The Housira blog
Fees, laws and neighbourhoods, researched against official sources and updated when the rules change.
Latest · Buying
Service charges are the biggest running cost of owning in Dubai. Here is how the DLD's service charge index works, how budgets get approved and how to check a building before you buy.
12 September 2026 · 7 min read
14 articles
Buying
What snagging is, how to run a handover inspection on a new Dubai home, what a snagging company checks, and how the defects liability rules protect you.
· 7 min read
Legal & fees
When a landlord and tenant cannot agree, the Rental Disputes Center decides. Here are the fees, the eviction rules under Laws 26 and 33, and how to file a case.
· 7 min read
Legal & fees
Before paying a deposit, spend ten minutes on the Dubai Land Department's free checks: title deed, project status, advertising permit and broker licence.
· 7 min read
Renting
International City, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Discovery Gardens lead the list for affordable studios. Here are indicative rents by area, the trade-offs, and how to avoid overpaying.
· 7 min read
Investing
How the 10-year Golden Visa works for Dubai property owners — the AED 2,000,000 threshold, what counts, what doesn't, and how to apply through the DLD.
· 7 min read
Area guides
From Dubai Hills Estate and Arabian Ranches to Dubai Marina and JVC — which communities suit families, couples and first-time buyers, and how to choose.
· 7 min read
Buying
How much can an expat borrow in Dubai, and what will it cost each month? LTV caps, the 50% debt burden rule, fees, pre-approval and worked repayment tables.
· 7 min read
Renting
Everything an expat needs to rent a flat, house or villa in Dubai: what you pay upfront, how cheques work, Ejari and DEWA, and the rules that protect you.
· 7 min read
Buying
Foreigners can buy freehold homes in Dubai without residency. Here is the full process, from budget and pre-approval to MOU, NOC and transfer day at the trustee office.
· 7 min read
Investing
A plain-spoken guide to Dubai's investment areas — which ones lead on rental yield, which hold value, and how to work out a realistic net return.
· 8 min read
Legal & fees
Every Dubai tenancy needs an Ejari. This guide covers what it costs, what you need, how to register or renew it online, and how to download and print the certificate.
· 7 min read
Legal & fees
The 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee is only the start. Here is every cost a buyer pays, who normally pays it, and a worked example for a AED 1,500,000 apartment.
· 8 min read
Off-plan
What off-plan really means in Dubai, how payment plans and escrow work, and the steps to buy — or sell — a unit before it is built.
· 8 min read
Renting
Your landlord wants more rent at renewal. Here is how the RERA rental index, Decree 43 of 2013 and the 2025 Smart Rental Index decide what is actually allowed.
· 8 min read