Deposit and rates
Expat residents put down 20% on properties under AED 5M, non-residents typically 40–50%. Fixed rates in 2026 sit in the 3.9–4.9% range for 1–5 year terms. On a AED 2,262,000 unit in DIFC that means a deposit from roughly a fifth of the price plus costs.
Pre-approval first
Get pre-approval before viewing in DIFC. It takes 3–5 days, is valid 60–90 days, and gives you the leverage to close quickly on the units that actually move.
DIFC at a glance
DIFC is the financial free zone where corporate tenants and business travellers pay a premium. Buying sits at AED 2,900 per sqft — roughly AED 2,262,000 for a standard one-bedroom — while long-term tenants pay about AED 145,000 a year. Hosted as a licensed holiday home, the same unit averages AED 834 a night at 79% occupancy, around AED 240,484 gross. Owners on our managed programme average AED 331,868 — a 38% uplift.
