Zero Income Tax
Rental income retained 100%. UAE imposes no personal income tax on property earnings.
Roya International operates across three main markets (UK, UAE, KSA) and two secondary markets (Oman, Greece). Each profile below is a working investment thesis with real ROI numbers, current risk assessment, and live featured opportunities. Switch between them — or compare them all side-by-side.
Premium Property Investment in the UAE
The UAE — Dubai in particular — combines the highest gross rental yields among mature global cities with a tax-free framework and a 10-year Golden Visa pathway. For investors prioritising capital efficiency and yield, no comparable market exists in the world today.
Rental income retained 100%. UAE imposes no personal income tax on property earnings.
Sale profits are not taxed. Off-plan resale gains stay 100% with the investor.
AED 2M+ property qualifies investor + family for renewable 10-year residency, not tied to employment.
Top global yield environment — 7–11% gross from prime Dubai areas (Marina, Business Bay, JVC, Dubai Hills).
RERA-regulated escrow holds buyer payments and releases against verified construction milestones.
AED pegged to USD at 3.6725 since 1997. Effectively a USD-denominated investment.
Reservation to title deed in 7–14 days for ready property; off-plan booking same-day.
Off-plan payment plans inherently riba-free at the investor level — no interest, just milestones.
Three illustrative scenarios using current pricing and current rental indices. All numbers pre-tax unless noted.
10-year Golden Visa for investor + family
Figures are illustrative based on current market data. Actual returns vary by property selection, tenanting, and market conditions. We model the precise numbers for any property you are considering on our 30-minute strategy call.
Three of our top current UAE selections — pulled live from inventory.
Binghatti
DarGlobal
DarGlobal
Stable Yields. Sterling Cash Flow. AAA Legal Framework.
The UK is the wealth-preservation anchor in any international property portfolio. Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool offer 6–8% gross yields with the regulatory transparency that only a centuries-old land-registry system delivers. Sterling cash flow hedges against emerging-market currency exposure.
HM Land Registry provides cast-iron title clarity. Centuries of property law jurisprudence and predictable enforcement.
Rental income in GBP — natural hedge for sterling-denominated liabilities and university fees.
Specialist mortgages widely available (75% LTV typical), professional letting agents in every city.
University cities and northern regional centres face structural housing undersupply — vacancy rates under 4 weeks.
6–8% gross in Manchester/Birmingham/Liverpool — yields have remained in this band for over a decade.
Selling a UK regional flat typically completes in 8–12 weeks. Far deeper buyer pool than emerging markets.
Non-residents may purchase freehold without restriction. Non-resident landlord scheme handles tax.
Specialist Islamic finance providers (Al Rayan, Gatehouse) offer Murabaha and Ijarah purchase structures.
Three illustrative scenarios using current pricing and current rental indices. All numbers pre-tax unless noted.
Figures are illustrative based on current market data. Actual returns vary by property selection, tenanting, and market conditions. We model the precise numbers for any property you are considering on our 30-minute strategy call.
Three of our top current UK selections — pulled live from inventory.
London Square
London Square (an Aldar company)
Scottish Estates
Vision 2030. Early-Mover Capital. The Decade-Defining Allocation.
Saudi Arabia is the most ambitious nation-scale transformation underway anywhere. Vision 2030 is deploying $1.25 trillion across NEOM, Diriyah, the Red Sea, and Riyadh urban expansion. Property investors entering now position ahead of the demographic wave (60% of Saudis are under 30) and the housing demand of an economy diversifying away from oil.
$1.25T deployment across NEOM, Diriyah, Red Sea, Qiddiya. Property values track infrastructure delivery.
60% of population under 30. Household formation drives housing demand for the next decade.
Foreign investors qualify for renewable Premium Residency with property + income criteria.
No personal income tax on rental income for non-resident or resident individuals.
SAR pegged to USD at 3.75 since 1986. Currency stability for international capital.
PIF (Public Investment Fund) underwrites major developments — implicit sovereign guarantee.
Saudi banking is Sharia-native. All financing structures are inherently riba-free.
Foreign capital still nascent. Entry pricing reflects yield, not yet the full Vision 2030 thesis.
Three illustrative scenarios using current pricing and current rental indices. All numbers pre-tax unless noted.
Speculative; aligned to NEOM phase 1 delivery
Figures are illustrative based on current market data. Actual returns vary by property selection, tenanting, and market conditions. We model the precise numbers for any property you are considering on our 30-minute strategy call.
Three of our top current KSA selections — pulled live from inventory.
Holy City Investments
Eastern Province Housing
NEOM Company
Coastal Calm. Freehold Zones. The Quiet Gulf Alternative.
Oman is the most quietly attractive Gulf market for investors who want regional exposure without Dubai's velocity. Designated Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs) — Al Mouj, Muscat Bay, Saraya Bandar Jissah — offer foreign freehold ownership and family residency. Yields are lower than UAE, but so is competition.
Full freehold ownership in designated Integrated Tourism Complexes for foreign nationals.
Property purchase qualifies investor + family for Oman residency permit.
No personal income tax on rental earnings.
OMR pegged to USD at 0.385 since 1986. One of the strongest pegs in the region.
Lower density than Dubai. Mountain + coastline + cultural depth — attractive for second-home buyers.
Foreign capital still under-allocated relative to UAE — entry pricing reflects fundamentals not hype.
Oman 2040 vision includes major tourism infrastructure investment — supporting short-let yields.
Cash-purchase pathways are inherently riba-free. Islamic finance widely available locally.
Three illustrative scenarios using current pricing and current rental indices. All numbers pre-tax unless noted.
Family residency for primary investor + dependents
Figures are illustrative based on current market data. Actual returns vary by property selection, tenanting, and market conditions. We model the precise numbers for any property you are considering on our 30-minute strategy call.
Three curated Oman opportunities from our advisory pipeline.
Muscat Bay Development
Al Mouj Muscat
Saraya Bandar Jissah
EU Residency. Mediterranean Lifestyle. The Continent's Most Accessible Golden Visa.
Greece is the most accessible EU residency-by-investment programme. From €250,000 (or €500,000 in Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini) you secure a 5-year renewable Golden Visa covering investor, spouse, and dependent children — with Schengen-area mobility. Athens has been one of Europe's strongest property recovery stories: prices up ~110% from the 2017 trough.
5-year renewable residency from €250k (or €500k in prime zones). Family-inclusive. Schengen-area mobility.
EUR exposure — natural diversifier for sterling/dollar-denominated portfolios.
Athens prices up ~110% from 2017 trough — institutional momentum still building.
Combines investment yield with second-home utility. Highest "use-value" of any market we cover.
Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens short-lets achieve 7–10% gross during peak season.
Notarial system, Land Registry, EU consumer protection — title risk is minimal.
Property tax (ENFIA) is modest. Service charges far below UAE/UK comparables.
Continuous Golden Visa renewal can lead to EU citizenship after 7 years of residency.
Three illustrative scenarios using current pricing and current rental indices. All numbers pre-tax unless noted.
5-year EU Golden Visa, family-inclusive, Schengen mobility
Figures are illustrative based on current market data. Actual returns vary by property selection, tenanting, and market conditions. We model the precise numbers for any property you are considering on our 30-minute strategy call.
Three curated Greece opportunities from our advisory pipeline.
Curated EU listing
Curated EU listing
Curated EU listing
The honest comparison. Different markets earn their place for different reasons — these tables make the trade-offs explicit.
| Market | Gross Yield | Net Yield | 10-yr Capital Growth | 2024 Capital Growth | Best ROI Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE · Primary | 7–11% | 5.5–9% | ~62% | +22% | ~57% annualised |
| UK · Primary | 5–8% | 4–6% | ~38% | +2.4% | ~10% pre-tax / ~7% post-tax |
| KSA · Primary | 6–8% | 5–7% | ~45% (Riyadh/Jeddah) | +10% | ~13% annualised |
| Oman · Secondary | 5–7% | 4–6% | ~28% | +6% | ~12% annualised |
| Greece · Secondary | 4–6% | 3–5% | ~85% (Athens recovery) | +7% | ~11.5% annualised |
| Market | Risk Score | Currency Stability | Liquidity | Hold Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Moderate | AED pegged to USD (3.6725) | High — secondary market well-developed | 2–5 years (off-plan resale) or 5–10 years (long-term) | Mature regulator (RERA/DLD) with mandatory escrow. Off-plan delivery risk mitigated by milestone-based escrow releases. Currency stable via USD peg. |
| UK | Low | GBP free-float major currency | Very high — daily transactions in major regional cities | 5–10 years optimal | World-class land registry, mature buy-to-let ecosystem, deep secondary market. Currency volatility is the primary risk for non-GBP investors. |
| KSA | Moderate-High | SAR pegged to USD (3.75) | Moderate — secondary market deepening | 5–10 years (Vision 2030 horizon) | Newer regulatory framework for foreign investors. Premium Residency programme established 2019. Vision 2030 execution risk balanced by sovereign commitment and capital deployment. |
| Oman | Moderate | OMR pegged to USD (0.385) | Moderate — niche secondary market | 7–15 years (lifestyle + appreciation) | Foreign ownership restricted to designated ITC zones. Smaller secondary market than UAE — exit liquidity is moderate. Currency pegged to USD, so currency risk minimal. |
| Greece | Low-Moderate | EUR (Eurozone member) | High in Athens / islands; moderate regional | 5–10 years (Golden Visa cycle) | EU regulatory framework, Eurozone currency, deep title registry. Athens recovery cycle has run for 7 years — entry today is at higher levels. Short-let regulation tightening in major tourist zones. |
| Market | Minimum Investment | ~ GBP Equivalent | Income Tax | Capital Gains Tax | Transfer Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | AED 750,000 | £160,000 | 0% | 0% | 4% DLD (one-off) |
| UK | £215,000 | £215,000 | 20–45% banded | 18–28% | 3–15% SDLT (banded) |
| KSA | SAR 1,200,000 | £255,000 | 0% personal, 5% RETT on transfer | 0% (individual) | 5% RETT (Real Estate Transaction Tax) |
| Oman | OMR 130,000 | £270,000 | 0% personal | 0% | 3% one-off |
| Greece | €250,000 / €500,000 | £215,000 / £430,000 | 15% flat (rental, up to €12k); 35% above | 15% (with allowances) | 3.09% transfer + 0.475% notary |
Each market profiled against five core attributes. Higher = better. Watch where the markets diverge — that's where allocation decisions live.
UAE — 7–11% gross, tax-free retention. UK regional cities are second.
UK — AAA legal framework, deepest liquidity, sterling cash flow.
KSA — Vision 2030 demographic + infrastructure tailwind. UAE second.
UAE for 10-year Golden Visa. Greece for EU Schengen access.
Oman for quiet Gulf luxury. Greece for Mediterranean second-home.
UK + UAE blend. Sterling stability + AED growth + Golden Visa optionality.
Answer 4 quick questions and a senior advisor will deliver a tailored shortlist across the markets that fit your profile — within 60 minutes.