Buying property in Dubai from Rome: an Italy investor's guide
A step-by-step route for an investor based in Rome to reserve and fund an off-plan Dubai apartment remotely, with One by Binghatti and Hilton Residences as examples.
Rome, a capital increasingly comfortable with Dubai
Rome's professional and business class has grown steadily more familiar with Dubai over the past years, whether through work travel, an existing network of Italian businesses in the UAE, or simply the number of European buyers already active in the city's off-plan market. For many Rome-based investors, the appeal is straightforward: 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.
The purchase sequence from Rome
- Confirm the full budget: unit price, the 4% DLD registration fee, developer administrative charges and Oqood registration, in dirhams.
- Choose the project: a canal-facing residence in a central district, or a branded hotel residence for rental demand.
- Reserve the unit electronically, with a copy of your Italian passport attached to the sale agreement.
- Wire the deposit from your Rome bank to the project's escrow account at a UAE bank.
- 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 Rome
Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit and BNL, all well represented across Rome, process outbound international wires within the European Union's anti-money-laundering framework. Expect standard compliance checks on a first payment to a new beneficiary: a valid passport, proof of address, the signed sale agreement showing escrow and SWIFT details, and a short source-of-funds explanation. The exchange rate between the euro and the dirham depends on your bank on the day of the transfer; ask for a simulation before committing to a schedule.
| 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). Italian tax treatment of foreign property, including the monitoring obligations that typically apply to assets held abroad, depends on your situation, a question for an Italian tax adviser rather than your broker.
ORVEN PROPERTIES
Talk to an Orven adviser
Leave your number: an adviser calls you back or replies on WhatsApp, in your language. No commitment.
Four projects that fit a Rome profile
One by Binghatti in Business Bay offers studios to four-bedroom residences facing Dubai Water Canal, with swimming pools and a tennis court, price and schedule confirmed on request.
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.
Sanctuary Residences at Meydan Horizon faces the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, with one- to three-bedroom residences, a sky garden and an observation deck, on a 20% reservation, 45% construction, 35% handover plan.
For an entry point with a published starting price, Porto View at Rashid Yachts & Marina starts from AED 1.93 million for one- to three-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom townhouses.
For a comparable market already covered in detail, see our guide for buyers from Milan and our guide for first-time international investors.
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 Rome? No. The reservation, sale agreement and Oqood registration can all be completed remotely with an electronic signature and a copy of your passport.
Do I need to declare this property on my Italian tax return? Generally yes, assets held abroad typically carry monitoring and reporting obligations in Italy; an Italian tax adviser should confirm the specifics for your case.
Is my money safe in the escrow account if the developer has issues? Funds are released to the developer only against verified construction progress confirmed by the Dubai Land Department, not on the developer's request alone.
Can a Rome-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 Rome?
No. The reservation, sale agreement and Oqood registration can all be completed remotely with an electronic signature and a copy of your passport.
Do I need to declare this property on my Italian tax return?
Generally yes, assets held abroad typically carry monitoring and reporting obligations in Italy; an Italian tax adviser should confirm the specifics for your case.
Is my money safe in the escrow account if the developer has issues?
Funds are released to the developer only against verified construction progress confirmed by the Dubai Land Department, not on the developer's request alone.
Can a Rome-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.
Continue reading
Guides
Buying an apartment in Batumi as a Russian citizen
Georgian rules for a foreign buyer, NAPR registration and the role of a local lawyer: what a Russian citizen needs to know before buying an apartment in Batumi, including any checks specific to nationality.
Read the guide →
Guides
Buying off-plan in Dubai remotely from Moscow or Saint Petersburg
A step-by-step look at buying an off-plan unit in Dubai without travelling from Moscow or Saint Petersburg: power of attorney, video calls, escrow payments and the compliance checks that apply throughout.
Read the guide →
Guides
Buying Property in Dubai from Israel: What to Know
Freehold ownership, DLD registration, escrow-protected payments and remote steps for an Israeli resident buying in Dubai, set out without any diplomatic commentary.
Read the guide →
Guides
Buying Property in Batumi from Israel: A Step-by-Step Guide
How an Israeli buyer moves from choosing a Batumi project to a registered title, working with Orven and a local Georgian lawyer at each stage, without describing any flight route or schedule.
Read the guide →INVESTOR GUIDES