The Hidden Cost That Protects Every Dubai Property Investor

JT Research
Oct 9
3 min read

When most people talk about investing in Dubai property, the conversation usually centers on costs.

The 4% Land Department fee.
The agent’s commission
Mortgage setup.
Service charges.
Exit fees.

All valid. But very few talk about the one cost that protects everything you’ve built. A cost that isn’t about buying more property. It’s about ensuring your property remains yours.

The Cost of a UAE Will.

Why It Matters More Than Most People Realize

Let’s say you’re a Singaporean or Malaysian investor who owns a Dubai apartment through an overseas company. Or maybe you’re an expat working in Dubai with a villa under your own name. In both cases, if something unexpected happens, the process of transferring that property to your family isn’t automatic.

Under UAE law, when a property owner passes away without a registered local Will, their bank accounts and assets (including real estate) can be temporarily frozen until the courts determine rightful ownership.

Even if you already have a Will in your home country, it might not apply here without translation, legalization, and months of court procedures. That’s not a situation you want your family to face while they’re already dealing with loss.

Real-Life Situations We See Often

At InvestInDubai.Asia, we’ve worked with investors from around the world, and we’ve seen how this plays out in practice.

A Hong Kong-based investor had purchased two off-plan apartments in Dubai. He assumed that because the properties were under a joint name, his spouse would automatically inherit them. She didn’t. It took nearly a year and multiple legal submissions before the properties could be transferred.

An Indian entrepreneur with assets in both Mumbai and Dubai discovered that his Indian Will couldn’t be enforced locally. The two jurisdictions operated under separate legal systems.

In both cases, the solution was to create a UAE-specific Will registered with DIFC Courts, a simple process that prevented years of potential complications. These are not extreme cases. They’re common and avoidable.

The Most Overlooked Investment Protection in the UAE

Most buyers plan for the obvious fees:

4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee
2% agent commission
0.25% mortgage registration
1–2% conveyancing and legal
1–2% selling costs

But almost no one plans for what happens after ownership. A properly drafted and registered UAE Will costs around AED 8,000–15,000 (roughly 0.3–0.5% ) of a typical AED 3 million property. That’s less than a year of maintenance fees and yet, it determines how quickly your family can access your assets.

The Smart Investor’s Mindset

If you watched our recent video filmed in Dubai about the 2040 Master Plan, you’ll know the city’s success is built on foresight. Planning not just for today, but for decades ahead.

The same principle applies to your property. Smart investors don’t just buy well — they plan intelligently for succession, structure, and protection. Whether you hold your assets personally or under an offshore company, ensuring your estate plan aligns with UAE law is part of true wealth management. It’s not about legal complexity. It’s about strategic simplicity.

A Complete Solution for International Investors

At InvestInDubai.Asia, we guide our clients through more than just buying property. We advise them on a full protection plan, from acquisition to legacy.

That includes:

✅ Structuring ownership correctly (individual, joint, or corporate)

✅ Coordinating with legal partners to register UAE Wills through DIFC or ADJD

✅ Aligning cross-border Wills for investors with assets in multiple countries

✅ Reviewing nominee and power-of-attorney setups for overseas investors

It’s a complete, end-to-end approach that most agencies never discuss, because they’re focused on selling, not safeguarding.

Final Thought

Buying property in Dubai is easy. Protecting it is strategic. A Will may seem like a formality until the moment it becomes essential!

If you’d like details on how to create and register a UAE Will, or to structure your investment for long-term protection, get in touch with our team.

We’ve thought through every step, so you don’t have to.