Buying property and moving to Dubai: practical guides

Plan a Dubai property purchase from Europe: understand Golden Visa requirements, budget for the full transaction and compare neighbourhoods around your family's needs.

Where are you in your move?

From your first property search to a home in Dubai

Start with the decision you need to make. Explore residency requirements, buying costs and school options, then compare the relevant areas and developments on our map.

01 · Golden Visa

Dubai Golden Visa: property, eligibility and application

Dedicated answers on buying, mortgages, off-plan property, documents, costs and family.

Golden Visa · Property selection

Dubai Golden Visa property requirements: what to buy

Buying a Dubai property for a Golden Visa starts with eligibility evidence, not a sales label. If you are searching from Europe, use this guide to check the ownership route, compare neighbourhoods and build a shortlist before paying a deposit.

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Golden Visa · Application

How to apply for a Dubai Golden Visa through property

A practical application guide for overseas buyers and existing owners. Check your property route, prepare ownership evidence and plan the steps that need your presence in Dubai before booking a short trip from Europe.

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Golden Visa · Mortgage

Dubai Golden Visa with a mortgage: bank and property checks

Buying with finance and qualifying for a Golden Visa are separate decisions. Before committing funds from Europe, ask your lender and the receiving authority to confirm the evidence needed for your specific property and loan.

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Golden Visa · Off-plan property

Off-plan property and the Dubai Golden Visa: what to check

An off-plan reservation, a future handover and a residence application follow different timelines. Check the documents and proposed visa route before you rely on a developer’s Golden Visa offer when planning a move from Europe.

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Golden Visa · Costs

Dubai property Golden Visa costs: fees and budget planning

What does a property investor Golden Visa cost beyond the home itself? Separate official application fees from property transfer costs, intermediary services and family expenses so you can compare quotations received from Europe.

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Golden Visa · Family relocation

Dubai Golden Visa for families: documents, schools and housing

Moving to Dubai with children involves more than a residence application. Build a plan around each family member’s documents, school admission dates and everyday journeys before choosing a property from abroad.

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02 · Buying

The cost of buying property in Dubai

THE CITY AROUND YOUR HOME

Infrastructure & neighbourhood change

All infrastructure research

ATLAS · From a guide to an address

Explore the district and projects on the map

The map will load as you approach
Project locationBinghatti Skyrise

Business BayProjects in this selection: 14

Altitude

District confirmed; exact address pending

BAYZ 101

District confirmed; exact address pending

BAYZ 102

District confirmed; exact address pending

VELA

Location from the project catalogue

03 · Relocation and family

Moving to Dubai from Europe: schools, areas and everyday life

04 · Life nearby

Schools, journeys and everyday places

Schools

Schools for JVC residents: JSS International and Sunmarke

JSS International is in JVC; Sunmarke is in the separate JVT district. Start with your child's curriculum and year group, then check the journey from your chosen building to each campus.

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Nurseries

A nursery in JVC: Ladybird and the everyday journey

Ladybird Nursery JVC is in District 12, Street 26. When choosing a nursery, parents need to match the age group, length of day and journey from home to its entrance.

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Nurseries

JINS in JVT: the nursery at Sunmarke

Jumeirah International Nurseries operates on Sunmarke's JVT campus. This guide covers its address, age range and questions for families choosing a home and nursery together.

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Schools

Schools in Sobha Hartland: Hartland International and NLCS Dubai

Two Sobha Hartland campuses offer different educational pathways. Compare Hartland International's British curriculum with IB at NLCS, then check the journey from your selected project.

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Schools

A school option for DLRC families: GEMS FirstPoint at The Villa

For a family choosing an apartment in DLRC, GEMS FirstPoint School is one option to investigate. Its published address is The Villa, Dubailand, rather than an address inside the residential project.

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Schools

Dubai Islands with children: mainland schools and daily travel

Families considering Dubai Islands should check school travel before choosing an apartment. This selection covers two mainland campuses in Al Qusais and Al Twar; neither is presented as a school on the islands.

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Universities

Universities in Dubai Knowledge Park: campuses and choosing a home

Middlesex University Dubai and the University of Wollongong in Dubai have campuses in Dubai Knowledge Park. Before choosing a home, confirm which building will host your programme's classes.

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Metro and transport

Business Bay Metro: checking the journey from a residential project

Business Bay station appears on the RTA map. Its name is shared with a large district, so choosing an apartment requires checking the route from the actual building entrance.

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Metro and transport

Al Furjan and Discovery Gardens Metro: the route from home

RTA's map includes Al Furjan and Discovery Gardens stations. When choosing a home in Al Furjan, check both routes: the nearest district name does not determine the most convenient metro entrance.

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Restaurants

Where to eat in JVC: Circle Mall and Cinque Trattoria

Combine lunch with shopping at Circle Mall or plan a separate dinner at FIVE Jumeirah Village. These two JVC addresses offer different ways to spend your evening.

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Everyday amenities

Circle Mall in JVC: groceries, pharmacy and everyday shopping

Circle Mall is an address for everyday errands in JVC, combining food shopping, a pharmacy and household services in one visit.

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Restaurants

Business Bay restaurants: ROKA and The MAINE at The Opus

Choose Japanese dining at ROKA or a brasserie meal at The MAINE. Both use The Opus as a landmark, with different floors, entrances and reservation arrangements.

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Places and attractions

Outings from Business Bay: the waterfront and Dubai Opera

A waterfront walk and an evening at the theatre offer two different ways to explore the surroundings. Dubai Opera is in neighbouring Downtown Dubai.

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Everyday amenities

Bay Avenue in Business Bay: groceries and errands near Executive Towers

Bay Avenue brings shops, cafés and services together around Executive Towers. Visit it when comparing Business Bay homes to see where you would handle everyday errands.

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Restaurants

Where to eat on Dubai Islands: Centara Mirage restaurants

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai offers several cuisines at one resort. Island residents can consider it for a separate lunch or dinner once the booking is confirmed.

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Places and attractions

A Dubai Islands day out: the beach and Waterfront Market

Dubai Islands Beach offers time by the sea. Make a separate mainland trip to Waterfront Market for food shopping and a market visit: it is a different address and a different part of your day.

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Everyday amenities

Shopping from DLRC: Silicon Central and Dubai Outlet Mall

These two malls serve different needs for Dubai Land Residence Complex residents: groceries and family errands at Silicon Central, and clothing and household shopping at Dubai Outlet Mall.

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Places and attractions

Creek Marina, Creek Beach and Island Park: exploring the district

Three landmarks help you assess everyday life in Dubai Creek Harbour. Compare them with the actual entrance to a home: the district name alone does not show how convenient a journey will be.

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Everyday amenities

Life in Dubai Hills: the park, shopping and journeys from Park Horizon

Dubai Hills Park and Dubai Hills Mall serve different everyday needs. When considering Park Horizon, assess walking, shopping and journeys with a child separately.

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Find the right Dubai neighbourhood