Investor Guidance in Dubai Real Estate
Before buying property in Dubai, it’s important to understand what’s really behind the deal: developer, area, price, deal type, DLD, brokerage, service charges, net yield and risks. I help you check, understand and compare before you move forward.
Considering a property or project?
Send me the deal details and together we’ll check whether it fits your goal, your budget, your risk level and your investment plan.
Dubai is full of opportunities — but not every offer is a good deal
Dubai’s real estate market is fast, dynamic and packed with projects. There are excellent deals, but also plenty of marketing, sales pressure, beautiful renderings and yield promises. Before moving forward, you need to see the full picture — not just the price in the presentation.
Guidance that looks at the whole deal, not just the property
A Dubai real estate deal is made up of many parts: deal type, developer, area, price, costs, brokerage, service charges, rent, cash flow and exit plan.
Off-plan review
Checking the developer, area, price, payment plan, handover date, future costs and exit plan. In off-plan, the buyer pays no brokerage at all.
Resale / secondary review
Checking the existing property, market price, building condition, realistic rent, service charges and brokerage of 2% + 5% VAT on the commission.
Area review
Does the area fit your investment goal? Who is the target audience? Is there real demand, accessibility, infrastructure and potential?
Developer review
Who is the developer? What’s their track record? Have they delivered projects before? How is the build quality and what does the market say about them?
Cost review
Calculating DLD, fees, secondary brokerage, service charges, furniture, property management, maintenance and additional costs.
Net yield review
Gross yield isn’t enough. We check what’s left after service charges, management, maintenance, furniture, vacancy periods and transaction costs.
Off-plan and secondary aren’t calculated the same way
One of the most common mistakes is comparing an off-plan deal with a resale deal without understanding that the costs differ. In off-plan, the buyer pays no brokerage at all. In resale / secondary deals, the buyer pays brokerage of 2% of the deal price, plus 5% VAT on the commission.
So before deciding which deal is better, you need to calculate the total cost: property price, DLD, fees, brokerage by deal type, service charges, furniture, property management, maintenance and net yield.
A simple rule to remember
Each deal type has advantages, drawbacks and a different calculation
There’s no single answer that fits everyone. An investor looking for a payment plan, one who wants an existing property, and one seeking immediate rental income won’t necessarily choose the same deal.
Off-plan in Dubai
Suits investors who are ready to wait for handover, want to enter a project at an early stage, and are interested in a payment plan. Important to know: the buyer pays no brokerage at all.
Resale / secondary in Dubai
Suits investors who want to see an existing property, verify actual rent, understand the building’s condition and enter the deal with more real-world data.
A simple, clear process before moving ahead with a deal
The goal is to bring order, understand the numbers, and identify in advance the points that must be checked before signing.
Send me the deal details
Project, building, area, price, size, payment plan, handover date or resale property details.
Define your investment goal
Rental income, capital appreciation, personal use, selling before handover, long-term holding or a combination of goals.
We review the deal
Developer, area, price, costs, brokerage by deal type, service charges, rent, risks and exit plan.
We compare alternatives
We check whether there are areas, projects or deal types that better fit your goal and budget.
You get a clearer picture
The goal is to better understand the advantages, drawbacks, costs and risks before moving forward.
Read before you decide
I’ve built clear guides to help you understand the market, the costs and the checks that matter.
How much does it really cost to buy property in Dubai?
A guide to DLD, fees, off-plan vs. secondary brokerage, service charges, furniture, property management and net yield.
How to choose an area in Dubai?
How to check demand, target audience, accessibility, future development, price, competition and exit plan.
How to vet a developer in Dubai?
What to check: past projects, on-time delivery, build quality, service, reputation and payment terms.
I’m Yossi, and I guide real estate investors in Dubai
After years of business activity and personal investment experience in Dubai, I know how easy it is to get lost among projects, areas, presentations, promises and numbers.
My goal is to help investors understand what they’re checking, how to calculate costs correctly, the difference between off-plan and secondary, and which questions must be asked before moving forward.
My approach
Before you buy property in Dubai — understand what you’re really buying
A good deal should still be clear once the marketing is stripped away: developer, area, price, costs, brokerage by deal type, service charges, net yield and exit plan.
Investor questions before buying in Dubai
Do you pay brokerage on off-plan?
No. In off-plan deals in Dubai, the buyer pays no brokerage at all. The agent’s commission is paid by the developer.
How much brokerage do you pay on a resale deal?
In resale / secondary deals, the buyer pays brokerage of 2% of the deal price, plus 5% VAT on the commission. In practice that’s 2.1% of the deal price.
Which is better — off-plan or secondary?
There’s no single answer. Off-plan can suit those looking for a payment plan and willing to wait for handover. Secondary can suit those who want an existing property and more real-world data. The calculation differs for each deal type.
What’s most important to check before buying?
Deal type, developer, area, price, DLD, brokerage by deal type, service charges, realistic rent, net yield and exit plan.
Can I send you a deal to review?
Yes. You can send me the project or building name, area, price, property size, deal type, payment plan and any other information you’ve received.
Received an offer for a property in Dubai?
Send me the deal details and together we’ll check what matters: off-plan or secondary, developer, area, price, brokerage, DLD, service charges, rent, yield and risks.
The information on this site is for general purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, tax or investment advice. Before any transaction, it is recommended to carry out independent checks and consult qualified professionals as needed.