Marks-£300K-Dilemma-UK-Property-vs-Dubai–Where-Would-you-Invest

Mark’s £300K Dilemma: UK Property vs Dubai – Where Would You Invest?

July 11, 20252 min read

Meet Mark, a 42-year-old British professional sitting on £300,000 in savings. After years of watching his UK pension fund crawl and the housing market stagnate, he decides it’s time to invest in real estate.

Mark’s £300K Dilemma: UK Property vs Dubai – Where Would You Invest?

He has two choices:

  • Buy a flat in the UK – familiar, but slow returns and high taxes

  • Explore Dubai – newer market, but growing, tax-free, and globally in demand

Here’s what happens when Mark dives deeper.

Option 1: Buying Property in the UK

Buying Property in the UK
  • Property Price: £300,000

  • Stamp Duty + Legal Fees: ~£10,000

  • Rental Yield: ~3.5% = £10,500/year

  • Tax on Rental Income (20–40%): ~£2,000–£4,000/year

  • Council Tax + Maintenance: ~£2,000/year

  • Mortgage? Yes, but with high UK interest rates (now over 5%)

After 5 Years:

  • Gross earnings: ~£52,500

  • Net after tax and expenses: ~£35,000–£38,000

  • Capital Gains Tax & 40% Inheritance Tax apply

  • House price growth in UK (2023–2024): just -1.3% (Nationwide)

  • Net outcome: Low yield, high tax, limited growth.

Option 2: Investing in Dubai Real Estate

Investing in Dubai Real Estate
  • Mark considers Dubai—and he’s surprised by the flexibility.

  • 20% Down Payment = ~£60,000

  • NO mortgage needed upfront

  • Monthly plan: Pay the rest 30–50% over 2–5 years

  • Post-handover: Flip it, rent it, or take a mortgage

  • Rental Yield: 8–10% = ~£24,000/year on full value

  • No Stamp Duty, No Income Tax, No Property Tax

  • Property price growth in Dubai (2023): 19% average (CBRE)

  • 2024 forecast: 9–12% growth (Knight Frank)

After 5 Years:

  • £120,000 earned tax-free

  • Potential resale gain of 20–30%

  • No inheritance or capital gains tax

  • Mortgage can be activated later to release cash

  • Mark realises: Dubai is not just property—it's a strategy.

What Convinced Mark?

  • UK real estate has stalled

  • Dubai offers flexibility, zero taxes, and rental demand

  • He only needs to deploy 20% now and can build the asset gradually

  • Future exit options: resale, mortgage, or high-yield rental

Brighton to Burj – Built by Someone Like Mark

Mark didn’t know the Dubai market. Until he found Brighton to Burj, a boutique real estate advisory founded by Amit, a British national who lived in the UK for 15+ years.

Amit understood the real pain points:

  • Inheritance tax

  • Stamp duty

  • Market fatigue

  • Mortgage stress

  • Legal confusion overseas

Brighton to Burj offers end-to-end guidance tailored for UK-based investors.

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