Answers to common questions about investing, residency, registration fees, selling, leasing and taxes in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.
What are the benefits of investing in international property?
International property can provide rental income, portfolio diversification, potential capital appreciation, and a home for personal use. Selected properties may also qualify investors for residency programmes. Benefits depend on the location, ownership structure, and project; returns are not guaranteed.
Can buying property in the UAE qualify me for a Golden Visa?
Yes, Qualifying property investments of AED 2 million or more may support a Golden Residency application. Dubai Land Department offers a 10-year renewable investor residence permit, subject to eligibility and documentation. Mortgage and off-plan requirements must be confirmed for the relevant application route. Approval is not automatic.
Can my family benefit from UAE investor residency?
Yes, Dubai’s property-investor Golden Visa route allows eligible investors to sponsor their spouse, children, and parents, subject to the relevant requirements and fees.
Does Saudi Arabia offer residency through property investment?
Yes, Saudi Arabia offers Real Estate Owner Residency, part of its Premium Residency programme. Qualifying residential property ownership or usufruct must generally be worth at least SAR 4 million.
An eligible off-plan route is also available, subject to conditions including an approved developer, no mortgage financing, and payment of at least SAR 1 million or 10% of the property value, whichever is higher. Residency remains linked to qualifying property rights.
Does buying property in the Maldives provide a Golden Visa?
The Maldives offers a Corporate Resident Visa for qualifying investors. One eligibility route is an investment of at least USD 250,000 in a government-approved project.
Is UAE rental income tax-free?
Yes, For individuals, qualifying real estate investment income is excluded from UAE Corporate Tax.
What expenses affect my net rental return?
Investors should budget for service charges, property management, maintenance, insurance, furnishing, vacancy periods. Rental projections should clearly distinguish gross income from net income after expenses.
Are rental returns and capital appreciation guaranteed?
No, Returns depend on purchase price, demand, occupancy, operating costs, and resale conditions. Any contractual rental guarantee should be reviewed for its duration, exclusions, payment obligations, and the financial strength of the guarantor
How does Marshei Global Residence assist investors?
We help investors compare selected projects, understand payment plans and ownership terms, and coordinate with developers, property managers and residency advisers.
What registration property fees apply, and when are they paid?
| Location | Off-plan purchase | Ready property purchase | When payable / who pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai, UAE | 4% total registration fee, plus applicable Oqood/administrative charges. | 4% total transfer fee, plus title and trustee/service charges. | Off-plan: collected according to the SPA for initial registration; do not assume it waits until handover. full 4% to the buyer. initial-registration service specifies registration within 90 days of signing the SPA. |
| Abu Dhabi, UAE | 2% of sale price, plus applicable administration charges. | Generally 2% transfer registration, subject to transaction details. | Off-plan: 2% during initial registration; ready: 2% at transfer. Confirm allocation in the SPA. initial-registration service specifies registration within 21 days of signing the SPA |
| Ras Al Khaimah, UAE | Obtain the project’s written initial-registration fee schedule ( usually 5% on handover ) Do not automatically use Dubai’s Oqood charges. | Official sale-registration schedule lists 2% buyer + 2% seller for most property uses. | Ready: 5% at registration. Off-plan collection on handover 5% timing and any developer contribution must appear in the SPA. |
| Saudi Arabia | 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax—RETT, unless exempt. | 5% RETT, unless exempt. | For regulated off-plan sales, tax is generally payable on handover 5% or before notarisation of ownership transfer; ready sales: 5% on notarisation. The seller/transferor is responsible to ZATCA; any contractual recovery from the buyer must be disclosed. |
| Maldives | Project-specific lease/strata registration, approval, legal, and administrative costs. | Project-specific transfer/assignment, consent, registration, and legal costs. | According to the purchase/lease agreement and transfer approvals. A single nationwide percentage cannot safely be quoted for all resort residences. |
How do I sell my property, and what will it cost?
| Destination | Main selling steps | Seller’s costs to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Appoint a licensed broker → agree price and agency terms → sign sale agreement → obtain developer NOC where required → settle mortgage and outstanding charges → complete official transfer. | Agreed seller brokerage, NOC, mortgage release, outstanding service charges, and contractual share of transfer fees. |
| Saudi Arabia | Appoint a FAL-licensed broker → verify title and buyer eligibility → sign sale terms → register RETT transaction and settle tax → complete official conveyance/registry transfer. | 5% RETT unless exempt, agreed brokerage, applicable foreign disposition fee, mortgage settlement and other transaction charges. |
| Maldives | Check lease assignment rights → appoint agent/legal adviser → obtain required resort, lessor, lender or authority consents → sign assignment → register transfer and settle accounts. | Agreed brokerage, legal costs, transfer/consent charges and any taxes applicable to the structure. |
How can I rent out my property yearly, and what fees apply?
| Destination | Process | Leasing and management fees |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Appoint leasing agent → screen tenant → agree rent/payment schedule → sign tenancy → register Ejari → complete inventory and handover. | Leasing commission commonly 5% of annual rent + VAT, usually tenant-paid. Ongoing management commonly 5–8% of gross annual rent, owner-paid, with applicable VAT. These are separate services. |
| Other UAE emirates | Use the relevant local tenancy registration system and a licensed agent. | Obtain a local quotation; Dubai’s rates and registration system do not apply throughout the UAE. |
| Saudi Arabia | Appoint licensed broker → agree tenancy → authenticate through Ejar → collect rent through the approved arrangements. | Default brokerage 2.5% of first year’s rent, unless agreed otherwise in writing; paid by the appointing party. Ejar residential registration is SAR 125 per rental year. Ongoing management is separately negotiated. |
| Maldives | Confirm whether the lease and resort rules allow a yearly tenancy or require participation in the operator’s rental programme. | Agent and management charges are contractual. Request the complete operator agreement and owner payout calculation. |
How can I offer short-term or holiday rentals?
| Destination | Requirements and process | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Confirm building eligibility → register owner/operator → obtain DET holiday-home permit → furnish and insure → list and manage guests. | Management commonly 15–25% of gross rental revenue, owner-paid. Check VAT, booking-platform charges, permits, utilities, cleaning and Tourism Dirham separately. |
| Saudi Arabia | Confirm ownership and operator eligibility → obtain the appropriate Ministry of Tourism licence/permit → appoint an authorised operator → start bookings only after approval. | No universal management percentage established here. Request a written quote showing operator, platform, cleaning, maintenance and licensing costs. |
| Maldives resort residence | Review the approved resort rental programme, owner-use allowance and restrictions on independent letting. | Project-specific management fee or revenue share. |
What taxes and other expenses should investors consider?
| Destination | Tax considerations | Other costs |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Ordinary residential sales/rents are generally VAT-exempt or zero-rated under the relevant rules. Commercial property and taxable hospitality accommodation generally attract 5% VAT. Qualifying personal real estate investment income is excluded from Corporate Tax; companies and licensed business activities need separate assessment. | Registration, agent fees and VAT, service charges, management, insurance, repairs, furnishing, mortgage costs, utilities and applicable municipality/tourism charges. |
| Saudi Arabia | 5% RETT on taxable transfers. Ordinary residential rent is VAT-exempt; commercial rent and taxable accommodation/services generally attract 15% VAT. Brokerage VAT is separate from property tax. Rental income, corporate tax/Zakat and foreign-owner treatment require assessment of the investor’s structure. | Brokerage, applicable foreign disposition fee, registry/approval costs, Ejar, management, service charges, insurance, maintenance and financing. |
| Maldives | Qualifying rent paid by a Maldivian business to a non-resident generally attracts 10% withholding tax, subject to relief. Tourism supplies generally attract 17% tourism GST; this is not automatically a 17% tax on the residence purchase price. Other income/transfer taxes depend on the structure. | Lease/assignment approvals, legal costs, operator revenue share, resort charges, reserve funds, insurance, maintenance, furnishing and applicable guest levies. |
For current prices, availability and documents on a specific project, send an enquiry through the Contact page.