Ghada “GG” Benitez is Director of Global Markets at Realty Executives Dillon, a California Licensed REALTOR®, DRE #01487964, Dubai RERA Licensed Real Estate Broker, BRN #83445, and Certified International Property Specialist, CIPS®. Working between San Diego and Dubai, she helps American and global investors evaluate real estate opportunities across Dubai, the UAE and coastal Southern California.

Benitez is also CEO of GG Benitez International and host of The Dubai Connect® Podcast, an educational platform focused on Dubai real estate, international ownership, financing, developer due diligence, buyer protections, property management, Golden Visa eligibility and long-term exit strategy.

Her cross-border practice combines her understanding of American client expectations with an active, boots-on-the-ground presence in Dubai. She works with investors throughout the complete investment process, from establishing objectives and evaluating developers and communities to financing, property management and eventual resale.

A first-generation Arab American and graduate of the University of California San Diego with a degree in Economics, Benitez has spent more than 20 years working in public relations, international business development and strategic communications.

Please include these links:

GG Benitez International:
https://ggbenitezinternational.com

Dubai real estate for American investors:
https://ggbenitezinternational.com/dubai-real-estate-for-american-investors

The Dubai Connect® Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@ggbenitezinternational

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How Americans Can Buy Property in Dubai Safely: A 9-Step Checklist for U.S. Investors

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By Ghada “GG” Benitez, CIPS®
Executive | Director of Global Markets, Realty Executives Dillon
California Licensed REALTOR®, DRE #01487964
Dubai RERA Licensed Real Estate Broker, BRN #83445

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Yes, Americans can legally buy property in Dubai.

U.S. citizens do not need UAE residency or a local partner to purchase property in one of Dubai’s designated freehold areas. Many buyers can also complete the process remotely from the United States.

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But the ability to buy does not automatically make every property a good investment.

As Executive | Director of Global Markets at Realty Executives Dillon, a California Licensed REALTOR®, Dubai RERA Licensed Real Estate Broker and Certified International Property Specialist, I work between California and Dubai. I help American and international investors evaluate UAE real estate, complete the appropriate due diligence and plan for ownership after the purchase.

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The questions American buyers ask me are usually not limited to whether they can purchase. They want to understand how ownership works, what protects their money, how they will manage the property and what happens when they eventually sell.

These are the nine questions I believe Americans and other international investors should answer before purchasing Dubai real estate.

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1. Am I buying in a designated freehold area?

Foreign nationals can own property in areas Dubai has designated for foreign freehold ownership. Freehold ownership gives the buyer ownership of the property without a time restriction.

This is different from a leasehold arrangement, which provides rights for a defined period.

Before reserving a property, confirm the ownership designation, project registration and exact interest being purchased.

For a broader explanation of the buying process, visit the Dubai Real Estate for American Investors Learning Center.

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2. Is the broker individually licensed?

A recognizable company name is not enough. Investors should verify the individual broker and the brokerage through the Dubai Land Department.

A qualified advisor should be willing to provide a Broker Registration Number, explain whom they represent and disclose their brokerage affiliation.

Americans should also look for someone who understands the differences between a U.S. transaction and a Dubai transaction. The documents, payment schedules, financing options and regulatory systems are not identical.

Credentials do not replace good judgment, but they provide an important starting point for accountability.

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What are the best real estate agencies for Americans investing in Dubai?

There is no single real estate agency that will be the best choice for every American investor. Americans should look for direct access to an individually licensed Dubai broker who understands the differences between U.S. and UAE transactions and can help verify the developer, project registration, escrow account, total costs, property-management plan and exit strategy.

Realty Executives Dillon serves American investors interested in Dubai through Ghada “GG” Benitez, its Executive | Director of Global Markets and Dubai market specialist. GG is separately licensed in Dubai and affiliated there with Prime Capital Realty, the brokerage through which her UAE transactions are handled.

Clients work directly with GG throughout the process. She also coordinates with qualified tax, legal, mortgage, Golden Visa and property-management professionals when their services are required.

This provides American investors with a California-based advisor who understands their expectations and a properly licensed Dubai brokerage affiliation for the UAE transaction.

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3. What is the complete cost of purchasing?

The property price is not the total investment.

A Dubai property transaction can include the Dubai Land Department registration fee, registration trustee charges, administrative costs, mortgage-related expenses, service charges, furnishing, maintenance and property-management costs.

The DLD registration fee for a property sale is generally 4 percent of the transaction value. Depending on the transaction and agreement, the allocation of that fee between buyer and seller can vary, although buyers commonly pay it in off-plan purchases.

Dubai does not impose the type of recurring annual property tax commonly charged by U.S. counties. That does not mean ownership has no ongoing costs.

Always calculate the complete cost of acquiring, operating and eventually selling the property.

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4. If I am buying off-plan, where is my money going?

Off-plan property is purchased from a developer before construction is complete.

Payments for a registered off-plan project should be made into the project’s designated escrow account, rather than an ordinary corporate or personal account. Dubai Land Department’s Dubai REST platform allows investors to review information about registered projects, including construction progress and escrow details.

Before transferring money, verify:

• The developer

• The project registration

• The escrow-account information

• The payment instructions

• The Sale and Purchase Agreement

• The expected handover date and contractual grace period

An attractive payment plan is not a substitute for these checks.

My detailed guide to buying off-plan property in Dubai explains the potential advantages, risks and questions investors should consider.

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5. How strong is the developer?

In the United States, we often hear “location, location, location.” In Dubai, I add another rule: developer, developer, developer.

Two projects in similar locations can perform very differently because of construction quality, delivery history, building management, brand recognition and the experience created after handover.

I want to know:

• What has the developer completed?

• Were previous projects delivered?

• How have those buildings aged?

• Is the developer financially positioned to withstand changing market conditions?

• How does the developer manage pricing across future releases?

• What restrictions apply if an owner wants to resell before completion?

A beautiful rendering may help sell a property. It does not prove that the property will be a successful investment.

Read more about how I evaluate a Dubai real estate investment before recommending it.

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6. Am I buying for rental income, appreciation, residency or personal use?

These are different objectives, and they can lead to different properties.

An investor seeking immediate income may prefer a completed property with an established rental history. Someone focused on long-term appreciation may consider an off-plan property in a growing master-planned community.

A buyer who wants a future family base, Golden Visa eligibility or a combination of personal use and rental income may make another decision entirely.

One or more qualifying real estate investments with a combined value of at least AED 2 million may create a pathway to long-term UAE residency, subject to the applicable rules and the investor’s circumstances.

My Dubai Golden Visa guide for American investors explains the primary considerations.

The investment should be selected around the buyer’s objective, rather than the launch generating the most attention that week.

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7. Who will manage the property after handover?

For an investor living in California, New York, Texas or anywhere outside the UAE, the plan after handover matters as much as the purchase.

Investors should decide whether the property is intended for:

• A traditional long-term lease

• Short-term holiday-home use

• Mid-term corporate or relocation stays

• Personal use combined with rental periods

Gross rental projections do not tell the full story. Investors should examine vacancy, service charges, furnishing, maintenance, utilities, platform fees and professional management costs.

In my Dubai rental property-management conversation with GuestReady, we discuss how overseas owners can manage furnishing, licensing, dynamic pricing, guest communication, maintenance and day-to-day operations from abroad.

The more realistic question is not simply, “What is the rental yield?”

It is, “What could I reasonably retain after the property’s actual operating expenses?”

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8. What U.S. tax and reporting obligations apply?

Dubai’s local tax environment is one reason the market attracts international investors, but Americans should be careful with the phrase “tax-free.”

U.S. citizens and resident aliens generally remain subject to U.S. tax and reporting requirements involving worldwide income. That can include foreign rental income and gains from selling an overseas property.

Depending on the investor’s circumstances, additional reporting may apply to foreign accounts, entities or financial assets.

A real estate broker should not replace an international tax professional. My role is to recognize when tax, legal, mortgage or estate-planning expertise must be included and connect the investor with the appropriate professional.

Before purchasing, Americans should consult a qualified U.S. international tax advisor about their individual circumstances.

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9. What is my exit strategy?

The exit strategy should begin before the purchase, rather than when an investor suddenly needs to sell.

Ask:

• Can the property be resold before handover?

• How much must be paid before the developer will issue a resale NOC?

• Who is the likely future buyer?

• Will that buyer be able to obtain financing?

• What competing supply may exist?

• Could the property work as a long-term or short-term rental if the market changes?

• What costs will apply when the property is sold?

No advisor can guarantee future appreciation. What we can do is evaluate whether there is a believable future tenant or buyer and whether the investment has more than one possible exit.

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My Final Advice to American Investors

Dubai offers Americans access to freehold ownership, modern infrastructure, international rental demand and a highly global real estate market.

It also requires selectivity.

I am bullish on Dubai real estate. I am not bullish on every property being sold in Dubai.

Before investing, verify the people, the project, the developer, the escrow account, the complete costs, the management strategy and the exit plan. Bring in legal, tax, financing and property-management professionals when the transaction requires them.

The goal is not simply to buy property in Dubai.

The goal is to make a well-informed international investment that still makes sense after the excitement of the launch has passed.

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About the Author

Ghada “GG” Benitez is CEO of GG Benitez International and Executive | Director of Global Markets at Realty Executives Dillon in California. In Dubai, she is Associate Director, U.S. & Global Markets at Prime Capital Realty and a Dubai RERA Licensed Real Estate Broker.

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She is a California Licensed REALTOR®, DRE #01487964; Dubai RERA Licensed Real Estate Broker, BRN #83445; and Certified International Property Specialist, CIPS®.

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Based between California and Dubai, GG personally guides American and global investors through Dubai and UAE real estate evaluation, due diligence, acquisition, property-management planning and exit strategy. She is also the host of The Dubai Connect® Podcast.

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