Dubai has an image problem: many imagine it as a concrete tangle of skyscrapers still under construction, where personal liberties like holding hands in public and enjoying an alcoholic drink are forbidden.
But almost a quarter of a million Britons live in Dubai today – and find much there to make them happy. For starters, there’s no personal income or inheritance tax. Private healthcare with Bupa is a necessity, but the quality of care is excellent.
Living with an unmarried partner is also now decriminalised – although homosexuality remains illegal.
As for property, despite housing and transfer fees, Dubai real estate is free from capital gains or annual property tax. It’s no wonder, then, that property values have risen faster than anywhere else in the world – Knight Frank report a 94 per cent increase in prime villa prices from 2020 to 2024.
Dubai has become a popular destination for Britons, with almost a quarter of a million living there
The climate is wonderful, schools are excellent, sport is on the up and you can catch many top entertainers performing there. Provided you are prepared to accept a culture very different from ours in the UK, and restrict your alcohol intake to bars, restaurants and hotels, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make a good life for yourself and your family in Dubai.
And to help any prospective expats, we’ve collated a list of the best properties currently on the market.
Two-bedroom apartment, £300,000
This two-bed apartment aims to provide holistic well-being amid the bustle of Dubai. Each apartment has access to indoor and outdoor gym facilities, walking areas, jogging tracks, golf and basketball courts. Contact: Centasource: 0203 893 8807, rightmove.co.uk
Two-bedroom apartment, £324,000
This newly built two-bedroom apartment in Dubai Sports City has panoramic views. Air-conditioned, with a balcony and an en suite bathroom, it is ten minutes from the hospitals and international schools. Contact TEKCE, Dubai: 0203 835 4097, rightmove.co.uk
Two-bedroom apartment, £425,000
Part of premium residential developers Lagoons View 2, this two-bed apartment has a beach club and poolside lounges, and is close to supermarkets and schools. The project is due to be completed by 2027. Contact AX Capital: 0203 829 4668, rightmove.co.uk
Two-bedroom apartment, £450,000
In the heart of Mohammed Bin Rashid City, residents of this development have access to a range of amenities including a lap pool, a leisure pool and a fitness centre. The apartment itself features custom-designed kitchens with European appliances, and spa-like bathrooms. Contact Centasource: 02038 93 8807, rightmove.co.uk
One-bedroom apartment in Dubai Harbour, £632,346
This high floor unfurnished apartment is located in the prestigious Beach Vista, Emaar Beachfront. Residents have access to a private beach and the block is just minutes away from Dubai Marina. Contact Savills +971 585 320 727, savills.com
Two-bed apartment downtown Dubai, £642,885
With two bedrooms and three bathrooms this apartment is located in Forte 1 in the busy Downtown Dubai community. It has access to a shared gym and a swimming pool. Contact Savills +971 545 946 918, savills.com
One-bedroom apartment, £700,000
This luxury sea-front apartment is in an eye-catching block designed by leading fashion house Cavalli, which has its own private beach. The exterior copies the motion of the ocean waves, and there is an opera pavilion on the rooftop. Contact Keyholders International: 0204 572 4978, rightmove.co.uk
One-bedroom apartment, £798,000
Altus by Emaar is located at the centre of Dubai Creek Harbour, surrounded by 500,000 square metres of lush parks, retail outlets and leisure spaces. It has a fitness centre, yoga rooms, pool areas, children’s play zones, jogging tracks and meditation areas. Contact Autograph by Déjà vu: 0204 572 0531, rightmove.co.uk
Four-bedroom villa, £893,000
This four-bed 3,688 sq ft villa in Avena, Dubai, is near the shopping mall and the golf course. It is air-conditioned with parking. Contact Capri Realty: 0204 524 3082, rightmove.co.uk
Two-bed Dubai Harbour, £1,085,000
This two-bedroom apartment comes fully furnished with a state-of-the-art kitchen. Newly completed, it features views of the Arabian Gulf and the Marina skyline. Contact Savills: +971 554 641 731, savills.com
Three-bedroom apartment in Jumeirah, £7,860,980
This furnished apartment is in the prestigious Bulgari Resort and Residences. It has a maid’s room and access to a pool, spa, gym and dining facilities. Contact Hamptons: +44 20 8618 4551, hamptons-international.com
Off-plan apartments, £2.11million
These off-plan apartments are part of Eywa, a luxury condominium complex which seeks to be ‘the most sustainable and unique building on earth’ and is the subject of an upcoming BBC documentary. Overlooking the Dubai Canal and the Burj Khalifa, these two, three, four and five-bed properties will be available by April 2026. Contact Jennifer@katchthis.com: 0208 895 6383, eywa-dubai.com