Data-Driven Commercial Investing in Dubai
Institutional analytics for every commercial asset class — Cap Rate, NOI, occupancy, WAULT — sourced from JLL, CBRE, Knight Frank, and Cavendish Maxwell reports.
Commercial vs Residential
Fundamental differences in yield, lease structure, tax, and financing — determine which path fits your strategy.
| Dimension | Commercial | Residential |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Cap Rate | 6% – 12% | 5% – 8% |
| Lease Term | 3 – 10 years | 1 year (renewable) |
| VAT | 5% on sale & lease | Exempt |
| Bank LTV | 40 – 60% for residents | 65 – 80% for residents |
| Occupancy | 82 – 98% | 90 – 95% |
| Maintenance Liability | Tenant (Triple-Net common) | Landlord |
| Rent Cap on Renewals | No cap on new leases | RERA index for same tenant |
| Typical Ticket Size | AED 3M – 100M+ | AED 500K – 20M |
Explore Commercial Asset Classes
Each class comes with precise market indicators and lease structure analysis — turning investment from an emotional decision into one grounded in numbers.
Grade A Offices
Premium office towers in Dubai's core business districts — LEED-certified, high-spec finishes, institutional-grade tenants.
Grade B & C Offices
Value-tier offices offering strong cash-on-cash yields — suited for SMEs, back-office operations, and yield-focused investors.
Retail Units
Ground-floor retail in high-footfall destinations — Dubai Mall zones, community centres, and metro-linked strips.
Warehouses & Logistics
Best-in-class industrial yields in Dubai — driven by e-commerce, last-mile logistics, and cold-chain demand.
Showrooms
Auto, furniture, and home-improvement showrooms on high-traffic arterials — long triple-net leases with strong covenants.
F&B Units
Restaurant, café, and cloud-kitchen units in leisure destinations — high yields tied to operator brand strength.
Medical & Clinics
Purpose-built medical centres and stand-alone clinics — recession-resistant demand backed by insurance and medical tourism.
Staff Accommodation
Purpose-built worker housing near industrial zones — highest yields in Dubai commercial real estate.
Commercial Plots
Freehold and leasehold commercial land — build-to-suit or long-term hold, ideal for developer-investors.
What Every Commercial Buyer Must Know
VAT 5% Applies
Sale AND lease of commercial property attract 5% VAT (unlike residential which is exempt). This affects total cost of ownership and pricing negotiations. Registered businesses can typically reclaim input VAT.
Different Financing
Commercial mortgages have lower LTV (40-60% vs 65-80% residential), higher interest rates (+50-150 bps), shorter tenors (15-20 years vs 25), and require corporate borrower structure in most cases.
Freehold vs Leasehold
Foreigners can own commercial property freehold ONLY in designated zones (Business Bay, DIFC, JLT, etc.). Elsewhere, leasehold structures (10-99 years) are used. Verify zoning before signing.
Free Zone vs Mainland
Free-zone commercial property (JAFZA, DAFZA, DIC, DIFC) allows 100% foreign ownership + tax benefits but restricts tenant activity to same free zone. Mainland allows broader tenant pool but requires DED trade licence.
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