Why Dubai, in numbers
The market in one page: who moves here, how much the property earns, what you pay in tax and how it held up in a difficult 2026. Sources are named under each block.
+227,000 since January 2026, despite the regional conflict
an all-time record: 270,000+ deals
against 2.6 to 3.8% gross in European capitals
a one-off 4% registration fee at purchase
for property from AED 2 million, family included
Prices by area, from DLD deals
Median price per square foot of apartments actually sold in the last six months. Ready and off-plan are counted apart: off-plan in the same area usually costs more.
| Area | Ready, AED/ft²Ready | Off-plan, AED/ft²Off-plan | Sales in 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai South | 1,088 | 1,716 | 9,441 |
| JVC | 1,248 | 1,585 | 4,375 |
| Business Bay | 1,811 | 2,476 | 1,844 |
| Dubai Islands | few deals | 2,723 | 1,133 |
| JLT | 1,436 | 2,465 | 1,111 |
| Majan | 1,363 | 1,419 | 1,070 |
| Dubai Creek Harbour | 2,281 | 2,592 | 1,070 |
| Downtown Dubai | 2,377 | 3,564 | 839 |
| Meydan, MBR City | 1,956 | 2,137 | 786 |
| Dubai Marina | 1,954 | 4,142 | 776 |
| Arjan | 1,373 | 1,669 | 615 |
| Dubai Hills Estate | 2,212 | 2,443 | 529 |
| JVT | 1,200 | 1,697 | 498 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 2,566 | 5,605 | 404 |
AED per square foot. Dubai Land Department, apartment sales for the six months to 3 November 2026.
More people arrive than homes are built
In each of the last five years Dubai added far more residents than homes. In 2025 about 212,000 new residents, roughly 580 a day, against about 42,000 completed units.
ONS / GLA, Destatis, INSEE
Buyers come from everywhere
of buyers in early 2026 came from the UK
Germany (4.2%) and France (3.8%) are also in the top ten.
India, the largest buyer group
Followed by the UK, Egypt and the USA.
of investors in 2025 were non-residents
Demand does not rest on residents alone.
sales in 2025 across 270,000+ deals
Jan to Sep 2026: AED 380bn+, the second-best nine months on record.
Sources: DLD via Dubai Media Office (Jan 2026), W Capital (Oct 2026), Harbor Real Estate / DXBinteract via Khaleej Times (Jul 2026)
Rental yield above home markets
Rent of €20,000 a year: what the owner keeps after income tax
Taxes do not eat the return
Approximate 2026 rates for private individuals. The UAE 0% applies to UAE tax residents. Not tax advice.
| Tax on rent | Tax on sale | Purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 0% | 0% | 4% |
 United Kingdom | 20-45% | 18-24% | 5-17% |
 Germany | 14-45% | 0-45% | 5.5-8.5% |
 France | up to 62% | 36%+ | ~8% |
 Finland | 30-34% | 30-34% | 1.5-3% |
Sources: gov.uk, BMF / EStG, service-public.fr, vero.fi, PwC Tax Summaries, DLD
More space for the same money
Square metres of prime property that US$1 million buys. Knight Frank Wealth Report 2026.
A stable base
AED per US dollar
The dirham has been pegged to the dollar since 1997.
GDP growth in 2025
The IMF expects a dip in 2026 and +7.7% in 2027.
Credit rating
S&P AA, Moody's Aa2 and Fitch AA− affirmed in 2026.
Sources: FCSC via WAM, IMF World Economic Outlook (Oct 2026), S&P, Fitch, Moody's
Property can also bring residency
Golden Visa
Property from AED 2 million, about US$545,000. Off-plan counts once registered. No need to live in the UAE.
Property visa
Any value for a sole owner since April 2026, AED 400,000 per share if co-owned. Renewable while you own it.
2026 was a stress test. Demand bent, but did not break.
Since 28 February the UAE has faced Iranian missile and drone attacks. Tourism fell 44% from January to August, third-quarter sales by 45%, and prices are 1.7% below a year ago. For buyers it opened a window: discounts, longer payment plans, developers covering the 4% DLD fee.
new residents in 2026
The population reached 4.81 million in September.
of projects below launch price
Of 717 launched since July 2023, only 28 trade below launch.
ratings affirmed
S&P, Moody's and Fitch kept stable outlooks.
Sources: UAE Ministry of Defence via Gulf News, DET via The National, W Capital, Cavendish Maxwell, fäm Properties, IMF WEO (Oct 2026)
Tell me what you need
A name and a contact are enough. I reply within an hour in working time, in English or Russian, and say honestly whether I can help.
Deals, launches and market notes on Instagram@orlov.dubaiOnyx Tower 2, Level 5, office 505
The Greens, Dubai, UAE