Short answer: it depends on where you live. Overseas Pakistanis living and earning in the UAE can buy Dubai property freely with that income. Pakistanis living in Pakistan face a hard rule: the State Bank of Pakistan has no general permission for residents to send money abroad to buy property, and its own governor told parliament in 2017 that it had never allowed anyone to.
We say this plainly because many people learn it too late. Property bought with money moved outside the banking system, including hawala, can be traced, and the buyer carries the risk in both countries.
What Dubai property costs in rupees
| What sold (median) | Dirhams | Pakistani rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment | AED 657,040 | PKR 4.97 crore |
| One bedroom apartment | AED 1,204,200 | PKR 9.12 crore |
| Two bedroom apartment | AED 2,094,999 | PKR 15.86 crore |
| Villa or townhouse | AED 3,416,640 | PKR 25.86 crore |
| Golden Visa property threshold | AED 2,000,000 | PKR 15.14 crore |
Rupee figures at about PKR 75.7 per dirham, Pakistan open market rate on 14 October 2026. The rate moves daily.
If you are an overseas Pakistani in the UAE
- You can buy with salary, business income or savings earned and held outside Pakistan.
- Pakistan taxes non residents only on Pakistan source income. A genuine UAE resident is generally outside Pakistan tax on Dubai rent.
- Keep proof of where your money came from. UAE banks and the Land Department process ask for it.
If you live in Pakistan
- Remittance: the State Bank’s foreign exchange manual gives residents general permission only for listed foreign shares, up to USD 25,000 a year. There is no property route. Speak to a Pakistani tax lawyer before you commit any money.
- Declaration: residents with foreign assets of USD 100,000 or more, or foreign income of USD 10,000 or more, must file a foreign income and assets statement with the FBR under section 116A of the Income Tax Ordinance.
- Tax: residents are taxed on worldwide income. Pakistan’s tax tribunal has held that Pakistan can tax a resident’s Dubai rental income under the Pakistan UAE treaty.
- Scrutiny: the 2024 Dubai Unlocked data listed about 17,000 Pakistani owners of more than 23,000 Dubai properties, and the FBR said it would make sure eligible owners pay tax.
The Dubai side: the same for every nationality
- Where you can buy: foreign nationals can own freehold property outright in Dubai’s designated freehold areas, which include most of the city’s main communities. See freehold vs non freehold in Dubai.
- Transfer fee: the Dubai Land Department charges 4% of the price, plus registration and agency fees.
- Off plan money: payments for off plan homes go into a project escrow account regulated under Dubai Law No. 8 of 2007.
- Tax in the UAE: individuals pay no annual property tax and no UAE income tax on rent or gains. Your home country may still tax them, which is what the rest of this guide is about.
- Residency: property worth AED 2 million or more can qualify you for the ten year Golden Visa. See the Golden Visa property threshold.
- Buying remotely: you can sign and pay from abroad, or appoint someone by power of attorney. A power of attorney signed outside the UAE must be notarised and legalised for use in Dubai, because the UAE does not accept apostilles.
- Mortgages: UAE banks lend to non residents, generally at 60% to 65% of the value, and most will not lend on off plan for non residents.
Talk to Cresco
Cresco Real Estate is a RERA registered brokerage in Dubai (ORN 34288) with an office in Los Angeles. We check what applies to your passport and home country before we show you a single property. Contact us to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistanis buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Overseas Pakistanis living in the UAE can buy freely with income earned there. Residents of Pakistan have no general State Bank permission to send money abroad for property.
Can I send money from Pakistan to buy Dubai property?
The State Bank of Pakistan has no general permission for residents to remit funds to buy foreign property. Speak to a Pakistani tax lawyer before committing any money.
Do I have to declare Dubai property to the FBR?
Residents with foreign assets of USD 100,000 or more must file a foreign income and assets statement under section 116A of the Income Tax Ordinance.
Does Pakistan tax Dubai rental income?
Residents are taxed on worldwide income, including Dubai rent. Non residents are taxed only on Pakistan source income.
Method and limits
Dubai prices: Dubai Land Department register, sales registered 1 September to 11 October 2026, medians by unit type. Pakistani rules: State Bank of Pakistan foreign exchange manual, chapter 20 (FE Circular 01, July 2024); Business Recorder and Express Tribune on the SBP governor’s 2017 statement; FBR, section 116A; ProPakistani on the tax tribunal ruling, November 2022; Dawn on Dubai Unlocked, 15 May 2024. Rupee rate: Pakistan Observer open market rates, 14 October 2026. Laws and tax rules change often. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Speak to a qualified adviser in your home country before you buy.