One team for the property, the residency and the business
We help Australians buy in Dubai from the first conversation to the keys, and with what comes after: the Golden Visa, a UAE company, the first tenant.
Property investment
Off-plan and ready homes from Dubai's established developers, shortlisted for your budget, your timing and what you want the property to do for you.
- A shortlist of two or three projects, priced in Australian dollars
- Each developer's delivery record, and the project's registration and escrow checked in the Dubai REST app
- The payment plan laid out against your cash flow, every instalment, not just the deposit
- Rental demand, comparable rents, service charges and the total purchase cost, checked before we show you a brochure
- An exit plan: who would buy the home from you, and when
- Reservation and the sale agreement, reviewed by your independent lawyer
- Ready homes and resales on the secondary market, as well as off-plan
- Handover inspection, furnishing and leasing introductions
A beautiful apartment isn't automatically a good investment. So we start with the numbers: who will rent it, what it really costs, and how you would sell it.
Golden Visa and residency
Under Dubai Land Department criteria, a property investor can apply for a 10-year renewable Golden Visa when the purchase value is at least AED 2 million, about AUD 780,000.
- We check your purchase against the current criteria before you commit
- Mortgaged property can qualify with the lending bank's no-objection letter
- Off-plan eligibility depends on the developer and the project, and we confirm it with the authorities
- We prepare the documents with you, for the application in the UAE
- Family members can be sponsored on the same visa
- For completed homes below AED 2 million, the 2-year property owner visa, which since April 2026 has no minimum value for a sole owner
The UAE authorities decide every application, and the criteria change. Dubai Land Department, checked October 2026.
UAE company setup
We help you choose between a free zone, mainland or offshore company, based on what the business will actually do, then set it up from Australia with our setup partners in Dubai. Licences are issued by the relevant UAE authority.
- The right structure: free zone, mainland or offshore
- The trade licence, arranged remotely from Australia
- Banking introductions and a flexible office or desk
- Ongoing accounting and compliance
Dubai business structures
Dubai offers three ways to set up a company, and each suits a different kind of business. We help you choose the right one and set it up from Australia with our setup partners in Dubai. The lists below come from the UAE Government portal and each registry's own site, checked October 2026.
Each free zone is run by its own authority, with its own licence types and its own list of permitted activities, and foreign owners can hold the whole company. It suits consulting, trading, e-commerce and services sold mostly outside the UAE.
Dubai
- Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)
- Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)
- Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ)
- Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
- International Free Zone Authority (IFZA)
- Dubai Silicon Oasis
- Meydan Free Zone
- Dubai South
- Expo City Dubai
- Dubai CommerCity
- Dubai Internet City
- Dubai Media City
- Dubai Production City
- Dubai Studio City
- Dubai Outsource City
- Dubai Knowledge Park
- Dubai International Academic City
- Dubai Science Park
- Dubai Design District (d3)
- Dubai Healthcare City
- Dubai Maritime City
- Gold and Diamond Park
- National Industries Park
- Dubai Humanitarian City
Abu Dhabi
- Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
- Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD)
- Masdar City
- Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
- twofour54
Sharjah
- Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone)
- Hamriyah Free Zone
- Sharjah Media City (Shams)
Ajman
- Ajman Free Zone
- Ajman Media City
Umm Al Quwain
- Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone
Ras Al Khaimah
- Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)
- Innovation City
Fujairah
- Fujairah Free Zone
- Creative City
A mainland company is licensed by the economic department of its emirate. It can trade directly with customers anywhere in the UAE and open shops, offices and showrooms, which suits retail, hospitality, construction and local services.
Dubai
- Department of Economy and Tourism
Abu Dhabi
- Department of Economic Development
Sharjah
- Economic Development Department
Ajman
- Department of Economic Development
Umm Al Quwain
- Department of Economic Development
Ras Al Khaimah
- Department of Economic Development
Fujairah
- Fujairah Municipality
An offshore company is registered through an approved agent and receives a certificate of incorporation rather than a trade licence, so it cannot trade inside the UAE. It is used to hold shares, intellectual property and other assets, and for business between countries outside the UAE.
Dubai
- JAFZA Offshore, at Jebel Ali Free Zone
Ras Al Khaimah
- RAK International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC)
Ajman
- Ajman Free Zone Offshore
VIP advisory and the Fly-In Program
Private consultations in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and in Sydney, and a trip to Dubai with us to see the projects before you sign anything.
- Developer sales galleries and show apartments
- Site visits across the communities on your shortlist
- A cash flow walk-through in Australian dollars
- Meetings with company setup advisers, mortgage advisers or lawyers, if you need them
Smartraveller currently advises Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in the UAE (updated 8 October 2026). We check the latest advice with you before any trip.
How buying from Australia works
Five steps, with the same person beside you for each of them.
- 1
Talk to us
A consultation in Brisbane, at a roadshow or on a video call, about your goals, budget and timing.
- 2
Shortlist
Two or three projects that fit, priced in Australian dollars, with each developer's record.
- 3
See it
Visit with us on the Fly-In Program, or tour the sales gallery by video call.
- 4
Reserve and sign
A booking deposit secures the home. Your independent lawyer reviews the agreement before it is registered with the Dubai Land Department.
- 5
Handover and after
Snagging, leasing, and the Golden Visa if your purchase qualifies.
Start with a private consultation
Tell us your budget and timing. We'll come back with two or three projects that fit, priced in Australian dollars, and the questions worth asking each developer.