Webinar for Housebook Camp Dubai

The Housebook platform held a training webinar for brokers focused on the legal, financial, and practical aspects of working in the UAE real estate market. The speaker, Anastasia Zinovyeva, covered key topics ranging from agent licensing to transaction mechanics.

Market and its potential

Dubai is a city with a population of 3.6–3.8 million, 80–90% of whom are expats. Annual population growth reaches 300,000–400,000 people, with the government aiming to increase the population to 7–8 million by 2040. The city records 150,000–180,000 property transactions per year, with 40–60% in the primary market. Zero personal income tax, a stable dirham-to-dollar peg for over 30 years, and full freehold ownership rights make the market highly attractive to foreign investors.

Returns and exit strategy

Long-term rentals generate 5–8% annual returns in USD, while short-term rentals yield 20–60% more but require active management. The optimal resale strategy is to exit one year after handover, when the asset typically reaches peak value. For example, a property purchased for AED 500,000 may increase to AED 750,000 by completion and to AED 830,000 a year later.

Taxes and costs

The only mandatory fee upon purchase is a 4% registration fee payable to the Dubai Land Department (DLD); in Abu Dhabi, it is 2%. There are no taxes on capital gains, rental income, or resale. Additional costs include a 2% agent commission on the secondary market, service charges of AED 10–30 per sq. ft annually (around AED 8,000 per year for a studio), utility costs of approximately AED 1,000 per month, and 20% of profit when using short-term rental management services.

Legal aspects of transactions

For primary market purchases, only a passport and contact details are required, and the process can be completed remotely. Secondary transactions require either personal presence or a notarized power of attorney (POA), which can be arranged online through a UAE notary. Buyer funds are held in regulated escrow accounts: developers are not allowed to withdraw funds for construction, except for up to 1% allocated to marketing. In the event of project suspension, clients receive a full refund of their invested funds.

To operate as a broker in Dubai, a company license (costing $40,000–$60,000) and a personal RERA broker card are required. Housebook offers partners the option to work through its infrastructure without the need to establish a separate company.