Buy or rent property in Dubai

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    Dubai is one of the largest resorts and an important business center. It is not surprising that every year the number of people wishing to come here for a long time or move permanently is only growing. UAE laws also promote positive migration. The state is interested in its development and gladly attracts foreign citizens to this process. 

    But everyone who is planning to live in Dubai or another city in the UAE faces the question of housing. To help you sort it out once and for all, here is a comparison of renting and  buying real estate in Dubai. Of course, everyone makes the final choice themselves, but it is much easier to make it if you have all the possible information.

    Pros and cons of renting an apartment in Dubai

    The Dubai real estate market is full of offers of various housing options both for purchase and for rent, for example at https://dubai.etagi.com/en-us/realty_rent/odnokomnatnye-kvartiry/. Not everyone has huge amounts of money to pay for the cost of an apartment or house in the UAE, so many people rent housing for years and decades.

    Pros of renting an apartment in Dubai:

    • no need to look for a huge amount to buy a home;
    • you can choose an option that already has everything you need for life;
    • There is no connection to a place and it is easier to move to a new area, city or leave the country altogether.

    Disadvantages of renting an apartment in Dubai:

    • the cost is constantly growing;
    • for non-residents it is necessary to find a local guarantor for long-term rental;
    • dependence on income stability;
    • It’s not always possible to find housing where you like absolutely everything;
    • You generally need to buy household appliances yourself;
    • the landlord can dictate his own living conditions and terminate the contract after the specified period, which will force him to look for housing to rent again.

    For those who have just arrived in the UAE or do not intend to live here for a long time, the rental option may be really attractive, but others should seriously consider the option of buying real estate in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or other cities.

    Buying property in Dubai

    According to UAE laws, foreigners are allowed to rent real estate for up to 99 years or buy it for full ownership in special freehold zones. In Dubai, finding housing suitable for purchase by a foreigner is not difficult, but is it worth it?

    Pros of buying a home in Dubai:

    • profitable investment;
    • the owner does not depend on anyone and can arrange the housing to his own taste;
    • when renting out, you can get from 4 to 8% return on investment;
    • when purchasing a home for more than 750,000 dirhams (204,000 US dollars), you can apply for a resident visa;
    • with particularly large investments in real estate, you can apply for  UAE citizenship ;
    • prices are lower than in many European capitals;
    • no monthly rental payments.

    Disadvantages of purchasing a home in Dubai:

    • high cost of housing;
    • resale will take some time;
    • binding to place;
    • It is necessary to take care of all household issues and repairs in a timely manner.

    What is more profitable to rent or buy housing in Dubai?

    As you can see, both renting and buying a home have their pros and cons. So it remains to evaluate what is more profitable: renting or buying a home in Dubai.

    Of course, the price of both rent and purchase depends on the specific area, the situation inside the apartment, the wishes of the owner and much more. Therefore, we compare the most identical options. One-bedroom apartments can be purchased for 500 thousand. dirhams ( example ), renting such housing, in turn, will cost an average of 65,000 dirhams per year  .

    In case of rent we have the following expenses:

    • down payment or deposit (equal to the amount of 1 month of stay);
    • payment for the first month of residence;
    • realtor services.

    Total at the initial stage is about 14,000 dirhams.

    For comparison, let’s take an apartment with a 15-year mortgage. The initial expense in this case will include the following items:

    • first installment;
    • collection at the Land Department;
    • registration fee for real estate over AED 50,000;
    • payment for real estate valuation;
    • mortgage registration fee;
    • bank service fee.

     The total amount in this case will be approximately 375,000 dirhams.

    So far, renting seems to be a clear advantage. However, everything is changing; real estate prices in Dubai have been growing steadily in recent years .

    Costs for long term rental:

    • annual payment for registration of the contract;
    • collection at the Land Department;
    • rental payments taking into account the rising rental price.

    When purchasing, expenses are expected for:

    • mortgage payments;
    • annual maintenance.

    As a result, for a purchase with all overpayments on the mortgage and maintenance of your own home it will cost 1.6-1.7 million dirhams, and for rent this amount will exceed 2.2 million dirhams. Not to mention the fact that when you rent a home, there is nothing left, but when you buy, you are left with a profitable asset that you can use yourself or leave as an inheritance to your children.

    What is better : renting or buying an apartment in the UAE specifically for you, it’s up to you to decide. Use the data given above, model whether it will work specifically in your case and then make a decision. In any case, it is recommended to deal with real estate issues only with  a real estate agency , because an experienced agent is guaranteed to save both your money and your nerves. If you want to deal with real estate in Dubai yourself, consider all the difficulties that you, as a non-resident, will encounter. Mistakes in this matter are very costly.