Many UK landlords are reviewing their options, and some are looking at property outside the UK. If Abu Dhabi is on your list, this is how buying there works when you live in the UK.

Step 1: Start with your goals

Before looking at a single property, be clear on what you want it to do: steady rental income, a home for later, or both. Your budget, timeline and how involved you want to be will shape everything that follows.

Step 2: Choose the area

Abu Dhabi's areas behave very differently. At AngelBrics we use our own four-tier classification – Core Islands, Waterfront Lifestyle, Mainland Family Hubs and Emerging Outskirts – to match areas to an investor's goals. Not every area or building is open to every buyer, so we check that each property you consider is one you can buy.

Step 3: Ready or off-plan

A ready property can be let soon after you buy. Off-plan property is bought from a developer before it is finished, usually on a payment plan. Each has different costs, timings and risks, which we cover in our guide to ready and off-plan property.

Step 4: Checks

Before you commit, we check the property, the developer or seller, and the paperwork.

Step 5: The purchase

Much of the process can be handled from the UK. We explain which steps need you in person and which can be done remotely or with a signed authority, so there are no surprises.

What it costs

On a resale, the broker commission in Abu Dhabi is 2% of the price, set by regulation. When you buy off-plan direct from a developer, the developer pays the broker's commission. AngelBrics takes one fee per deal, never two. Abu Dhabi developers cannot charge more than AED 5,000 in administrative fees on an off-plan resale or transfer. Other buying costs apply, and we set them out before you commit.

After you buy

If you would like us to, we can manage the property for you: finding tenants, collecting rent and looking after maintenance.

Residency

Property worth AED 2 million or more can qualify the owner for a renewable 10-year UAE Golden Visa. Eligibility is set by the UAE authorities, and we check the current criteria with you.

The UK side

The UAE has no personal income tax. UK tax residents remain liable to UK tax on overseas rental income and gains, so take independent tax advice before you buy.