Family office style project support

Dubai property is often sold as a simple choice between “yield” and “lifestyle”. In reality it is a cash flow and risk management exercise, wrapped in emotions, timing, and a fast-moving market. The most common mistake we see is not choosing the “wrong” building, it is buying or renting without a decision framework, without clear screening criteria, and without understanding how fees, service charges, financing, and resale liquidity affect outcomes.

CGI is not a real estate broker. We do not sell units, we do not push stock, and we are not paid to steer you towards what generates the highest commission. We act as an advisor and project lead, helping you decide where to live or invest based on your objectives, constraints, and risk tolerance, then coordinating execution with trusted third parties where needed. If a broker is involved, broker fees may still apply. Our role is to make sure you are making a decision you can defend, not a decision you later have to justify.

For secondary purchases, a common broker model is a buyer-side agent commission of around 2 percent of the purchase price, plus VAT where applicable.

 

For rentals, agent fees are commonly around 5 percent of annual rent, plus VAT where applicable, paid by the tenant. Security deposits are typically around 5 percent of annual rent for unfurnished, and higher for furnished properties, with exact terms varying by landlord.

 

For off-plan purchases, broker remuneration is often paid by the developer rather than the buyer, which can be commercially convenient, but it also creates an incentive problem if the buyer has not separated advice from sales.

 

All of the above should be treated as market norms rather than fixed rules, and we encourage clients to confirm fees, VAT treatment, and terms on each transaction.

We start with your real objective, not the property brochure.

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Are you optimising for stability, schools, commute and lifestyle.

Are you prioritising total cost control.

Are you aiming for capital preservation, rental income, or a blended approach.

Are you likely to exit in 18 months, three years, or hold long-term.

 

Those answers determine the right areas and the right property type far more than headline ROI claims.

Screening criteria that matches your mandate. We define non-negotiables, nice-to-haves, and red flags. For example, building quality, developer track record, service charge levels, parking and access, noise profiles, practical layout, and resale liquidity. For investors, we add tenant demand drivers, vacancy risk, realistic rent assumptions, and sensitivity to service charges and financing.

Cash flow oversight and total cost clarity. We map the full holding cost, not just the purchase price or rent. Service charges, maintenance, insurance, utilities, furnishing, renewal costs, vacancy buffers, transaction fees, and financing costs if applicable.

 

This is where “good deals” often stop looking good.

Decision points that prevent rushed commitments. Dubai moves quickly, but speed without structure is how people overpay. We create a simple decision cadence, what you decide first, what evidence you require before committing, and what would cause you to walk away.

 

This stops escalation of commitment, especially when pressure is applied by timelines or sales tactics.

Documentation discipline and counterparty coordination. Whether renting or buying, we help keep the process clean. Offer terms, reservation steps, proof of funds, mortgage AIP where relevant, document checklists, and a single narrative that banks and counterparties can work with.

 

The goal is fewer surprises and fewer last-minute negotiations.

Renters often need speed, but still benefit from a framework. We help shortlist areas, set realistic budgets, align school and commute realities, and avoid “cheap rent traps” that later cost more through poor building management, high utilities, noise, or constant maintenance issues.

Buyers benefit from deeper diligence and scenario planning. We support both end-users and investors with structured comparisons and a practical view of liquidity, service charges, and exit pathways. If you need a broker to execute viewings and access inventory, we will coordinate that, but our role remains independent and outcome-led.

We typically work on a fixed fee, a scoped project fee, or a monthly retainer depending on complexity and urgency. We do not position ourselves as a substitute for broker execution, legal conveyancing, or regulated mortgage advice.

 

We coordinate with those parties when required, and we keep the plan coherent so you do not have to manage five parallel conversations.

Clients should feel comfortable because you will not be pushed into a decision that benefits the sales chain more than it benefits you.

 

CGI is smaller, senior-led, and built around accountability.

 

You tell your story once, we run a disciplined process, and you get a clear route from decision to implementation.

If you are considering renting or buying in Dubai, or you already own property and want more control over performance and risk, send CGI your objective, timeline, and a rough budget range.

 

We will revert with a short scope, a practical screening framework, and an execution plan that keeps decisions clean, calm, and commercially grounded.