Your first Dubai property purchase. Mario Costa walks first-time international buyers through every step from initial inquiry to handover, with the numbers, the paperwork, and the diligence trail in plain English.
1. Qualification call (15-30 min). Understand goals, budget, timeline. 2. Short-list of 2 to 4 specific properties matching the brief. 3. Video viewings or in-person visits if available. 4. Offer and negotiation. 5. SPA signing with 10 percent deposit. 6. NOC issued by developer. 7. DLD transfer day, title deed issued. 8. Handover (for off-plan: 18 to 48 months later). End to end on a ready property: 30 to 90 days from first call to keys.
DLD transfer fee: 4 percent of purchase price. DLD admin: AED 4,000 apartment / AED 2,000 villa. Trustee office fee: AED 2,000 to AED 4,000. Real estate commission: 2 percent (typically buyer side) plus 5 percent VAT on the commission. NOC fee: AED 1,000 to AED 5,000 (developer-dependent). Total typical closing: 5.5 to 6.5 percent of purchase price all-in.
Most first-time European buyers close their first deal entirely remote. Mario's process: video walkthroughs, drone exterior shots, neighborhood video tours, plus a POA (Power of Attorney) that lets a Dubai-based legal rep sign the SPA, NOC, and DLD transfer on the buyer's behalf. Mario provides the POA template his Dubai notary accepts. Total remote-purchase cost adds AED 2,000 to AED 4,000 in legal fees over and above standard closing.
Off-plan from non-Tier 1 developers without verified escrow. Properties priced 10 to 15 percent below comparable market without a clear reason (often distressed sales with hidden community or service charge arrears). Brokers without a current RERA-issued BRN. Sellers refusing standard NOC and DLD process. Any pressure to sign within 24 hours. Mario walks every first-time buyer through his standard checklist before they commit.
Every conversation starts with a 30-minute call to understand goals, budget, and timeline. No pitch, no pressure.