Dubai, UAE, 31 October 2026
The LIVERIA Dubai Investment Guide 2026 is a free, 52-page guide to buying property in Dubai, covering the record year 2025, the 2026 market update, the 10-year Golden Visa from AED 2 million, real buying costs and exit strategies. It is updated with data as at October 2026 and is available in English and German at liveriarealty.com/investment-guides.
Key facts
- 52 pages, Edition 2026, data as at October 2026
- Languages: English and German
- 2025: 214,912 sales worth AED 682.5 billion, a record year
- Golden Visa from AED 2 million in property, ready, off-plan or mortgaged
- Worked example: total buying costs of about 6.3% on an AED 2 million apartment
- Free download, no obligation
Dubai in 2025 and 2026: what the data shows
2025 was a record year. The Dubai Land Department recorded 214,912 sales worth AED 682.5 billion, up 18.8% in volume and 30.6% in value on 2024. Q4 2025 was the strongest quarter on record, with AED 187.5 billion in sales.
2026 has tested the market. Transactions from January to September reached AED 574.1 billion, the second-highest on record. Sales were 23.5% below the same period of 2025. By September, prices were about 10% below their February level (ValuStrat), and monthly declines had slowed to 0.1% to 0.2%. For buyers, the guide’s message is clear: negotiating power is back.
The prime market held firm. Knight Frank counted 412 homes above US$10 million sold from January to September 2026, more than in the same period of 2025.
Residence through property: what changed in 2026
- 10-year Golden Visa: property worth at least AED 2 million, whether ready, off-plan or mortgaged. On a mortgaged home, only your paid-up equity counts. Processing usually takes 5 to 15 working days. Read more in our article on the Dubai Golden Visa through property.
- 2-year Investor Visa: since 2026, sole owners no longer need a minimum property value. The former AED 750,000 threshold was removed. Joint owners need at least AED 400,000 each.
What does it cost to buy property in Dubai?
The guide’s worked example for an AED 2,000,000 resale apartment bought in cash:
| Cost item | AED |
|---|---|
| DLD fee, 4% | 80,000 |
| DLD admin and title deed | about 580 |
| Trustee office fee | 4,200 |
| Agency fee, 2% + 5% VAT | 42,000 |
| Total, about 6.3% | 126,780 |
Dubai has 0% personal income tax and 0% tax on rental income for individuals. Typical gross rental yields are 5.5% to 7%.
What else is inside the guide
The guide covers Dubai’s market cycles and outlook, the Dubai 2040 Master Plan and D33 Agenda, what US$1 million buys in Dubai compared with London and Monaco, the communities where demand is growing, three investor profiles, mortgages and October 2026 rates, buying with crypto, off-plan versus ready, EOIs, documents, each step of the purchase, long-term versus holiday letting and how to plan your exit.
“Asking the right questions is free; not asking them can cost far more. This guide gives investors clear numbers and honest advice, including when to wait.” Valeria Ivic, Founder and Managing Director, LIVERIA
How to get the guide
- Go to liveriarealty.com/investment-guides.
- Choose the Dubai guide and your language: English or German.
- Enter your name, email and phone, then confirm the 6-digit code we email you.
- Your download starts straight away, and we email you a personal link.
DOWNLOAD THE DUBAI INVESTMENT GUIDE
Frequently asked questions
Is the Dubai Investment Guide 2026 free?
Yes. The guide is free and there is no obligation. You confirm your email with a 6-digit code and the download starts straight away. We also email you a personal link, so you can share the PDF with your family, lawyer or bank.
Is 2026 a good time to buy property in Dubai?
The guide shows a market that has cooled from its 2025 record. Prices were about 10% below February 2026 by September, and monthly declines had slowed. That gives buyers more room to negotiate, while the prime segment held firm. Every case is different, so the guide explains how to weigh growth against risk.
How much do I need to invest for a Dubai Golden Visa?
At least AED 2 million in property, ready, off-plan or mortgaged. With a mortgage, only your paid-up equity counts towards the AED 2 million. The visa runs for 10 years, and processing usually takes 5 to 15 working days.
What are the buying costs in Dubai?
The main cost is the 4% Dubai Land Department fee. In the guide’s example of an AED 2 million resale apartment bought in cash, total costs including trustee and agency fees come to about 6.3%, or AED 126,780.
Which languages is the guide available in?
The Dubai Investment Guide 2026 is available in English and German. LIVERIA also publishes free 2026 guides for Abu Dhabi, Mauritius and Montenegro on the same page.
About LIVERIA
LIVERIA International Realty is a Swiss-founded boutique property advisory for private clients and family offices, with offices in the UAE and Mauritius and a presence in London and Montenegro. In Dubai, LIVERIA Prime Real Estate LLC is a RERA-registered brokerage (ORN 55572). Its multilingual team gives neutral advice across the projects of Dubai’s top developers. LIVERIA was named Leading International Luxury Property Advisory Firm for UHNWI and one of the Top 100 Companies Worldwide at the Global Elite Awards 2026.
Contact: [email protected] · +971 54 274 4242 · liveriarealty.com
Sources: LIVERIA Dubai Investment Guide 2026, with data from the Dubai Land Department, Knight Frank, ValuStrat, REIDIN and the Dubai Statistics Center. Information as at October 2026. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
