This was a high-anxiety journey.
We originally planned to land in Dubai, find an apartment, secure it, get keys, and furnish it within 5 days. Then we mapped it out and thought: we might be being too ambitious here.
So we made a big leap: do it fully remotely.
Here's exactly how we went from finding a property to getting the keys – all from the UK.
Important Caveat
Sara wanted me to add this: We would never have done this if we didn't already know the buildings.
We'd visited Dubai before and fell in love with two buildings:
- One Park Avenue
- Waves Grande
We knew the amenities, the area, the quality. That gave us confidence to commit remotely.
If you haven't visited, I'd recommend at least one scouting trip first.
The Broker Who Let Us Down
My first deal fell through. I thought it was done – told Sara we had a place.
The broker was responsive. Every 10-15 minutes, detailed answers. Then radio silence for 2 days.
They knew I was on a tight timeline.
Two days later:
"The landlord wants an extra 10,000 AED for the year."
It felt like a tactic. Out of principle, I dug my heels in. Categorically not.
Lesson: If they treat you like that before you've even moved in, imagine how they'll be when there's a problem with the apartment in 6 months.
Back to square one.
The Broker Who Got It Done
Went back to Bayut. Started hitting up brokers again.
Found Wiam at Luxbridge.
(Not affiliated – just sharing our experience.)
Level of professionalism: excellent.
- Responsive
- Detailed answers
- Accommodating to our specific questions
- Transparent about issues
The Full Timeline
May 11 – Found It, Secured It
A lot happened on May 11.
Morning: Found the apartment on Bayut, reached out via WhatsApp.
Afternoon: Zoom call with Wiam. Full walkthrough of the property.
Sara has this thing about the balcony. We literally asked him to count tiles so we could work out the space. (There's a pillar on ours – needed to know if furniture would fit.)
He also spotted and flagged water damage from recent floods. Said if we took the property, it would be fixed before we arrived.
Evening: Negotiation.
- Listed price: 175,000 AED/year
- Negotiated to: 165,000 AED/year
Some landlords give sharper rates for fewer checks. Ours didn't mind – we opted for 4 checks (quarterly payments).
Same day:
- Received title deed and landlord's passport (proves ownership)
- Transferred 5% security deposit to secure the property
Property locked up. All in one day.
May 12 – The Checks Problem
Dubai runs on physical checks. Actual paper. Feels old-fashioned for such a forward-thinking place, but that's how it works.
Problem: I'm in the UK. Can't write a check and hand it over.
Solution: A trusted friend in Dubai met Wiam and wrote four checks on my behalf.
Process:
- Sent friend cash for first quarter
- Friend wrote 4 checks
- First check cashed by landlord
- Other 3 held on file
- When I landed, I went to Luxbridge, got friend's checks back
- Wrote 3 new postdated checks from my account
- Signed paperwork confirming the swap
May 15 – Tenancy Contract Signed
All via WhatsApp. Documents, scans, signatures.
May 20 – Water Damage Fixed
Wiam sent a video showing the repairs were complete. Also filled in KYC (Know Your Customer) document – basic info, takes 5 minutes.
May 23 – Keys!
Landed early morning. Went to hotel, got 4 hours sleep, jumped in a cab to Luxbridge.
Met Wiam in person for the first time. Wrote the replacement checks (my handwriting is like a 7-year-old's – first time I've ever written a check).
Got the keys.
We had a home.
Total Costs
| Item | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Annual rent | 165,000 |
| Security deposit (5%) | 8,250 |
| Broker fee (5%) | 8,250 |
| Total all-in | 181,500 |
Paid quarterly: 41,250 AED per check.
Understanding Checks
When you see listings on Bayut, you'll see:
- 1 check: Full year upfront (biggest discount usually)
- 4 checks: Quarterly payments
- 12 checks: Monthly (rare, less common)
- Checks negotiable: Ask
More checks = less upfront, but sometimes higher total price.
Rent Increase Protection
Good news: Dubai has laws limiting how much landlords can increase rent.
The Dubai Land Department has a rental index calculator. Landlords can only increase within certain percentages based on how far below market rate you're paying.
This gave us confidence signing a 1-year lease in an area with construction growth.
🔗 Check the Dubai Land Department website
What You Need Before You Start
- Emirates ID – Required for checkbook
- Bank account – Required for checkbook
- Physical checkbook – Required for tenancy contract
- Passport copy – For broker
Get these sorted before you start apartment hunting.
Broker Red Flags
- Voice messages instead of written answers
- Vague responses to specific questions
- Going silent when they know you're on a deadline
- Last-minute price increases
- Pressure to skip due diligence
Broker Green Flags
- Responsive (within reason)
- Detailed, constructive answers
- Proactively flags issues (like the water damage)
- Transparent about process and timelines
- Professional communication
"Go with your gut. If they're going to treat you badly now, imagine how they'll be when something goes wrong with the apartment."
The 72-Hour Furnishing Challenge
We had 3 nights in a hotel. The plan was: land, get keys, furnish the entire apartment before checking out.
We nailed it.
But that's a whole other story:
Quick Recap
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 11 | Found apartment, Zoom tour, negotiated, secured |
| May 12 | Friend wrote checks in Dubai |
| May 15 | Tenancy contract signed (WhatsApp) |
| May 20 | Water damage fixed, KYC completed |
| May 23 | Landed, got keys |
12 days from finding it to holding the keys.
Would We Do It Again?
Yes – but only because:
- We already knew the buildings
- We found a trustworthy broker
- We had a friend who could help with checks
If you're doing this completely cold, I'd recommend at least one scouting trip first.
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It's a lot of money. It's a leap of faith. But with the right broker and a clear process, it's absolutely doable. 🔑