Buying property in Dubai from Australia
I was born and raised in Melbourne, and I’ve lived in Dubai for the past 26 years. So I understand both sides: how Australians think about property, and how Dubai really works.
A relaxed video call on Google Meet, at a time that suits Perth, Melbourne or Sydney.
Location first. Brochures last.
Many of my clients are Australians who buy off-plan without leaving home, from Perth to Brisbane. They come for rental returns that are hard to find in Australia’s capital cities, no annual property tax, and payment plans that spread the cost while the building goes up.
But here’s what the brochures won’t tell you. A great investment isn’t about the rooftop pool or the glossy renders. Just like in Melbourne or Sydney, the single most important factor is location.
“Just like back home, when a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is.”
Most agents in Dubai will tell you that every new area has “huge future potential.” Some will, many won’t. I take a different approach. Before we look at a single project, we talk about your appetite for risk. Then I focus on areas that are already great: areas that have held up through every downturn I’ve seen, where there’s always a tenant or a buyer, whatever happens in the market. Many also offer extra upside through short-term holiday rentals, which my team can set up and manage for you.
I’m your eyes and ears on the ground: choosing the right area, the right project and the right unit within it, and staying with you long after the paperwork is signed.
Why Australians are looking at Dubai
Rental returns that work
In many Australian capitals, the rent barely covers the mortgage. In the right Dubai areas, rental returns are typically much stronger, and short-term holiday rentals can lift them further.
No annual land tax
Dubai has no yearly property or land tax and no tax on rental income for individual owners. There’s a one-off 4% Land Department fee when you buy, and that’s it.
You pay as it’s built
In the areas I’d recommend, properties start from around AED 1 million (around AUD 390,000). And instead of a deposit now and the full balance at settlement, Dubai off-plan plans spread payments over construction, and sometimes for years after handover.
A Golden Visa for the family
Invest AED 2 million (around AUD 780,000) or more and you can apply for a 10-year renewable UAE residency that can include your family.
One flight from home.
There are direct daily flights from Australia’s major cities. Many of my Australian clients end up using their apartment as a stopover on the way to Europe.
How buying works from Australia
Dubai is 6 to 7 hours behind Melbourne and Sydney, and 4 hours behind Perth. That works nicely: your evening is my afternoon, and I’m often on calls with Australian clients over their morning coffee.
- 01
A video call with the Dubai map
We talk about your goals, budget and appetite for risk, and I show you on the map where I’d buy right now, and where I wouldn’t.
- 02
A focused shortlist
A handful of options that genuinely fit you, not dozens of brochures, with my honest view of each, including the right unit within each project.
- 03
Securing your unit
You reserve and sign the sales agreement digitally, and your payments go into the project’s official escrow account. I check every payment instruction with you before you send a cent.
- 04
Registration
Your purchase is registered with the Dubai Land Department, so your ownership is on record, all without flying over. From then on, you can see your property in the official Dubai REST app.
- 05
While it’s being built
You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it. In the Dubai REST app, you can follow your project’s official completion percentage, see real photos from the site, check the escrow account and see upcoming payments. I keep an eye on things on the ground too, and keep you posted.
- 06
Handover and beyond
I inspect your unit before you accept it, and my team can find long-term tenants or set it up and manage it as a holiday rental.
Money and financing from Australia
Sending money
Payments go from your Australian bank, or a currency transfer specialist, straight into the project’s official escrow account in Dubai. Transfer specialists often give noticeably better exchange rates than the big banks, so it’s worth comparing before each instalment.
The currency
The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar, so the price you pay in Australian dollars moves with the AUD/USD rate. Because off-plan payments are spread over time, you’re not exposed to the exchange rate on a single day, and your rental income is effectively earned in US dollars.
Funding the deposit
Many of my Australian clients use equity in their home back in Australia to fund the deposit and instalments. Your Australian broker or bank can tell you how much you could access.
A Dubai mortgage
UAE banks lend to non-residents, typically up to 60% of the property value and sometimes 70%. With off-plan, you usually only need the mortgage at handover, which gives us time to set up a UAE business for you if you’d like to qualify for up to 80%. My mortgage team handles it all, from comparing banks to the final approval.
Your property is priced in dirhams, which track the US dollar. The only moving part is the Australian dollar.
What my clients say
“I had never purchased property in Dubai before and initially found the number of developments overwhelming. Sam narrowed everything down very quickly based on what I actually wanted rather than sending me dozens of projects. The whole experience was straightforward and personal, and I ended up buying something I’m genuinely excited about.”
“What I appreciated about Sam was that I never felt like he was just trying to make a sale. He spent a lot of time explaining the different areas, developers and payment plans and was very open about the negatives as well as the positives. We eventually bought an apartment that suited exactly what we were looking for. I’d definitely work with him again.”
“Sam has a very good eye for individual apartments. He told me that in Dubai it isn’t enough to choose the right project — you need to choose the right unit inside that project. He recommended a particular apartment because of its floor, orientation and position within the building. In hindsight, that advice was probably the most valuable part of the entire purchase.”
“Sam made buying in Dubai surprisingly easy. I’m based in Australia, so I relied heavily on his judgement when choosing the apartment. He actually talked me out of one unit I originally liked and recommended another apartment in the same project because of the position, view and layout. Looking at the project now, it was absolutely the right call. It turned out to be one of the best units in the building.”
“We had an issue with the developer after purchasing which became quite stressful, particularly because we weren’t in Dubai. Sam stepped in, spoke directly with the developer and kept following it up until it was resolved. Technically the sale was already finished, so he didn’t have to do any of that. That was probably when we realised we had chosen the right person to deal with.”
“I’ve dealt with quite a few property agents over the years and Sam is very different. There’s no pressure and very little sales talk. He gives you his opinion, explains why, and is perfectly comfortable telling you not to buy something. We eventually bought an apartment he had specifically selected within the project and I’m extremely pleased we followed his advice.”
“We experienced an issue with the developer regarding our apartment after signing. Sam became involved immediately and handled the discussions with the developer for us. He kept pushing until we reached a solution we were happy with. Having someone on the ground in Dubai who actually stays involved after the transaction makes a huge difference.”
“Sam understood that I was buying primarily as an investment, so our conversations were always about the numbers — purchase price, price per square foot, future supply, rental demand and resale potential. He shortlisted several options but was very clear about which apartment he would personally choose. That is the one I bought, and I’m very happy with the decision.”
“The thing that stood out was Sam’s knowledge of the individual units within a development. Two apartments can look almost identical on a price list but have completely different investment potential. Sam identified a unit with a better position and outlook that I probably would never have noticed myself. That level of detail is exactly what I wanted from an adviser.”
“From our first conversation, Sam was more interested in understanding what I wanted than pushing a particular development. We looked at several projects before finding the right one. He was responsive throughout the purchase and continued helping afterwards whenever I had questions. I would have no hesitation recommending him to anyone considering property in Dubai.”
Client names have been changed to protect their privacy.
Questions Australians ask
Can Australians buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Australians can own property outright (freehold) in Dubai’s designated areas, which include most of the communities investors look at. You don’t need any special permission or UAE residency to buy.
Do I need to fly to Dubai to buy?
Usually not. Most of my Australian clients buy off-plan entirely remotely, from the first video call to registration with the Dubai Land Department. Many visit for the first time at handover, and some combine it with a holiday.
Can I use my self-managed super fund (SMSF) to buy in Dubai?
It’s possible in some cases, but SMSF rules on overseas property are strict and the consequences of getting it wrong are serious. Speak to your SMSF adviser first; I’m happy to give them everything they need about the property.
How do I get my rental income back to Australia?
Rent is typically paid into a UAE bank account or collected by your property manager, then transferred to your Australian account. My team can help you set up the account and the rental management, so the income arrives without you lifting a finger.
More answers on payment plans, escrow and the Golden Visa in my common questions.
Ready to see Dubai on the map?
Book a video call at a time that suits you, morning in Perth or evening in Melbourne. No pressure, no hard sell, just an honest conversation about where I’d buy right now.