The approach
Advisory, not brokerage.
Most agencies are paid to move inventory. Sthira is engaged to find the right asset for one client, and to say no to everything else. This page explains how that works in practice.
01
The brief
We start with a private conversation: what you want the property to do for you, your horizon, budget, and how hands-on you want to be. Nothing is shown until this is clear.
02
The search
We work the whole market, including what is not listed: private owners, developer allocations, and our own network built over eighteen years.
03
The shortlist
You receive two or three opportunities, each with a written view on price, position and risk. If nothing meets the bar, we tell you that instead.
04
Negotiation and diligence
We negotiate on your behalf, coordinate legal and valuation work, and manage the transaction through to title.
05
After the keys
Handover, tenanting, and ongoing portfolio advice for clients who want a long relationship rather than a single deal.
Also within our remit · UAE only
The paperwork around the purchase.
Finding the property is half the work. The other half is residency, finance, banking and signing authority, and each has its own rules in the UAE. We consult on all four and coordinate the specialists, so you deal with one person.
Property investor and Golden Visa
A 10-year Golden Visa is available on property worth AED 2 million or more, including off-plan from DLD-approved developers and mortgaged purchases once your equity meets the threshold. The 2-year investor visa now applies to any completed, titled Dubai property held by a sole owner; joint owners need a share of at least AED 400,000 each. We prepare the file and manage it through the DLD Cube platform and GDRFA.
Mortgage solutions, resident and non-resident
UAE residents can typically borrow up to 80% on a first completed home under AED 5 million. Non-residents usually see 50 to 65% depending on the bank, and off-plan is capped at 50% for everyone. Total repayments cannot exceed half of gross income. We introduce you to the right lender for your profile and run pre-approval alongside the search, so the offer lands with finance already in place.
Bank account opening
Non-residents can open a UAE savings account, usually in person, with a minimum balance in the AED 25,000 to 100,000 range, six months of home-country statements, and a clear source-of-funds explanation. Residents get full current accounts. We prepare the documentation, introduce you to a relationship manager, and schedule the appointment around your visit.
Power of attorney
Buying from abroad? A power of attorney lets us complete on your behalf. Issued overseas, it must be notarised locally, legalised by the UAE embassy, attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, translated into Arabic by a licensed translator, and registered with Dubai Courts. It must name the specific property and transaction type, and be under two years old. We draft it correctly the first time.
Figures reflect UAE rules as of September 2026 and change often. We confirm the current position for your case before anything is filed. Legal and mortgage work is carried out by licensed partners we coordinate on your behalf.
Who this is for
Built for people who value time over volume.
01
International investors
Buying into the UAE from abroad and wanting a single trusted point of contact on the ground.
How we work with you
02
Portfolio builders
Adding to existing holdings with a clear view on yield, exit and tenancy.
How we work with you
03
End users
Searching for a primary residence and unwilling to spend weekends on viewings that lead nowhere.
How we work with you
Engagement
How we are paid.
Sthira is engaged by you, not by the seller. There is no standard fee: terms are agreed case by case, in writing, at the brief and before any search begins, and reflect the scope of the mandate. We do not accept developer incentives or seller commissions that conflict with your interest, and any arrangement with a lender, lawyer or bank we introduce is disclosed to you in full.
Private enquiry
Start with a brief.
A thirty-minute private conversation is all it takes to know whether we can help.