UAE property, without the brochure

Yes, in designated freehold areas, which every emirate defines for itself. Dubai has the most, spread across dozens of communities. Abu Dhabi allows foreign ownership in its investment zones, such as Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and Al Reem Island. Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain have freehold areas open to all nationalities, and Sharjah has opened designated projects to buyers of all nationalities. Outside those areas ownership is restricted, so the first check on any property is which category it falls in.

It depends on what you need the property to do. Dubai is the largest and most liquid market, with the widest choice and the highest entry prices. Abu Dhabi is steadier and more end-user driven, with foreign ownership concentrated in its investment zones. Sharjah is family-oriented and cheaper than Dubai next door. Ajman is the most affordable entry point to freehold ownership, within commuting distance of Sharjah and Dubai, with a smaller resale market. Ras Al Khaimah is a newer, tourism-led market. Nexora works in Ajman and the Northern Emirates and will tell you plainly when a property elsewhere suits you better.

Budget for the land department's transfer or registration fee, which each emirate sets (Dubai's is 4 percent of the price), plus trustee and administration fees, the brokerage commission, and if you borrow, the bank's arrangement, valuation and mortgage registration fees. After that come the running costs: the annual service charge on an apartment, community and maintenance fees on a villa, and utility connections. Nexora itemises every one of these, with its source, before you commit.

It can. Property worth AED 2 million or more can qualify its owner for the UAE's 10-year Golden Visa, subject to conditions, and lower-value property may qualify for a shorter investor residence permit in some emirates. The thresholds and conditions are set by the federal and emirate authorities and do change, so confirm the current position with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), or GDRFA in Dubai, before buying with a visa in mind.

Yes. Several UAE banks lend to non-residents. The UAE Central Bank caps how much a bank may lend against a property, and non-residents are usually asked for a larger deposit and more paperwork than residents. Off-plan purchases are normally paid through the developer's payment plan rather than a mortgage until handover.

The UAE has no annual property tax and no capital gains tax on individuals who own property personally. You will meet fees instead: registration and transfer fees, service charges, and in some emirates a municipality or housing fee added to rent or utility bills. VAT at 5 percent applies to commercial property, and holding property through a company can bring UAE corporate tax into scope. Your home country may tax the rent or the gain, so take advice there too.

Ready property earns rent from the day you own it, and you can inspect exactly what you are buying, the building's management and its running-cost history. Off-plan usually costs less up front and spreads payments over the build, but you are relying on the developer and on a handover date that can slip. A handover eighteen months late is eighteen months of rent you had not budgeted for. Nexora reads the sale agreement and the developer's record before you sign either.

Every sector is open to investors in freehold areas: apartments, villas and townhouses, ready or off-plan; offices, shops and showrooms; warehouses and light-industrial units; residential, commercial and mixed-use land; and, where the emirate and the building allow it, holiday homes for short-term letting. Each has different running costs, rules and risks. Nexora's sectors page sets out what to check in each one.