The macro shift: Why European capital is taking root in the UAE
Dubai is no longer an insider tip – it is a structurally mature market with long-term vision and a reliable foundation. • 5 flight hours from Europe • 240+ direct flight connections worldwide • Demographic growth: approx. 100,000 net arrivals per year • Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040: long-term urban development with a clear framework • Outside the EU – structurally attractive for capital and residency
Repositioning for growth: The architecture of UAE corporate and private residency
Structuring your corporate base and private residency in Dubai is not a withdrawal from the global market – it is a strategic repositioning at its very center. The UAE offers an infrastructural framework where capital efficiency and global mobility seamlessly align, allowing you to build without friction. • Transparent Tax Efficiency: 0% personal income tax and a highly competitive, transparent 9% corporate tax (with 0% options remaining for Qualifying Free Zone entities) – ensuring more of what you build stays with you • Absolute Control: 100% foreign business ownership in free zones – no mandatory local partner required • Operational Speed: Fast, efficient company formation – fully operational within days, not months • Global Access: Immediate integration into a global business community comprising over 200 nationalities • The Strategic Hub: A timezone perfectly positioned to bridge Europe, Asia, and Africa simultaneously • Long-Term Security: Golden Visa residency tied directly to your investment or business activity, ensuring generational planning security • Proactive Governance: A government that actively competes for top-tier talent and capital – and acts decisively to retain it • Built for Momentum: Dubai does not ask you to slow down. It is an infrastructure built for people who don't
Can foreigners own property in Dubai outright?
In designated freehold areas, full ownership for foreigners is possible without restriction. • 100% ownership of property and land • No local partners or intermediary structures required • Registered with the Dubai Land Department • Fully protected under UAE law
What are the real risks of investing in Dubai – and how do you manage them?
Every market carries risk. Dubai is no exception. We would rather name them clearly than let you discover them later. • Developer risk: not all developers deliver on time or to the promised standard – which is why we work only with those with a verified track record • Market liquidity risk: while Dubai is one of the most liquid real estate markets globally, exit timelines vary by location and asset type – we factor this in from day one • Currency risk: the AED is pegged to the USD – stable against the dollar, but carries exchange rate exposure for euro-based investors • Regulatory risk: rules around ownership, visa eligibility and taxation can evolve – we monitor changes and keep our clients informed • Concentration risk: real estate should be one part of a diversified wealth structure, not the whole – we will tell you honestly if we think you are overexposed • Our role is not to sell you a property – it is to help you make a decision you will still stand behind in ten years
What rental yields are realistic?
Dubai ranks among the highest-yielding real estate markets globally – structurally, not speculatively. • Rental yields of 6% – 10% p.a. are standard • Berlin / Munich: 1% – 3% for comparison • Short-term rental permitted with appropriate licence • No guaranteed appreciation – but structurally supported potential
What costs are involved in acquiring a property?
Property acquisition costs in Dubai are relatively straightforward and are communicated transparently before a transaction proceeds. Typical costs may include: • Dubai Land Department (DLD) registration fee: generally 4% of the purchase price • Trustee, registration and administrative fees: depending on the transaction and property value • Mortgage-related fees: where financing is used • Developer or NOC fees: where applicable, particularly in secondary-market transactions • Brokerage / advisory fees: depending on the type of transaction and the scope of Coming Home’s engagement. For off-plan purchases directly from a developer, Coming Home is generally remunerated by the developer, meaning there is typically no separate brokerage fee payable by the buyer. For secondary-market transactions, Coming Home may be engaged by the buyer, the seller, or both parties. Any applicable brokerage or advisory fee is agreed transparently in advance. Dubai does not currently impose an annual property tax comparable to the recurring property taxes found in many European markets. Property owners should, however, budget for ongoing costs such as service charges and, where applicable, property management.
How does financing work for investors?
For international buyers, a range of financing options may be available depending on their individual circumstances – from financing through UAE banks to developer payment plans. • UAE banks generally also offer mortgages to non-residents • The required equity contribution is often around 30–50% • For off-plan properties, developers offer various payment plans, such as 60/40 or 80/20 • The most suitable structure depends on the buyer’s individual circumstances, the property, and the requirements of the respective financing provider. We are happy to explain the options generally available. The assessment of financing eligibility and the final lending decision are made by the respective financing provider.
How are European investors taxed?
The tax situation depends critically on your residency – this distinction is significant. UAE residency: • No tax on rental income • No capital gains tax • No holding periods • Returns remain entirely with you German residency: • Rental income from Dubai taxable in Germany • No double taxation agreement covering real estate between Germany and the UAE • Capital gains also taxable • Individual tax advice recommended before any investment decision – we can connect you with appropriate specialists
How does Coming Home select the properties it recommends?
We start by saying no. The majority of what the Dubai market produces at any given moment does not meet our standards – and we do not present it. What remains after that filter is what we bring to our clients. • Every opportunity is evaluated against location fundamentals, developer track record and delivery history • Architectural quality and long-term desirability – not just current market momentum • Pricing and payment structure relative to comparable opportunities • Rental, resale and exit potential where relevant • Access to selected off-market and pre-launch opportunities – before they reach the wider market • We never recommend a property we would not seriously consider ourselves • Volume is not the goal – conviction is
How are Coming Home’s fees structured?
Our fees are agreed transparently in advance and reflect the scope and complexity of the mandate and the value of the transaction. For secondary market transactions, Coming Home may be engaged by the buyer, the seller, or both parties. Each engagement is agreed separately, and the applicable brokerage fee generally ranges from 2% to 5% of the transaction value, plus VAT, per party. Where Coming Home is engaged by both buyer and seller in the same transaction, each party’s engagement and fee are agreed separately and disclosed transparently to the parties concerned.. Where additional specialist services are required – such as conveyancing, legal, mortgage, valuation or property management services – separate fees may apply. Any such costs are communicated in advance. For selected developer-direct sales, Coming Home is generally remunerated by the developer. In such cases, no brokerage fee is payable by the buyer.
What sets Coming Home apart from other advisers in Dubai?
We work with few clients – deliberately. Genuine advisory doesn't scale. • Independent – no obligation to any developer • RERA-registered and DLD-licensed • Founded in 2025 – built on a team with roots in Dubai going back to 2005 • Fully German-speaking team • Access to off-market and pre-launch opportunities • European investment discipline – local market depth • Recommendations from conviction, not commission
How does an engagement begin?
With a personal conversation. Discreet, without agenda, without sales pressure. • First contact by phone, email or WhatsApp • Personal conversation – in Dubai, via Zoom or by phone • We listen and tell you honestly whether and how we can help • If the foundation is right, we build the next step together