Dubai or Spain? Property purchase comparison for Poles (2026)
More and more Poles are asking themselves the question “Dubai or Spain: where should I buy property?”. Both destinations are popular, but they differ in costs, taxes and residency rights. Below is a comparison of the key items, as of October 2026.
Purchase costs
In Spain, additional costs are usually 10–12% of the price for resale properties and 12–14% when buying from a developer (ITP or VAT with AJD, notary, registry). In Dubai they are usually 5–7%: the DLD fee of 4% of the value (in practice most often paid by the buyer, but the split depends on the contract), the agent’s commission of 2% for resale properties and fixed registration fees (AED 2,000–4,000).
Annual and rental taxes
In Spain you pay the local IBI tax, and on rental income a non-resident from the EU/EEA pays 19% of net income (with costs deducted), while one from outside the EU/EEA pays 24% of gross income. In the UAE there is no annual property tax, no capital gains tax and no rental income tax; instead there are annual service charges (usually AED 10–15 per square foot for standard apartments). However, the absence of tax in the UAE does not release you from tax obligations in Poland, so it is worth consulting a tax adviser before buying.
Residency rights
The Spanish golden visa for property purchases was abolished in 2025, so a purchase no longer gives residency rights. In Dubai, buying property worth at least AED 2 million gives a 10-year, renewable Golden Visa.
Comparison table
| Item | Spain | Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase costs | 10–12% (resale), 12–14% (new build) | approx. 5–7% |
| Annual property tax | Local IBI tax | None (service charges apply) |
| Rental income tax | 19% of net income (EU/EEA) or 24% of gross income (non-EU/EEA) | None in the UAE |
| Residency right from purchase | Golden visa abolished in 2025 | Golden Visa from AED 2 million (10 years) |
| Flight from Poland | approx. 3 hours | approx. 6 hours |
Who is it for
Spain works well if you want to live or holiday close to Poland (a flight of about 3 hours) and use the property yourself. Dubai is more often chosen by investors looking for lower costs and taxes in the country of purchase (a flight of about 6 hours). In both cases, buying through us carries no commission for the buyer.
See offers: Dubai districts – guide, apartments in Dubai, houses in Dubai, apartments on the Costa del Sol and apartments in Alicante. Have questions? Contact us. We describe the details of costs in Spain in the article How much does it cost to buy property in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
Where are property purchase costs lower: in Dubai or in Spain?
Usually in Dubai: additional costs are about 5–7% of the price (DLD fee of 4%, agent’s commission of 2% for resale properties and fixed registration fees), compared with 10–14% in Spain.
Do you pay rental income tax in Dubai?
The UAE has no rental income tax, no capital gains tax and no annual property tax. However, the absence of tax in the UAE does not release you from tax obligations in Poland, so it is worth consulting a tax adviser.
Does buying property give you residency rights?
In Dubai, yes: buying property worth at least AED 2 million gives a 10-year, renewable Golden Visa. In Spain, the golden visa for property purchases was abolished in 2025.
Spain is the better choice if you are looking for a property for your own holiday use, close to Poland, in the stable legal environment of the European Union. Dubai is worth considering if your priority is a high rental yield, zero income tax and diversifying your assets outside Europe. Many of our clients, in fact, choose both destinations at once – as complementary parts of a property portfolio.