Buying Property in Dubai from the UK: How to Send the Funds
How UK buyers pay for Dubai property, from off-plan instalments and escrow to the 4% DLD fee, and why GBP/AED follows the US dollar.
Globe FX team · · 6 min read
In short
- Off-plan purchases are paid in instalments into the project's escrow account.
- The dirham is pegged to the US dollar, so GBP/AED moves with GBP/USD.
- Budget for the 4% Dubai Land Department fee, and plan every instalment in pounds.
In this guide
Dubai has become one of the most popular places for UK buyers, from holiday homes to buy-to-let apartments. Paying for it means turning pounds into dirhams, often in several instalments over a few years.
How Dubai purchases are usually paid
Ready (secondary) property usually involves a deposit when you sign the sale agreement, then the balance at transfer at the Dubai Land Department (DLD).
Off-plan property is typically paid on a developer payment plan: a deposit, instalments during construction and a final payment on handover. Some plans continue after handover. Off-plan payments go into a regulated escrow account for the project.
Map your plan in pounds with our payment planner.
Fees to budget for
- DLD transfer fee: 4% of the purchase price, plus small admin fees.
- Agency fees: commonly around 2% on secondary sales.
- Mortgage registration, if you're borrowing.
GBP to AED is really GBP to USD
The UAE dirham has been pegged to the US dollar at 3.6725 since 1997. So when you watch GBP/AED, you're really watching GBP/USD. US and UK interest-rate news moves your purchase price.
That matters on a payment plan. If the pound weakens against the dollar halfway through your build, every remaining instalment costs more in sterling.
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Exchange rate examples are illustrative. Speak to a qualified professional about your own situation.
