Investing in Dubai Real Estate: Affordable to Luxury Options for Indian Investors
Dubai continues to shine as a global real estate magnet for Indian investors, offering both affordable entry points and ultra-luxury opportunities. With homes starting at around Rs 1 crore in the affordable segment and premium properties priced from Rs 4.5 crore and above, the city appeals to a wide range of buyers — from young professionals seeking high rental yields to high-net-worth individuals chasing exclusivity and capital appreciation.
According to Morgan Owen, Managing Director – Middle East & North Africa at ANAROCK Group, a combination of Golden Visa reforms, booming infrastructure, strong GDP growth, and rental yields of 6–8% has kept Dubai’s property market thriving. Speaking to Kshitij Anand of ETMarkets, Owen said that even as global markets face uncertainty, Indian investors are finding the emirate’s mix of tax-free income, ease of ownership, and long-term stability hard to resist.
Affordable housing in Dubai usually starts at AED 500,000–700,000 (or INR 1–1.5 crore), with smaller sizes and basic amenities. Luxury housing, on the other hand, starts at AED 2 million (INR 4.5 crore) and upward, with premium locations, views, and high-end features. While luxury offers discerning buyers exclusivity, higher capital appreciation, and superior amenities, affordable options offer good rental returns and easy entry.
Indian high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) are also investing in other global cities such as London, New York, and Singapore. Manhattan's luxury market is quite attractive, while London offers historical ties, steady returns, and decent annual price growth in prime central areas. Singapore's connectivity and business-friendly atmosphere draw in many HNI Indian investors. Hong Kong is also regaining popularity.
Dubai's Golden Visa reforms are steadily attracting global investors, including from India. The emirate has seen strong GDP growth and massive infrastructure investments. Moreover, lower mortgage rates make Dubai very attractive to Indian investors who are also drawn by the rental yields and the booming luxury segment.
Population growth, visa reforms, and the influx of remote workers have significantly contributed to renewed housing demand in Dubai. The Golden Visa reforms now allow people to live in the UAE for 10 years if they invest AED 2 million, and the Virtual Work Visa allows remote workers to live in the UAE if they make more than USD 5,000 a month. This is attracting talent from all over the world, including HNIs, entrepreneurs, and remote working professionals, driving up demand for over 60,000 new homes each year. Price appreciation has been 20%+ for apartments and 30%+ for villas year over year. The absence of income tax and a business-friendly environment make Dubai incredibly attractive not only to professionals from India but also from Europe and Russia.
The market fundamentals show continued strength. With strong population growth, rental yields of 6–8% that offset prices, strict rules, and more than 36,600 new housing units needed each year to meet demand, any correction – if it happens – will be minimal. The Golden Visa and First-Time Buyer programs, along with a strong push towards sustainable real estate, support long-term stability.
As of 2025, Dubai shows a strong preference for buying over renting. Prices for properties rose over 3% a month, and secondary sales increased 22% year over year, while rental growth slowed to 8.5% with a huge influx of new supply hitting the market. Tenants are starting to see the financial benefits of buying homes instead of renting long-term. While prices go up anywhere between 5–10% each year, rents don’t show much upward movement. The buy rationale is strong, and Indians are responding to it.
