I considered Dubai at one stage. The time to buy was 2-3 years ago when you picked up MASSIVE apartments for a song. Many have been re-sold for many times their original cost.
NOW? Well, from what I have heard from one
who was working down there, there is a great deal of overbuilding and you might find selling difficult at a later date.(Estate people skip over this one.) There HAS to be a saturation point. Just LOOK at all those blocks!
Many "locals" have bought apartments to rent out as investments, but I gather that they, themselves, are now turning to "developments" as living in stnd-alone houses bears a closer relationship to their traditional way of life.
Numerous building projects are up to a year behind due to labour problems according to two reports I've read.
As a holiday home that might be fine, but I wouldn’t like Dubai as a home, or for retirement. I don’t like the idea of the sprawling communal pool filled with youngsters, and the idea of having a good ocean view from your balcony fifty floors up might pall after a while. So what do you do? Visit your friends - and look out at the other tower blocks from THEIR balcony?
Schlepping around the malls might have appeal - but not for more than one day a week.
So for a break you get out of town .... Sadly, to my jaundiced eye, one sand dune looks very much like another.
And there is always that mild uncertainty about the Middle East where things develop suddenly - and quickly.

Look at the Diamond in Dubai with firsthomesworldwide, they guarantee to let it out and it should cover your mortgage which will cover you. Around £94k for a one bed studio, fully corporate furnished and full rental agreements already drafted. UK based developers in Guilford are happy to see you any time.

We have bought here and are going out in 2 weeks to see the area courtesy of first homes. They seem fine, the contracts we got were very heavy, very thorough and they are contracted to complete within 6mths of the finish time or have to pay you a penalty, it was never a sales point, just in the contract.

Their solicitors are a huge firm of lawyers based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and London and many other major cities, all very legal and genuine.

We looked a t Dubai for three weeks solid before going for this one, there are cheaper, but this one crossed the it’s and dotted the it’s for us.

Successful investing is all about timing. Canny investors were into Dubai 10 years ago and now they have moved on. All that remains are the inevitable non - investment minded purchasers.

Currently seasoned investors are moving into new markets such as Germany, Estonia, Hungary and Morocco. Even Kenya and Zanzibar.

You will never make serious money simply following old bandwaggons.

I assume that you all know Donald Trump, one of the world’s most successful property developers.

In the late eighties he lost his entire fortune, around US$ 800 million, because he had invested too aggressively and speculatively in the New York real estate market.

Now, when you have lost your entire fortune, you will be a bit more careful in the future with your money, and in Mr. Trump’s own words on the subject of investing in Dubai:
“I have always been a little nervous about investing in Dubai. In my opinion, the people who invested in Dubai between year 2000 and 2002 were gamblers.

The people who invested between year 2002 and 2006 were speculators, but, from year 2007 I can see that everything the government promised would happen has happened.

I am referring to the vast infrastructure investments in Airports, the Metro and The Free Port, roads and state of the art Telecommunication.

The private investments such as Dubai Land, Palm Islands, The World, The Burj Tower, Business Bay, IMPZ are also well under way.

So now, I am convinced. Dubai is not a dream; it is a reality, with a splendid future ahead of it so I have now decided to invest in Dubai too.”

No matter what speculaton goes around Dubai is growing and will be a great investment as long as it does. The theories simple, more people move to Dubai, more deamnd for housing. With the introduction of the new free zones with 65 years guaranteed no tax by the govt multi nationals are being attracted from all across the globe to set up in Dubai to enjoy the tax free haven. Statistics show demand for residential units is estimated at 70'000 per year against a delivery of 57'000 units. So when demand is higher than supply abnormal appreciation will always be experienced. Dubai's rental returns are very similar to singapore but purchasing price is 3 times less. This is a key statistic as they are very similar markets in the same region. I only see Dubai's market calming down once all the new businesses have come in, all the new infra structure has been put in place and the inflow of people slows down. Untill then Dubai is a highly lucrative investment for anyone.

My personal prediction as an economist and an experienced property investor, it will take till atleast 2020 untill we see a significant slow down in the market.

If you would like any further info or just liek to be pointed in the right direction regarding investments please feel completely free to send me a message. Thank you.