Buying property in Dubai from Moscow: a Russia investor's guide
A step-by-step route for an investor based in Moscow to reserve and fund an off-plan Dubai apartment remotely, with Porto View and Hilton Residences as examples, with transfer options confirmed case by case with your bank.
Moscow, a long-established buyer base in Dubai
Moscow-based buyers have been active in the Dubai property market for years, and a substantial Russian-speaking community already lives in the city, with its own agents, schools and service providers. That existing infrastructure makes the practical side of a purchase, from viewing a project remotely to signing a sale agreement, more straightforward than for a market with no prior presence. Individuals pay no local tax on rental income or capital gains in the UAE, and every off-plan payment sits in an escrow account controlled by the Dubai Land Department, released only against verified construction progress rather than a promise.
The purchase sequence from Moscow
- Confirm the full budget: unit price, the 4% DLD registration fee, developer administrative charges and Oqood registration, in dirhams.
- Choose the project: a marina-facing apartment for rental demand, or a larger family home.
- Reserve the unit electronically, with a copy of your passport attached to the sale agreement.
- Arrange the transfer of the deposit to the project's escrow account at a UAE bank, through whichever international payment route your bank currently supports.
- Register through Oqood, which records the unit against the developer's title in your name.
- Track construction through the DLD's Project Status Enquiry service until handover.
Sending funds from Moscow
International transfer options and the documentation required change from one bank and one period to another, so this is a point to confirm directly with your bank, or with an account you hold outside Russia, before reserving. Your adviser can point you to the escrow account details and the sale agreement you will need to provide, but the choice of payment route and any applicable currency control declarations are for your bank to confirm, case by case, rather than something a broker should state as fixed.
| Cost | Detail |
|---|---|
| DLD registration fee | 4% of the price |
| Oqood registration | fixed fee, confirmed in the contract |
| Developer administrative fees | depends on the project |
| Wire charges | depends on your bank |
Orven charges the buyer no commission; the fee comes from the developer. Brokerage runs through ORVEN REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE L.L.C S.P.C (Economic License No. CN-6800129, ADRA). The dirham is pegged to the US dollar, which investors from markets with a less stable currency sometimes mention as a reason to hold an asset in dirhams; your own tax position remains a question for an adviser in your country of residence.
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Four projects that fit a Moscow profile
Porto View at Rashid Yachts & Marina starts from AED 1.93 million for one- to three-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom townhouses around a marina promenade.
Hilton Residences in Dubai Maritime City offers branded, hotel-managed residences and penthouses with an infinity pool and a fitness centre, on a 20% reservation, 40% construction, 40% handover schedule.
For a larger household budget, The Grove at Sobha Sanctuary in Dubailand offers four- to six-bedroom estate villas with private gardens and a lagoon beach, from AED 9.33 million, subject to inventory.
Chelsea Residences by DAMAC in Dubai Maritime City starts from around AED 2.17 million for a one-bedroom apartment according to the developer's brochure.
For the mechanics that apply to any first-time buyer, see our guide on how the Dubai escrow account works and our guide to the Golden Visa threshold.
Send your budget and your goal to WhatsApp +971 52 776 1939 or sales@orvenproperties.com, and an adviser replies with units actually available and a confirmed schedule.
What happens once you reserve
Once your deposit clears in the project's escrow account, your adviser becomes your single point of contact: a reminder ahead of each instalment, construction progress checked against the DLD's public registry, and a direct WhatsApp line for anything specific to your file. Nothing about the process requires a trip to Dubai, though a visit can be arranged at any point before handover.
A property worth AED 2 million or more, alone or combined with other units, can support a Golden Visa application under conditions set by the authorities. Bank financing is possible for some non-residents, always subject to the lender's approval and a valuation of the unit.
FAQ
Do I need to visit Dubai before reserving from Moscow? No. The reservation and sale agreement can be completed remotely with an electronic signature and a copy of your passport; the transfer route itself is confirmed with your bank.
Which bank should I use to send the deposit? This depends on your personal banking relationships and currently available routes; discuss it directly with your bank or with an account held outside Russia before committing to a schedule.
Is my money safe once it leaves my account? Funds sit in an escrow account controlled by the Dubai Land Department and are released to the developer only against verified construction progress, not on request.
Can a Moscow-based buyer get bank financing for part of the price? Some non-residents qualify, subject to the lender's approval and a valuation of the unit.
Does the purchase support a Golden Visa application? A property worth AED 2 million or more, alone or combined with other units, can support an application under conditions set by the authorities.
ORVEN PROPERTIES
Talk to an Orven adviser
Leave your number: an adviser calls you back or replies on WhatsApp, in your language. No commitment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to visit Dubai before reserving from Moscow?
No. The reservation and sale agreement can be completed remotely with an electronic signature and a copy of your passport; the transfer route itself is confirmed with your bank.
Which bank should I use to send the deposit?
This depends on your personal banking relationships and currently available routes; discuss it directly with your bank or with an account held outside Russia before committing to a schedule.
Is my money safe once it leaves my account?
Funds sit in an escrow account controlled by the Dubai Land Department and are released to the developer only against verified construction progress, not on request.
Can a Moscow-based buyer get bank financing for part of the price?
Some non-residents qualify, subject to the lender's approval and a valuation of the unit.
Does the purchase support a Golden Visa application?
A property worth AED 2 million or more, alone or combined with other units, can support an application under conditions set by the authorities.
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