Buying off-plan property in Dubai from the UK
You can buy an off-plan home in Dubai while you live in the UK. You sign most papers online, pay by bank transfer, and the developer registers the sale with the Dubai Land Department. This page covers the UK side: sending pounds, UK tax, and what the prices and the Golden Visa come to in pounds.
General information, not financial or legal advice.
Sending money from the UK
The UK has no exchange controls. HMRC's manual notes that they were abolished on 24 October 1979.
Developers price in dirhams, so what each instalment costs in pounds moves with the exchange rate until you have paid in full. Compare your bank's rate with a currency transfer firm's before each payment.
Tax in the UK
If you are UK resident, you normally pay UK tax on your foreign income, and GOV.UK names rental income on overseas property as an example. You may also have to pay Capital Gains Tax when you sell a home that is not your main home, even if it is overseas.
The UK and the UAE signed a double taxation convention on 12 April 2016. If you are taxed in both countries, you may be able to claim relief. Ask a UK tax adviser how this applies to you.
Buying from abroad
The steps in Dubai are the same wherever you live. Our guides cover signing the sale agreement online, paying the developer, a power of attorney if someone in Dubai will act for you, mortgages for non-residents, and the costs on top of the price.
The Golden Visa
The Dubai Land Department lists a 10-year renewable residence permit for owners of property with a purchase value of AED 2 million or more. That is about GBP 406,000 at the Nov 3, 2026 rate.
Off-plan homes under GBP 300,000
388 off-plan projects in Dubai on our site start under GBP 300,000, about AED 1,478,000. Below, one per area, from the cheapest up to the top of the budget.
- Verdana Phase 3Dubai Investment Park (DIP)From AED 451,472≈ GBP 91,700
- Solanki OneDubai Land Residence ComplexFrom AED 543,000≈ GBP 110,000
- Belle VieDubai Silicon OasisFrom AED 670,000≈ GBP 136,000
- ELA Residences Dorchester CollectionPalm JumeirahFrom AED 888,000≈ GBP 180,000
- Ghaf WoodsGhaf WoodsFrom AED 1,200,000≈ GBP 244,000
- Park Views Residences Tower AZa'abeelFrom AED 1,450,000≈ GBP 294,000
Developers' starting prices in AED, as on our site on Nov 1, 2026. The GBP prices are approximate, at AED 1 = GBP 0.203, the rate of Nov 3, 2026 (Exchange API).
Questions buyers ask
Can I send money from the UK to buy in Dubai?
Yes. The UK has had no exchange controls since 24 October 1979. You can sign most papers online and pay the developer by bank transfer.
Do I pay UK tax on rent from a Dubai home?
If you are UK resident, you normally pay UK tax on foreign income, and that includes rental income on overseas property. You usually report it on a Self Assessment tax return.
Is there a tax treaty between the UK and the UAE?
Yes. The UK–UAE Double Taxation Convention was signed on 12 April 2016 and came into force on 25 December 2016. If you are taxed in both countries, you may be able to claim relief.
What can I buy in Dubai for under GBP 300,000?
388 off-plan projects in Dubai on our site start under GBP 300,000, about AED 1,478,000 at the Nov 3, 2026 rate. The list on this page shows one per area, from the cheapest up, with each price in AED and in your currency.
Can buying a home in Dubai get me a UAE visa?
The Dubai Land Department says property with a purchase value of AED 2 million or more makes you eligible to apply for a 10-year renewable residence permit, the Golden Visa. That is about GBP 406,000 at the Nov 3, 2026 rate.
Sources
- HMRC Capital Gains Manual, CG78400: exchange control, checked Nov 9, 2026: gov.uk
- GOV.UK, Tax on foreign income, checked Nov 9, 2026: gov.uk
- GOV.UK, Capital Gains Tax: what you pay it on, checked Nov 9, 2026: gov.uk
- HMRC, United Arab Emirates: tax treaties, checked Nov 9, 2026: gov.uk
- Dubai Land Department, Golden Visa (investor) service, checked Nov 9, 2026: dubailand.gov.ae