Can a UAE resident buy property in Miami, Portugal, Costa Rica or Medellín?

Generally yes, all five destinations allow foreign buyers to purchase residential property, though the specific process and any conditions should be confirmed with a local lawyer in the country you are buying in.

Do I need to travel to complete a purchase?

Often only once. Much of the search and negotiation can be conducted remotely, with a single trip typically timed around final viewings or the closing itself.

How does a remote transaction typically work from the UAE?

Video walkthroughs and shared documents replace in-person visits early on, calls are scheduled around both the UAE and destination country's working days, and a local attorney manages the legal steps with regular written updates.

Does buying property grant residency?

We do not advise on residency or visa matters. Ownership alone does not confer residency in any of the five destinations; eligibility for any residency route should be discussed with a qualified immigration lawyer in that country.

Which destination suits a first purchase abroad?

Miami and Portugal are typically the most accessible starting points, given direct flight connectivity, established international buyer bases and familiar transaction structures.

How is Calle International engaged?

We begin with a conversation about your goals, intended use and budget, then coordinate viewings, local professionals and the transaction process through to closing.

Curated international property in one of Calle International's five markets

Buyers from the United Arab Emirates

Property in the Americas and Europe for buyers based in the UAE

Calle International works with buyers based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to source and close on residential property in Miami, Portugal, Costa Rica and Medellín, coordinating the process across time zones and currencies.

Market Overview

Dubai · Abu Dhabi

Private International Consultation International Buyer Consultation

Buyers based in the UAE are accustomed to a genuinely international property market at home, and that experience carries over directly into how they approach Miami and Lisbon in particular: both offer familiar transaction structures, English used widely in Miami's case, and an existing base of buyers from the Gulf. A second home outside the region often reflects a mix of motives — family time during the summer when Gulf heat is at its most intense, diversification of currency and jurisdiction, and in some cases a base near family members studying or working abroad.

The long-haul nature of a purchase in Costa Rica or Medellín from the UAE is real, with limited direct connectivity and long total travel times, so buyers considering those destinations tend to plan for fewer, longer visits rather than frequent short trips. Miami and Lisbon, by contrast, sit within a single long-haul flight and fit more easily into a pattern of regular use. Across all five markets, video walkthroughs, digital document signing and a local attorney handling the legal steps have become the norm, with travel reserved for the later stages of a transaction.

Calle International schedules calls to work around the standard Friday-Saturday weekend observed in the UAE as well as the differing weekend in the destination country, and keeps a written record of every step so a buyer travelling for business is never left waiting on a single real-time conversation to move a transaction forward.

Relevant Destinations

How our five markets read from United Arab Emirates.

Miami

Miami's existing base of Latin American, European and Gulf buyers, English-language contracts and direct flight from the UAE make it one of the most straightforward destinations for a first US purchase. Brickell and Sunny Isles Beach suit condominium living, while Coral Gables and Coconut Grove suit families wanting a house.

Miami market guide

Portugal

Lisbon sits within a manageable flight from the UAE and offers a European base with year-round mild weather relative to Gulf summers. Cascais suits families wanting coastal living near the capital, while the Algarve and Comporta offer quieter, more resort- or retreat-oriented alternatives.

Portugal market guide

Costa Rica

The travel time from the UAE is substantial and worth weighing carefully against realistic frequency of use. For buyers proceeding, Guanacaste and Papagayo offer developed resort infrastructure, while Nosara and Santa Teresa suit a quieter, design-oriented second home.

Costa Rica market guide

Madrid

Madrid works for buyers who want a European base with strong onward connectivity to the rest of Europe and Latin America. Prime apartments in Salamanca and Chamberí are the most established segment, with La Moraleja villas for those relocating with families.

Madrid market guide

Medellín

Medellín is the furthest in practical travel terms from the UAE and suits a narrower group, typically those with existing business or family connections to Latin America. El Poblado and Provenza are the most internationally recognised neighbourhoods for those who do pursue it.

Medellín market guide

Typical Buyer Profiles

Family offices and private investors: Diversifying a portion of a broader portfolio into US and European real estate alongside existing UAE and regional holdings.
Entrepreneurs and business owners: Individuals with international business interests who want a second base for personal use and occasional work travel.
Families seeking summer relief: Households looking for a property in a cooler climate for extended summer stays away from Gulf heat.
Globally mobile professionals: Expatriates and UAE nationals with careers or family ties that already span multiple countries, comfortable managing a property they do not occupy year-round.

Lifestyle Opportunities

Weekend and calendar alignment: The UAE's Friday-Saturday weekend differs from the destination country's schedule, so meetings and viewings are planned with both calendars in mind.
Climate contrast: Miami's humid summers, Lisbon's mild but rainy winters, and Costa Rica's wet season all differ from the Gulf's dry heat and are worth experiencing directly before committing to a season of ownership.
Language: English is widely used in Miami's property market and increasingly in Portugal's international transactions; Spanish documents in Costa Rica and Medellín are handled by bilingual local counsel.
Property management while away: A local management company matters for any home occupied only part of the year, arranged at purchase so the property is maintained between visits.

Investment Perspective

A property outside the UAE diversifies currency exposure beyond the dirham's peg to the US dollar and beyond a single regional real estate cycle.
Recurring costs vary meaningfully across the five markets: US property tax and association dues, Portuguese municipal taxes, and Costa Rican or Colombian equivalents each need separate budgeting.
Resale liquidity is generally stronger in Miami and Lisbon's established international segments than in Costa Rica's seasonal coastal towns or Medellín's more locally driven market.
A property intended mainly as a family second home should be assessed differently from one intended mainly to generate rental income, since the best-located home for personal use is not always the strongest rental performer.
Tax treatment of foreign property differs by country of citizenship and residence, and should be reviewed with qualified professionals in the destination country and, where relevant, wherever else the buyer is tax resident.

Property Opportunities

Waterfront condominiums in Miami: Brickell, Edgewater and Sunny Isles Beach towers offering amenity-rich, lock-and-leave living familiar to UAE-based buyers.
Coastal and city apartments in Portugal: Lisbon, Cascais and Porto properties suited to occasional use with strong onward European connectivity.
Resort villas in Guanacaste and Papagayo: Managed properties designed for buyers who will use the home for concentrated periods each year.
Apartments in El Poblado: The most internationally liquid segment of the Medellín market for buyers already active in Latin America.

Featured Properties

Edgewater, Miami

Bayfront Penthouse

A full-floor residence above Biscayne Bay, with stone floors, a private elevator landing and terraces on three sides.

Bedrooms: 4 Bed
Bathrooms: 5 Bath
Size: 412 m² / 4,435 sq ft

$4,850,000

View Property

White contemporary waterfront villa in Miami Beach with private dock

Miami Beach, Miami

Palm Island Residence

A contemporary waterfront home with 30 metres of frontage, a private dock and a mature palm garden.

Bedrooms: 6 Bed
Bathrooms: 7 Bath
Size: 725 m² / 7,800 sq ft

$12,400,000

View Property

Bright Brickell apartment interior with floor-to-ceiling windows

Brickell, Miami

Brickell Skyline Apartment

A corner residence in a serviced Brickell tower, well suited to long-term rental or a city base.

Bedrooms: 2 Bed
Bathrooms: 2 Bath
Size: 128 m² / 1,378 sq ft

$1,150,000

View Property

See all curated properties

Purchase Considerations

Expect a largely remote search process using video walkthroughs and detailed floor plans, with travel reserved for final viewings or closing.
Retain an independent local lawyer in the destination country who reports to you directly and is separate from the developer or selling agent.
Review the available ownership structures — personal name, trust or corporate entity in the US, direct ownership elsewhere — against your own succession and tax planning.
Request a full written breakdown of closing costs and ongoing costs before making an offer, since these differ substantially across the five destinations.
Arrange currency transfers directly with your own bank or a transfer specialist, staging payments against contract milestones to manage exchange rate exposure.
Confirm tax and any residency implications with qualified professionals in both the UAE and the destination country; Calle International coordinates with independent local professionals rather than providing tax or immigration advice.

Calle International provides real estate advisory and introductions only. We do not provide legal, tax, immigration or investment advice; rules and tax treatment vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Please obtain independent advice from qualified professionals in both your country of residence and the country of purchase.

The International Buyer Journey

Five steps, taken in the right order.

01
Discover
We start with your life, not with listings: how you intend to use a property, your investment objectives and which destinations genuinely appeal to you.
02
Curate
We identify the markets, neighbourhoods and property types aligned with those goals, and set aside the ones that do not fit.
03
Explore
You review a short, considered selection — remotely by video and documentation, or in person on a focused visit.
04
Connect
We coordinate with trusted independent local professionals: real estate, legal, tax and any other specialists your situation calls for.
05
Acquire
We stay alongside the transaction, while the appropriate local professionals handle the legal, financial and regulatory steps in their own jurisdiction.

Questions From Buyers in United Arab Emirates

Can a UAE resident buy property in Miami, Portugal, Costa Rica or Medellín?: Generally yes, all five destinations allow foreign buyers to purchase residential property, though the specific process and any conditions should be confirmed with a local lawyer in the country you are buying in.
Do I need to travel to complete a purchase?: Often only once. Much of the search and negotiation can be conducted remotely, with a single trip typically timed around final viewings or the closing itself.
How does a remote transaction typically work from the UAE?: Video walkthroughs and shared documents replace in-person visits early on, calls are scheduled around both the UAE and destination country's working days, and a local attorney manages the legal steps with regular written updates.
Does buying property grant residency?: We do not advise on residency or visa matters. Ownership alone does not confer residency in any of the five destinations; eligibility for any residency route should be discussed with a qualified immigration lawyer in that country.
Which destination suits a first purchase abroad?: Miami and Portugal are typically the most accessible starting points, given direct flight connectivity, established international buyer bases and familiar transaction structures.
How is Calle International engaged?: We begin with a conversation about your goals, intended use and budget, then coordinate viewings, local professionals and the transaction process through to closing.

Private Consultation

Start your international property journey.

How our international advisory works
All international buyer guides

Property in the Americas and Europe for buyers based in the UAE

How our five markets read from United Arab Emirates.

Miami

Portugal

Costa Rica

Madrid

Medellín

Bayfront Penthouse

Palm Island Residence

Brickell Skyline Apartment

Five steps, taken in the right order.

Discover

Curate

Explore

Connect

Acquire

Start your international property journey.