Most buyers check the view. I check the paperwork first.

Dubai is not in a bubble right now. The Playbook walks through why, with the numbers.

Neither one is better. They solve different problems. Off-plan spreads the payments and costs less upfront; ready gives you rent from day one. Which one fits depends on your budget and your timeline.

Buying off-plan, direct from a developer, budget an extra 4 to 5 percent on top of the price. Buying resale through an agent, budget 6 to 7 percent instead. The calculator above breaks it down fee by fee.

Every legitimate listing and every licensed broker in Dubai carries a number you can check in under a minute, for free. Look up the project in DLD's Dubai REST app (Project Status Enquiry) and check the listing's Trakheesi permit before you pay anything.

Yes. You can buy, finance, and even qualify for residency through Dubai property without visiting once. For the Golden Visa, the property needs to be worth AED 2 million or more. A mortgaged property may also qualify, subject to the AED 2 million requirement and the bank's documents.

Start with two numbers. Price per square foot tells you if you're paying a fair rate. Transaction volume tells you how easily you'll sell later. The area explorer above has the first for seven areas.

Yes. In the areas designated for foreign ownership, you buy freehold: the property is yours, with no time limit. You don't need to live in the UAE. Outside those areas, foreigners can usually only hold a leasehold.

Yes, several UAE banks lend to non-residents. Expect to put down more than a resident would, often around half the price, and terms change from bank to bank. Ask the bank for its current terms before you sign anything with a developer.

Dubai law (Law No. 8 of 2007) requires off-plan payments to go into an escrow account for the project, and the money is released to the developer as construction moves forward. Pay only into the escrow account named in your contract, never to a personal or company account.

Oqood is the interim registration of an off-plan purchase with the Dubai Land Department. It records that the unit is yours while the building goes up. At handover, it's replaced by your title deed.

The UAE has no personal income tax, and individuals who rent out property in their own name generally pay no UAE tax on that rent. Your home country may tax it, though. If you're an Indian resident, check with your CA.

Often, yes. Most developers allow it once you've paid a set share of the price, commonly 30 to 50 percent, and they issue a NOC (no-objection certificate). Your sale contract (the SPA) has the exact rule, so read that clause before you buy.