For UK Landlords · Buy-to-Let · Dubai

Your next
buy-to-let
could be in Dubai.

“ Elevating Your Status, One Dubai Address at a Time ”

Section 24, the Renters’ Rights Act and EPC C by 2030 have changed the sums on UK buy-to-let. Dubai offers gross yields of up to 8%, interest-free developer payment plans and rental guarantees on selected launches. Retina Properties is a UK-based agency helping landlords add ready and off-plan Dubai property from Sobha, Azizi and DAMAC — bought entirely from the UK, and structured so HMRC has nothing to question.

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Dubai skyline at sunset with the Burj Khalifa
SECTION 24
Mortgage interest relieved only as a basic-rate credit
22 · 42 · 47%
Property income tax rates from April 2027
1 MAY 2026
Section 21 no-fault possession ended in England
EPC C
Required on every let by 1 Oct 2030 · up to £10,000 per home

The Landlord’s Ledger

Your UK Let,
Side by Side with Dubai

The same questions you ask of any buy-to-let, answered for both markets. Figures are typical ranges, not promises — every building is different.

 UK buy-to-letDubai
Gross yield Around 4%Typical gross return once purchase prices, rising costs and tax changes are factored in. Up to 8%Studios and one-beds in mid-market communities lead the city on gross rental yield.
Tax on the rent 20 / 40 / 45%, rising to 22 / 42 / 47%Separate property income rates from April 2027. No UAE personal income taxBut a UK resident still declares it to HMRC at their UK band — see below.
Mortgage interest Section 24 restrictionBuy-to-let mortgage interest relieved only as a basic-rate credit, however much you pay. Zero interestDevelopers offer flexible, interest-free payment plans — you pay in instalments with no mortgage and no interest on the property.
Getting possession Section 21 gone from 1 May 2026Periodic tenancies; possession only on Section 8 grounds. Eviction for non-paymentIf rent goes unpaid, the landlord can seek eviction 30 days after formal notice. Annual Ejari-registered contracts.
Collecting rent MonthlyRent in advance capped at one month under the Renters’ Rights Act. 6 to 12 months in advanceRent is commonly paid half-yearly or yearly up front, by post-dated cheques — not month by month. Increases follow the RERA rent index.
Rental guarantee Not availableVoids and arrears are the landlord’s risk. Guaranteed rent availableSelected developer launches come with a rental guarantee, so income is fixed from handover.
Buying costs Stamp duty + 5% surchargeOn every additional residential property. 4% DLD fee — or waivedMany developers waive or cover the Dubai Land Department fee, depending on the project. Otherwise 4%, plus modest registration fees.
Standards to meet EPC C by 1 October 2030Spending cap of £10,000 per property. Hassle-free maintenanceNew-build stock; the building is maintained through the service charge, and your unit by a management partner.

Rental Guarantee

Income from day one

Selected launches from our developers carry a guaranteed rental return, so you know your income before you buy — no voids, no chasing.

Hassle-free Maintenance

Nothing to fix yourself

New-build stock, buildings looked after through the service charge, and our management partners handle repairs, tenants and renewals. No 2am phone calls.

Eviction on Non-payment

Clear, fast recourse

If a tenant stops paying, Dubai law lets the landlord seek eviction 30 days after formal notice — with rent typically collected 6 to 12 months in advance by post-dated cheques.

What does not change: HMRC.

Dubai is tax-free for people who live there. If you are UK resident, your Dubai rent is taxed in the UK on your Self Assessment, at your band, like any other rent — and a UAE company run from the UK does not change that. We say this first because the agents who don’t are the reason UK landlords get tax bills they weren’t expecting. Buy it honestly, own it in your own or joint names, and the rest is simple.

General information only, not tax or legal advice. UK rules shown are for England; Scotland and Wales differ on tenancy law. Speak to a UK chartered tax adviser about your own position.

Luxury UAE villa, front view
Luxury UAE villa, courtyard and pool

Why Retina

Built in the UK,
for UK Landlords

We are a UK company, so we start where you are: your portfolio, your tax band and how the Dubai income will sit on your Self Assessment. Then we find the unit.

We source ready and off-plan property directly from Sobha Realty, Azizi Developments and DAMAC Properties, and handle everything from reservation to DLD registration, Ejari and letting — without you needing to fly out.

Landlord-first

We compare net yield after UK tax, not the brochure number.

Fully remote

Reserve, sign and register from the UK by power of attorney.

Trusted developers

Direct access to Sobha, Azizi and DAMAC launches and ready stock.

After handover

Tenant-finding, Ejari, management and renewals through vetted partners.

The Landlord Test · about 3 minutes

Seven decisions.
Two expensive traps.

Walk through a Dubai purchase the way a UK landlord actually makes one — from your tax band to your tenant. Step into a trap and we explain what it would have cost. At the end you get a personal brief: yield, what’s left after UK tax, and the visa it reaches.

Start the Test
  1. Your tax band
  2. Funding the purchaseTrap
  3. Budget and visa line
  4. Off-plan or ready
  5. Developer
  6. Ownership structureTrap
  7. Tenant

Premium Developers

Partnered With
UAE’s Finest

Three developers, three different kinds of landlord. We will tell you which one fits the way you already invest.

Sobha Realty

Backward-integrated construction and master-planned communities such as Sobha Hartland in MBR City. The benchmark for handover quality.

Suits: landlords who can’t inspect in person

Azizi Developments

Affordable luxury across Al Furjan, Palm Jumeirah and Azizi Venice, with the longest payment plans of the three.

Suits: yield-first landlords and staged funding

DAMAC Properties

Branded residences with Cavalli, Versace and Paramount across DAMAC Hills and Lagoons. Strong furnished and holiday-let demand.

Suits: landlords open to short lets

Residency Through Investment

Your Property.
Your UAE Visa.

Owning in Dubai can come with residency — useful for winter months, family, or a future move. Sterling figures are indicative at AED 4.90 to the pound.

Golden Visa

10-Year Residency

AED 2,000,000 ≈ £408,000

Renewable ten-year residency, extending to your spouse and children. Off-plan and ready property both qualify.

Investor Visa

Property Investor

AED 750,000 ≈ £153,000

An accessible entry point for landlords. Requires a completed property; jointly owned property can qualify.

Retirement Visa

5-Year Residency

Age 55+ property, savings or income route

For landlords planning retirement: qualify through property of AED 2M, AED 1M in savings, or AED 20,000 a month in income.

Get In Touch

Talk to a UK-Based
Advisor. We Handle
the Rest.

Tell us about your portfolio and what you want the Dubai property to do — income, residency, or a place in the sun. We come back within one working day with an honest view, including when the answer is “not yet”.

OfficeUnited Kingdom

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