03 // Relocation & Residency

Living in Dubai: relocating and buying the right home

End-to-end guidance for individuals and families moving to the UAE, from first orientation to handover, keys and the life that follows.

Living in Dubai begins with a decision about where, and how, you will live. Natalie Burešová guides high-net-worth individuals and families who relocate to Dubai and want to buy a home rather than rent indefinitely. She starts with orientation: how the market is organized, which communities suit the way the family lives, and whether a completed home or a new development fits the timeline. She then manages the purchase through to handover and keys.

Foreign buyers can hold freehold title without time limit in designated areas of Dubai under Law No. 7 of 2006, and every sale is registered with the Dubai Land Department (DLD). There is no annual property tax, although expatriate owners who live in their home pay Dubai Municipality's housing fee through the DEWA utility bill. A home worth at least AED 2 million can also support 10-year Golden residence.

Natalie is a RERA-registered advisor with The Oppenheim Group in Bluewaters. She speaks Czech, English and Slovak, which makes a practical difference for Czech and Slovak families moving to Dubai, and she coordinates trusted legal, interior and property-management specialists so the move does not stop at the title deed. The aim is a home that works on the first day.

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Moving to Dubai: buy now, or buy into what is being built

Most families moving to Dubai want a home they can live in soon, which points to ready and resale property: a completed apartment or villa that can be inspected, with a title deed and service charges that can be checked before signing. Keys come at the transfer at a DLD-approved trustee office.

Some families plan further ahead and buy off plan in a new community while renting in the meantime. That route spreads payments through the build, with buyer money held in a project escrow account under Law No. 8 of 2007, but the move-in date depends on handover, and construction timelines can slip. Natalie sets out both paths against the family's actual moving date.

Best areas to live in Dubai, matched to how you live

There is no single best area to live in Dubai. The right community depends on the type of home, the family's daily routes and whether a finished neighborhood or a developing one suits them. Natalie walks clients through established districts and newer master developments:

Dubai Marina: an established freehold waterfront district with a deep resale and rental market.
Downtown Dubai: a central freehold district around Burj Khalifa with a mature resale market.
Palm Jumeirah: an established island community of apartments and villas.
Arabian Ranches: an established villa community.
Dubai Islands, Dubai South and Expo City Dubai: Natalie's focus areas, large master developments where new residential districts are being delivered.

Moving to Dubai from the UK or Europe: what changes for a buyer

The purchase process is the same for every nationality, but some features surprise buyers moving to Dubai from the UK or continental Europe. Prices and fees are in UAE dirhams. The main transfer cost is the 4% DLD fee, usually paid by the buyer, plus trustee office fees of AED 2,100 or AED 4,200 on a ready sale. On a resale, a security deposit, commonly 10% of the price, is typically held when the Form F memorandum of understanding is signed.

Financing also works differently. UAE Central Bank rules cap expatriate loans at 80% on a first home valued at or below AED 5 million and 70% above that, with a maximum tenor of 25 years. Natalie arranges mortgage financing through trusted banking partners, and recommends that buyers take their own tax advice in their home country.

Relocation services in Dubai, from orientation to keys

Orientation: a conversation about the family's routine, budget, timing and whether residency is a goal.
Area shortlist: communities and homes that fit, with completed and new-build options side by side.
Viewings and checks: the home, the building, the title deed, the developer NOC on service charges and any registered mortgage.
Offer and Form F: agreeing terms and signing the RERA memorandum of understanding.
Financing and residency: mortgage arranged through banking partners if needed, and the Golden Visa application where the property qualifies.
Transfer and keys: completion at a DLD-approved trustee office, where the new title deed is issued.

The life that follows: after the keys

A relocation does not end at the title deed. Through her partner network, Natalie coordinates interior specialists to furnish the home, property-management specialists for anything the family wants handled, and legal specialists where documents need review. For owners who qualify, she supports the Golden Visa application through DLD, which also requires health insurance for the investor and family throughout the residence.

Relocating to Dubai: questions families ask

Can I buy a home in Dubai before I move?

Yes. Foreign buyers can hold freehold title in designated areas whether or not they are yet resident, and the sale is registered with the Dubai Land Department. Lending to non-residents is at each bank's discretion within Central Bank caps.

Do homeowners in Dubai pay property tax?

There is no annual property tax. Expatriate owners who live in their home pay Dubai Municipality's housing fee, 5% of the annual rental value, collected through the DEWA bill.

Does buying a home give me residency in Dubai?

Property worth at least AED 2 million, registered in your name, qualifies for 10-year Golden residence under ICP rules, including mortgaged property financed by an approved local bank. In Dubai the application runs through DLD.

Should we rent first or buy straight away?

It depends on how well the family knows the city and how soon they need a home. Natalie can compare ready homes available now with new developments that complete later, so the decision is made with both in view.

How long does a ready-home purchase take?

The steps are Form F, the developer NOC, any mortgage release, and transfer at a trustee office. The timing depends mainly on the seller's position and any financing, so Natalie sets a realistic schedule at the start.

Which languages does Natalie work in?

Czech, English and Slovak.

Related guides

Sources

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Checked October 2026.

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