Development entry office · Dubai

We take Russian developers into the Dubai market — from the land plot to the sales of the first project

Registering a company is a small part of the journey. We bring the whole chain together: strategy, land, corporate structure, DLD/RERA licences, banks and escrow, local consultants and contractors, marketing and sales through a broker network.

We handle:
0+

years in the Dubai market

0+

brokers in our sales database

0

turnkey infrastructure streams

Financial analyst’s calculation · October 2026

The same building in Russia and in Dubai: where a developer earns more

8%21%
160k260k
1 3002 000
Key project metrics: Russia vs Dubai
MetricRussia vs DubaiDifference
Where the revenue goesRUB per 1 m² of sold area
LandConstruction and designSalesBank and taxesProfit
Developer cash by monthcumulative cash flow, RUB M

Below zero means your money is tied up in the project. In Russia, revenue is frozen in escrow until the building is completed; in Dubai, escrow is released as construction progresses.

01 · Escrow

Construction is funded by buyers, not the bank

In Russia, buyers’ money sits in escrow until the building is completed, while construction runs on credit. Escrow coverage of debt has fallen to 65%. In Dubai, RERA releases escrow by construction stage after an engineer’s inspection.

02 · Cost of money

14% vs 4.4%

The Bank of Russia key rate is 14%; the uncovered part of a project loan is priced at around the key rate + 3–5 pp. EIBOR 3M is 4.44%, and a construction loan in the UAE costs around 7.5% per annum.

03 · Taxes

25% vs 9% on profit

In Russia, profit tax is 25%. VAT of 22% stays in the cost base: residential sales are VAT-exempt and input VAT is not recoverable. In the UAE, corporate tax is 9%, the first sale of residential property is subject to VAT at 0%, and input VAT is recoverable.

04 · Price per metre

Construction costs the same, but each metre sells for twice as much

Including cost inflation, construction and design come to about RUB 150k/m² in Russia and around RUB 165k/m² in Dubai. The sale price is about RUB 200k/m² versus AED 1,650/ft² (≈ RUB 400k/m²).

Who we are

We help developers and investors from Russia and the CIS enter the Dubai property market systematically — without costly trial and error that eats up months and millions of dirhams. Legal, sales and construction — under one roof at ATM group.

Legal protection
“Dubai is a very specific market: every step here has its own legal nuance, and a mistake cannot be fixed with money afterwards. We have walked this path ourselves, we know the details and we have the connections that make it safe. We will guide you personally from the first meeting to the keys — and, above all, protect you legally at every stage.”
Tahir Abu AbdullahSenior Partner, ATM group · Legal
  • Company and transaction structuring
  • DLD · RERA · DET
  • Contracts with contractors and banks
  • Protecting the developer’s interests
Sales and broker network
“Building is only half the job. What matters is selling in a way that leaves a profit. We have 15 years of combined experience in real estate sales: we build a turnkey sales team, start sales at the foundation stage and make sure revenue stays on plan.”
Mikhail OskarPartner, ATM group · Sales and distribution · OSKOR Real Estate
0%of new-build sales in Dubai go through brokers
0+brokers in our network we connect to your project
0 yearsof the team’s combined experience in real estate sales
Marketing and positioning
"A new developer just entering Dubai doesn't have a track record in this market yet — brokers and investors don't know them. Our job is to build trust and positioning from scratch: which layouts and unit sizes to start with, how to package the team and project for the market, which visuals and 3D will land on the first approach. For us, marketing and the IT platform are what build a reputation when you don't have a history yet."
Anton SafronovPartner, ATM group · Marketing and positioning
  • Project brand and positioning
  • Product choice: layouts and unit sizes
  • Packaging for brokers and investors
  • 3D visualization, events, digital promotion
Mikhail’s YouTube channel

Dvigay Nedvizhimost

Project reviews, sales launches and real life in the UAE — how the Dubai market looks from the inside.

Binghatti Mercedes-Benz Places · unique purchase terms in DubaiOctober 2026
Latest episodes
The challenge

“Set up a company in 3 days” is not a market entry strategy

A developer in Dubai needs the full chain: land, the right corporate structure, developer registration, local licensed consultants and contractors, banking compliance, permits, escrow and a sales model. Mistakes at the start are the most expensive.

Those who have not worked here ask two hundred questions about construction economics: material prices, crews, approval timelines, what a plot costs in a specific district. We have an answer with numbers for each one.— from the BuildUAE team’s practice
  1. Free zone instead of mainlandA free zone licence does not allow construction or development on the mainland without a separate permit.
  2. Land under one company, registration under anotherWithout a proper development agreement, DLD will not register the project or open an escrow account.
  3. A “nominal” engineer for the licenceDubai Municipality verifies the qualifications and registration of professionals — this is not a formality.
  4. Marketing before permitsAdvertising off-plan without a Trakheesi permit, project registration and escrow is a direct violation.
  5. A bank account “on a promise”Accounts are opened based on UBO transparency, source of funds and the project’s economic rationale — not on personal connections.
Turnkey infrastructure

8 services — one team and one budget

Each module can be ordered separately, but the greatest effect comes from combining them: decisions on land, structure, construction and sales are made together from the very start.

01

Strategy and feasibility

Choosing the segment and product before buying land.

  • Demand, competitors, prices, unit mix
  • Preliminary budget and cost plan
  • Investment model, cash flow, risk scenarios
Learn more
02

Land and plots

Sourcing freehold plots with regard to zoning, density and potential.

  • Private database of plots by district
  • Due diligence: title, designated area, restrictions
  • Transaction, JV, work with the master developer
Learn more
03

Legal structure and licences

Companies built around real roles: landowner, developer, sales.

  • SPV + developer entity on the mainland (DET)
  • Real estate development, Trakheesi/RERA
  • Development / JV agreement
Learn more
04

Banks, escrow and compliance

Step-by-step entry into the UAE banking system with a prepared KYC package.

  • UBO, source of wealth / source of funds
  • First account → expanding partner banks
  • Escrow, VAT, corporate tax, reporting
Learn more
05

Design, permits and construction

We select a licensed engineering consultant and general contractor, manage approvals and supervise construction on the client’s side — through to completion.

  • Concept, architecture, BOQ, tender
  • Building permit from Dubai Municipality
  • Power and water — DEWA, Civil Defence
  • NOC master developer, district cooling, telecom
  • Checking the contractor’s category and capacity
  • Schedule, site supervision, HSE and quality control
  • Completion certificate and handover
  • Our pool of vetted local contractors
Learn more
06

Sales and broker network

Sales channels for off-plan and ready properties.

  • Network of 4,900+ brokers
  • Turnkey developer sales team
  • Payment plans, Oqood, resale programme
Learn more
07

Marketing and 3D presentations

Positioning for local and international buyers.

  • Project brand and go-to-market
  • Floor plans, 3D, presentations
  • Launch event for brokers
Learn more
08

Project financing

Capital for construction and bank guarantees.

  • UAE banks: guarantees against 30% security
  • Private funds and co-investors
  • Equity and tranche structure
  • Framework agreements with partner banks
Learn more
Not sure where to start?

Start with a strategy session

2–3 hours with experts: we will review your budget, segment and entry route. The $1,500 fee is credited towards the Entry Blueprint package.

Book a session
Entry strategies

Two routes to the market — chosen to fit your capital

A new developer in Dubai does not start with a skyscraper: access to large projects opens up as a proven track record builds. There are two practical ways to take this path.

Route A · your own brand

The developer ladder: from villas to high-rise

Step 1Villas, townhouses
Step 2Low / mid-rise
Step 3High-rise, mixed use

Plots for low-rise development are easier to find and cheaper to buy: competition for them is lower than for tower sites. The first project builds the developer’s track record with DLD and opens the door to the next ones.

  • Smaller initial ticket and lower risk
  • Your own brand on the market from the first project
Route B · collaboration

Under the wing of a local developer

Your companycapital, team, construction experience
JV
Local developerlicences, DLD track record, access to land

You enter a partner’s project, backed by its licences and proven track record, under a development or JV agreement. Suitable if the goal is a large project right away. We select the partner, prepare the deal structure and the allocation of roles.

  • Fast access to large projects
  • Leverage existing licences and connections
How market entry works

7 stages: from diagnostics to handover

Each stage has a deliverable, timeline, budget and an owner. Payment is made stage by stage: you see what you are paying for before work begins.

Sales

We sell the project before construction is complete

Around 80% of new-build sales in Dubai go through brokers. That is why we plan sales at the start of the project, not after completion: packaging, presentation to the broker community, and an off-plan launch immediately after project registration and escrow.

4,900+ brokersOur own database of agents and agencies for distribution

3D and presentationsFloor plans and visualisations from a partner studio experienced in working with Russian developers

Launch eventProject presentation to brokers and investors in Dubai and online

Resale programmeWorking with the buyer base: resales and repeat deals

Broker networkUAE agents and agencies4 900+
Developer sales teamscripts, CRM, trainingCRM
Off-plan via escrowafter the Trakheesi permitOqood
Deals and resalerepeat sales from the baseDLD
Packages and pricing

Start with diagnostics — then pay stage by stage

First, a consulting package: budget, detailed analysis, roadmap. After that, a support agreement for the selected modules with fixed stage prices and a success fee where we are accountable for the result.

Step 12–3 hours

Strategy session

A review of your objective, budget and timeline. You will understand whether entry is realistic and which route is yours.

$1 500
≈ AED 5,500 · credited towards Entry Blueprint
  • Meeting at our Dubai office or online
  • Express assessment of budget and segment
  • Route A or B, initial risks
  • Meeting summary and next step
Book
Recommended4–6 weeks

Entry Blueprint

Consulting package: full entry planning before land purchase and company registration.

$14 900
≈ AED 55,000 · 50% credited towards support
  • Market, product and unit mix analysis
  • 3 plot scenarios with price benchmarks
  • Preliminary budget and cost plan
  • Financial model: escrow, 30% security, cash flow
  • Company structure: SPV + developer entity
  • Regulatory map: DLD, DM, DEWA, NOC
  • Banking strategy and KYC checklist
  • Sales plan and marketing budget
Order the package
Step 312–36 mo.

Turnkey support

Development entry office: we manage the project from structure and land through to sales and handover.

from $9,500/ mo.
+ fixed fee per stage and success fee under the agreement
  • Dedicated project manager
  • All 8 modules in one budget
  • Coordination of lawyers, consultants and contractors
  • Monthly budget and timeline report
  • Sales through a network of 4,900+ brokers
Discuss your project
ModuleWhat’s includedPrice
Structure and finance
Corporate structureSPV and developer entity on the mainland, DET, real estate development, Trakheesi registrationfrom $12,000
Banks and complianceKYC/UBO/source of funds package, support with account opening (bank decision not guaranteed)from $4,500 / entity
Taxes and reportingVAT and corporate tax registration, project reportingfrom $1,200 / mo.
Land
Plot sourcingSearch, negotiations, transaction support2–4% of the plot price
Plot due diligenceTitle, designated area, zoning, restrictions, infrastructure, master developer NOCfrom $7,500
JV / development agreementPartner search, deal structure, allocation of roles and risksfrom $15,000 + success fee
Design and construction
Budget and tenderCost plan, BOQ, tender and general contractor vettingfrom $15,000
Permits and approvalsBuilding permit, DEWA, Civil Defence, master developer, telecom, district coolingfrom $25,000 by stage
Project registration and escrowDLD package, 30% security, escrow account openingfrom $10,000
Client’s representativeSite supervision, schedule, HSE, quality control, acceptance and handover1.5–3% of the construction budget
Sales and marketing
Marketing packageProject brand, floor plans, 3D, presentations, website, Trakheesi permitsfrom $25,000
Launch eventProject presentation to the broker community and investorsfrom $15,000
Turnkey sales teamHiring, CRM, scripts, training, payment plansfrom $20,000 + % of sales
Distribution via brokersConnection to a network of 4,900+ brokers, commission management% of the deal under the agreement
Financing
Capital raisingUAE banks, bank guarantees, private funds and co-investors1–2% of funds raised

Prices exclude 5% VAT, government duties and fees (for example, the annual DLD fee for real estate development activity — AED 25,000), and the services of licensed lawyers, engineering consultants and contractors, which are paid under their own contracts. We do not guarantee the decisions of banks or government authorities, or sales results — we prepare the project so that the risks of refusal are minimal and known in advance.

Transparent roles

Who is responsible for what in your project

We are the project’s management centre. Licensed functions are performed by those who hold the licence: the regulator requires it, and it is safer for you.

BuildUAE

Development entry office

Strategy, budget, selection and supervision of all parties, budget and timelines, communication with you in Russian. A single point of accountability for the route.

Discuss your project
UAE lawyers

Transactions and corporate law

Licensed UAE lawyers and a law practice with over 30 years of experience: contracts, SPA, JV, legal opinions.

Engineering consultant

Design and Municipality submissions

Design and technical approvals within the consultant’s licence.

General contractor

Construction

A licensed contractor with the right category, in-house engineers and an HSE system.

Banks

Accounts, escrow, guarantees

The bank makes the decision following due diligence. We prepare the package and support the process.

Who it’s for

Who we work with

We are a fit for companies with real development experience and capital that lack local infrastructure in the UAE.

Developers from Russia and the CIS

With projects at home, but no legal entities, banks, contractors or sales in the UAE.

Owners and top management

Deciding to diversify business and capital beyond Russia.

Investment groups

Planning a residential or mixed-use project in Dubai and looking for an operating team.

Construction companies

Looking to enter the Dubai market as a developer or as a partner to a local developer.

FAQ

Developer FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Ask at the strategy session and we’ll work through it using your project’s numbers.

Contacts

Ready to discuss your project in Dubai?

Leave a request — we’ll review your objective and propose a market entry route tailored to your budget, timeline and goals.

  • We review your budget, land plot and timeline
  • We build the entry route and ROI calculation
  • We respond within one business day
Address11 Street 14, Sector, Dubai, UAE

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