Question 1

What is a good ROI for Dubai real estate?

Accepted Answer

A good gross rental yield in Dubai ranges from 5-8% depending on the area. Net yields after all expenses typically range from 3-6%. Areas like JVC and JLT offer higher yields (7%+), while premium areas like Palm Jumeirah and Downtown offer 5-6% with stronger capital appreciation.

Question 2

Can expats buy property in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Yes, expats can buy freehold property in designated areas of Dubai. The minimum down payment for expats is 25% for properties under AED 5M and 20% for properties over AED 5M. All 9 areas covered by DubaiROI (Marina, JBR, Business Bay, Downtown, JLT, Creek Harbour, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Hills, JVC) are freehold zones.

Question 3

What are the buying costs for Dubai property?

Accepted Answer

Total upfront costs include: 4% DLD (Dubai Land Department) registration fee, 2% agency commission, AED 4,000-5,400 in admin/registration fees, plus your down payment (minimum 25% for expats). DubaiROI calculates all these costs automatically.

Question 4

Should I invest in short-term or long-term rentals in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Short-term rentals (STR/Airbnb) generate 20-40% higher gross revenue but have significantly higher operating costs: 18% management, 8% platform fees, cleaning, DEWA, and tourism tax. Long-term rentals (LTR) have lower revenue but much lower costs since tenants pay utilities. Use DubaiROI to compare both strategies for any property.

Question 5

How does EIBOR affect my Dubai mortgage?

Accepted Answer

EIBOR (Emirates Interbank Offered Rate) is the base rate for UAE variable-rate mortgages. Your mortgage rate = EIBOR + bank spread (typically 0.5-1.0%). DubaiROI uses the current 3-month EIBOR rate and lets you stress-test your investment against EIBOR increases of up to 1%.

Question 6

Which Dubai area has the best rental yield?

Accepted Answer

As of 2026, JVC (Jumeirah Village Circle) and JLT (Jumeirah Lake Towers) consistently offer the highest gross rental yields at 7-7.5%. Business Bay and Dubai Hills follow at around 6%. Premium areas like Palm Jumeirah and JBR offer lower yields (4.5-5.5%) but stronger capital appreciation. DubaiROI updates these figures daily from live Bayut listings.

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