The UAE property market is buoyant once again after changes to mortgage rules and new visa programmes for expatriate retirees and foreign investors boosted sentiment in the sector. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/property/dubai-property-sales-transactions-hit-4-year-high-of-dh10-97bn-in-april-1.1217677">Dubai property transactions hit their highest level since 2010</a> in the first quarter of this year, according to ValuStrat. The positivity in the market is encouraging many first-time buyers to snap up a home at a time when prices are still affordable and interest rates remain low. But with many residents in the UAE still choosing to rent, how do they decide which is the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/money/is-it-cheaper-to-buy-or-rent-property-in-the-uae-1.1211254">most cost-effective option</a> over the long term? While renters can walk away without the worry of clearing a mortgage, they also lose the money they have paid to a landlord during their time in a property. In turn, for buyers looking to get on to the property ladder, raising a deposit can be a big financial challenge. Host Alice Haine is joined by Ben Crompton, managing partner of Crompton Partners Abu Dhabi, who guides listeners through the different options.
