Ask smarter. Decide faster.
Whether you’re investing for yield, securing a legacy asset, or relocating your lifestyle, real estate in Dubai comes with a hundred questions.
At PropertyDigest, we built a system to answer them clearly, instantly, and without pushing you to buy.
From basic legal frameworks to complex investment logic, our AI-powered Assistant and curated FAQ Library give you intelligent answers that respect your time and your intelligence.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Us
What makes Couture Private Estates different from other real estate agencies in Dubai?
We operate as a boutique private estate firm, inspired by private banking standards. Think less sales and more strategic advisory. Our approach is concierge-style, confidential, and tailored to each client’s lifestyle and investment philosophy.
Who is Couture Private Estates for?
Discreet high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and UHNWIs seeking strategic, high-yield, or prestige real estate in the UAE with a personalized and intelligent approach.
What does “boutique-style real estate” actually mean?
It means every client works closely with a dedicated Property Couturier ®, not a general agent, broker, or realtor. We avoid cookie-cutter listings, focusing instead on personally curated properties aligned with your lifestyle, financial vision, and long-term goals.
What is the benefit of buying property through a boutique advisory firm vs. a large agency?
With Couture Private, you gain privacy, white-glove service, deeper market intel, and handpicked properties aligned with your lifestyle and financial vision, not a sales quota.
Plus concierge post-sales services.
Is Couture Private Estates trusted in Dubai real estate?
Absolutely. We blend private banking standards with real estate excellence. Satisfied UHNW clients refer most clients. Here are some testimonials from just a few of our customers. Here is what the mass media says about our performance on the market
Services & Process
What services do you offer besides property buying/selling?
We offer:
- Lifestyle-matched property scouting
- Pre-launch & Off-market property access
- Investment strategy consulting
- Professional Property Tours
- Portfolio structuring for yield vs. appreciation
- Developer reputation reports
- Rentals, property management, visas, company formation, bank account opening, relocation concierge, and legal structuring through our ecosystem partners
- Personal concierge for all related real estate and lifestyle matters
- Strong partners to support all your needs
Do you work with investors, end-users, or both?
Both, but with different strategies. For investors, we focus on smart capital allocation. For lifestyle buyers, we find homes that reflect their status and future vision. We also serve dual-purpose clients who want both.
How do I begin working with Couture Private Estates?
We start with a relaxed discovery call or an invitation to our ClubHouse. No pressure, just a conversation about your needs and vision. From there, we build your personalized property matrix.
How does Couture Private Estates support buyers after the transaction is complete?
Our concierge post-sale services include property management, insurance activation, utilities setup, fitout or renovation coordination, and tenant screening. Plus a palette of unique services tailored for you.
Can Couture Private Estates manage my property?
We work with licensed, highly vetted property management firms and facilitate seamless tenant onboarding, maintenance, and rent collection.
Do you provide insights on the market?
Yes. Our data platform Property Digest offers live performance analytics, and our advisors issue trend reports for private clients.
Do you provide free consultation?
Yes, we begin with a relaxed discovery session, no pressure. Your vision shapes our strategy, not the other way around. Book the free consultation here
However, if you require a private meeting with our Billionaires’ Broker specialist, that’s as per a personalized offer to discuss. You can request the private meeting here
Projects & Portfolio
Do you sell only new developments or also resale properties?
We curate a mix of branded residences and architecturally significant villas, and select off-market opportunities, whether new or resale, provided they meet our stringent selection standards.
Are all your properties in Dubai?
Primarily yes, but we have a growing portfolio across the UAE, with listings in Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and even select international tie-ups
Do you offer access to off-market properties?
Yes, this is one of our core advantages. Most of our HNWI clients are looking for exclusive investment opportunities. We have access to all developers and exclusive pre-launch events.
Which areas does Couture Private Estates operate in?
We work in the entire market and we suggest a specific area of interest according to your major focus. For instance, prime locations such as Dubai Marina, Downtown, Business Bay, Jumeirah Bay, Al Wasl, Tilal Al Ghaf, and Dubai Creek Harbour, could all be explored here
Which developers does Couture Private Estates work with?
We partner with all the developers in the UAE, like Emaar, Damac, Meraas, Sobha, Select Group, Omniyat, Ellington, and other elite, RERA-compliant developers that we can suggest according to your purpose. You can check them all on www.PropertyDigest.ae
Do you suggest off-plan or ready units?
Both, based on your lifestyle and financial objectives. We design a property matrix aligned with your goals. Here is a link to a digital onboarding and Property Matrix.
Investing with Confidence
How do you help buyers avoid risky off-plan projects?
Through our proprietary due diligence matrix (backed by PropertyDigest.ae), we assess developer history, escrow integrity, construction timelines, and market fit, filtering 90% of the noise.
What are the current best areas for capital appreciation in Dubai?
It depends on your horizon, but typically, areas like Dubai Creek Harbour, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and luxury pockets of some private communities are top contenders. We match areas to your objectives.
Can I invest remotely or without living in the UAE?
Absolutely. We have clients in Europe, Russia, the US, and Asia who acquire properties through us remotely. We handle everything from virtual viewings to legal formalities.
How can I ensure my off-plan property investment is secure in Dubai?
Couture Private Estates adheres to strict RERA compliance protocols and utilizes a proprietary risk matrix, as provided by Property Digest, to assess and validate developers. We only work with escrow-protected projects and perform multi-layered due diligence before recommending any asse
Risks include delays, design discrepancies, or incomplete handovers. Couture Private Estates mitigates these through a developer vetting process, payment schedule monitoring, and client-side construction progress reporting.
Can I resell my off-plan unit before completion?
Yes, usually at a minimum of 30% payment, and in fact, that is the main strategy suggested to our investors. Many of our clients purchase with a strategic resale exit in mind, and we facilitate off-market buyer connections.
What hidden costs should I be aware of when buying property in Dubai?
Off-plan (primary market): typical costs include a 4% DLD registration fee, OQOOD, and admin costs. Optional fit-out at the handover. Take into consideration the service charges after the handover. Rarely, also agency commission or consultancy fee.
Resale (secondary market): typical costs include 4% DLD registration fee, starting from 2% commission, and 1-2% escrow account for non-residents.
s now a good time to buy in Dubai, or should I wait?
Dubai currently offers strong fundamentals: high ROI, tax-free income, and safe geopolitical positioning. Our market analysts can help you time your entry by project, area, and developer cycles. You can check our report here
Or schedule a meeting with our Property Couturiers here
What’s the resale potential of the property I’m buying?
For those of you with an appetite for investments, we usually suggest areas and projects with 10+ % appreciation per year, and even 200% in some exceptional cases. We evaluate liquidity, market demand, upcoming infrastructure, and lifestyle trends to project resale feasibility. You’ll receive a custom Resale Viability Report pre-purchase.
What’s the difference between Branded Residences and regular luxury units?
Branded Residences offer design pedigree, 5-star services, and higher resale values. Couture Private Estates specializes in sourcing these assets for our investors. You can find a full report on our Branded Residences on Branded. Estate website.
How do payment plans for off-plan properties work in Dubai?
Most are milestone-linked (e.g., 10/60/30). We help you match the payment structure with your cash flow and risk appetite. Just note, in all the projects, you need to pay a 20% down-payment within 60 days so that your OQOOD (temporary title deed) will be issued. However, with some of the developers, we can negotiate these payment plans to adjust them as per your requests.
What if my life plan changes before the handover? Can I exit the deal?
Yes, most of the projects can be resold with a minimum 30% down-payment. We facilitate off-plan assignments and structured resales, ensuring minimum disruption and maximum capital recovery.
Can I visit the construction site or track the progress of my off-plan unit?
In 99% of the cases, it will not be possible due to rules and safety regulations. We can try to arrange it in some specific cases, but there is no guarantee that it is achievable. Our team can arrange constant updates, including progress photos, milestone alerts, and legal tracking.
Legal & Financial
How is my privacy protected during a transaction?
We understand your concern in this matter. Our structure is modeled after private banks: data discretion, secure communication channels, and only client-opted disclosures are maintained throughout. If you require, we can also sign an NDA & Privacy Agreement.
Do you assist with legal structuring, visas, and ownership setup?
Yes, through our vetted legal and financial partners, we support everything from Golden Visas to SPV setups for international investors.
We work transparently, typically within Dubai’s standard commission frameworks, but customized per engagement. For off-plan properties, in most cases, you don’t pay any commissions.
For resale, the commission paid by the buyer is usually around 2% of the value of the property. For strategic advisory, retainers or success-based fees may apply.
What should I know about escrow accounts and how do they protect my payments?
Your payments are made into RERA-approved and controlled ESCROW accounts, which ensures that funds are released from the Escrow account to the developer only as per construction milestones. This legal requirement safeguards buyers and is non-negotiable in every Couture Private Estates – facilitated deal.
How can I verify if a developer is reliable before committing to a purchase?
Couture Private Estates investigates developer history, RERA records, project completion timelines, past customer reviews, and legal disputes
Do I get a residency visa if I buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Properties worth AED 750K+ qualify for a 2-year visa. AED 2M+ assets grant a 10-year Golden Visa, covering family and domestic staff.
How do Dubai’s real estate laws protect foreign investors?
Foreign buyers can own freehold property in designated areas with 100% ownership rights. Escrow regulations, project registration, and RERA oversight offer substantial protection.
What happens if a project gets delayed or never completes?
Couture Private only recommends projects with low delivery-risk profiles. In rare cases of:
- Delays over 12 months, you are entitled to open a case to ask for reimbursement
- Cancellation, RERA’s Escrow Law ensures investor refunds or assigns the project to a new developer to complete it under the same conditions.
We continue to support buyers in legal, resale, or recovery pathways.
Can you help me set up a company or SPV to hold my Dubai property?
Yes. Through our legal partners, we assist with company creation, SPV creation, tax optimization, and asset protection structures.
Do I need to be a UAE resident to invest in Dubai real estate?
No. Foreigners can buy, own, and lease property in freehold areas without residency. All transactions can be managed remotely with the Couture Private Estates team.
What You Can Ask
Legal Processes
How does off-plan escrow protection work?
Investment Strategy
What’s the ROE impact of a 40% down payment?
Developer Trustworthiness
What is the track record of Emaar vs Sobha?
Area Selection
Is Meydan a smart long-term play for rental income?
Transaction Steps
What are the stages from reservation to handover?
Golden Visa Logic
Will this property qualify me for a 10-year residency?
Book a strategy session with a Property Couturier™, we’ll answer live and guide you in context.