The formula
Net yield = (annual income − service charge − management − insurance − void allowance) ÷ (purchase price + 4% DLD + 2% agency). For DIFC that starts from AED 145,000 income against a AED 2,262,000 purchase, or AED 240,484 if hosted short-term.
Add appreciation
Total return is yield plus capital growth. DIFC has tracked Dubai's broader appreciation cycle; model a conservative 4–7% a year over a five-year hold and stress-test at zero.
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.
