On 8 October 2026, Lucretia posted a 60-second Instagram video in which adviser Belen answers 20 yes-or-no questions on Dubai and Abu Dhabi real estate. Off-plan, crypto, handover delays, Palm Jebel Ali: here is what investors should take away.
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Investing in Dubai real estate, in yes-or-no form: in a post published on 8 October 2026 on our Instagram account @lucretia_immobilier, Lucretia put Belen, one of the firm's advisers, through a simple exercise. One minute on the clock and a single rule: answer "yes" or "no". Of the twenty or so questions, half deal directly with investment: buying remotely, off-plan in 2026, paying in cryptocurrency, Abu Dhabi versus Dubai, developer punctuality, the potential of Palm Jebel Ali. The other half takes you behind the scenes of the job. These short answers offer a candid reading of the market, and we expand on them here.
@lucretia_immobilier · 8 October 2026
60 seconds. As many questions as possible. One rule: answer "yes" or "no". We put Belen in the hot seat: off-plan, crypto, Abu Dhabi versus Dubai, behind the scenes of the job and personal anecdotes… She never saw it coming. Which answer surprised you most? And what would you have said? Tell us in the comments. Planning an investment in Dubai or Abu Dhabi? Send us a direct message, we reply in French. #ImmobilierDubai #InvestirADubai #AbuDhabi #ExpatDubai #LucretiaImmobilier
Key takeaways
- On 8 October 2026, Lucretia posted a 60-second Instagram video in which adviser Belen answers some twenty yes-or-no questions about real estate in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Asked on 8 October 2026, Belen confirms that you can invest in Dubai without ever having been there, and that off-plan is still a good deal in 2026.
- In the same video, Belen confirms that you can buy property in Dubai with cryptocurrency.
- According to Belen, Dubai developers do not always deliver on the announced dates, and the number of projects being launched is not excessive.
- Asked whether Palm Jebel Ali will match the success of Palm Jumeirah, Belen answers "no, better", and she does not see Abu Dhabi as "the new Dubai".
Buying remotely, off-plan or with crypto: three "yeses" that need a framework
Yes, you can invest in Dubai without ever setting foot there: that was Belen's first answer, and it is our day-to-day practice. Viewings are done by video, documents are signed remotely and a local representative can act for the buyer at key stages. The freehold framework, which gives foreigners full ownership in designated areas, keeps the process clear.
Yes, too, to off-plan in 2026. Buying off-plan lets you get into a project early, with a payment plan spread through to handover. And yes to crypto: some developers and intermediaries accept cryptocurrencies, with conversion and compliance checks. In every case, the source of funds must be documented from the outset.
What matters is the method: check the developer, the project's escrow account and the payment schedule before signing. To place these choices in the current cycle, our guide Dubai property market: trends and outlook takes stock.
Developers don't always deliver on time: the "no" that protects investors
No, developers don't always deliver on schedule, and Belen says so plainly. A late handover pushes back the letting date, and with it the first rent payment. Build it into your financing plan rather than let it catch you out.
That is also why we don't work with every developer, another "no" in the video. We favour those with a proven delivery record and finish quality. As for whether too many projects are being launched, Belen's answer is no: new supply meets demand driven by a steady influx of residents. But location and developer make all the difference between two otherwise similar properties.
Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Jumeirah, Abu Dhabi: markets to compare, not confuse
On Palm Jebel Ali, Belen goes further than the question: she expects it to outperform Palm Jumeirah. It is a conviction born on the ground, shared by some of our clients. The relaunched artificial island offers a second chance to those who missed the first Palm in its early days.
Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, is not "the new Dubai". The capital follows its own path, with a tighter market and different demand. The two emirates complement each other within a portfolio, depending on each investor's profile and time horizon.
What this means for investors
Our takeaway from the exercise: the most useful answers are often the most nuanced. Buying remotely, off-plan or with crypto is possible in Dubai, and common. But each option calls for rigorous checks on the developer, the escrow account and the source of funds. Handover delays, which Belen readily acknowledges, should be factored into rental yield calculations from day one.
On tax, individuals in Dubai pay no tax on rental income or on property capital gains. Acquisition costs and your tax position in your country of residence need to be reviewed case by case. Our guide Dubai property tax: what an investor really pays covers these items in detail.
On Palm Jebel Ali as elsewhere, no capital gain is guaranteed: entry price, delivery timeline and your resale horizon determine whether a deal makes sense. Lucretia helps you test these convictions against your own project, from choosing the developer to receiving the keys.
Source: Original Instagram post (@lucretia_immobilier) — 8 October 2026
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About the author
Sofiane ABDELAZIZ
Real Estate Consultant
Sofiane is a real estate investment expert in Dubai with a solid background in finance and investment strategy. He specializes in financial market analysis and risk management, treating real estate as a true asset class. After gaining experience in the secondary market, he moved into Off Plan investment, developing in-depth knowledge of the Dubai real estate market. At Lucretia Immobilier, he supports an international clientele in acquiring high-potential properties with a structured, transparent, and performance-driven approach.
