Developer-direct pricing
Who you'll be speaking to
Realtree Properties is a Dubai-based real estate and investment consultancy serving clients across four continents — from the first shortlist to the keys, the mortgage and the residency.
About Realtree →Book a meeting
Talk to a Realtree consultant
Pick a time that suits you. A 30-minute call on Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah — pricing, payment plans and what the 2026 numbers mean for your budget.
Questions investors ask first
Yes, in designated freehold areas. Dubai has allowed foreign freehold since 2002 and Abu Dhabi since 2019, now across 50 investment zones open to all nationalities.
AED 2 million in property for the renewable ten-year visa. AED 1 million for the retirement visa if you are 55 or over. Off-plan property qualifies once it is completed and registered, not at the point of signing.
Registration is 4% in Dubai and around 2% in Abu Dhabi, plus annual service charges, and mortgage costs if financing. On new off-plan the developer usually covers the agency fee — we will confirm for your specific purchase.
Typically 5–9% in Dubai and 6–8% in Abu Dhabi. Community matters far more than emirate, which is why the guide breaks yields down by area rather than giving you an average.
No. The full process can be completed remotely, including power of attorney where needed.
Because the useful answer depends on your budget, your timeline and whether you want income or residency. A generic PDF cannot do that. A fifteen-minute conversation can.
The market moved. The question is whether you did.
AED 320 billion transacted in six months. Register and a consultant will send your 2026 guide and walk you through what fits.