Question 1

What's the difference between the Oliva Score and my Preference Match?

Accepted Answer

The Oliva Score (0-100) rates how strong the project is on objective fundamentals, financial value, location, developer, market dynamics, and four other dimensions. It is the same for every investor. Your Preference Match (0-100%) is personal. It tells you how well that project fits your budget, horizon, bedrooms, and goals. The Oliva Score is visible on every project page. Your Preference Match appears when you create a free account and complete a 60-second profile.

Question 2

Why not just use Bayut or Property Finder?

Accepted Answer

Property Finder and Bayut are listing portals. Their algorithms rank what is paid for, and their AI tools serve brokers. Oliva is an underwriting platform. Our score is independent of any developer or broker payment, and you can verify every input against the DLD source. We work for the buyer; portals work for the seller.

Question 3

How is Oliva different from other real estate platforms?

Accepted Answer

Most platforms are built by brokerages that earn commissions on what they sell. Oliva was built by investors who needed unbiased data. We score every project independently using verified government data. No project pays to rank higher. No developer gets preferential treatment. Every score is fully transparent and broken down for you to audit.

Question 4

Where does the data come from?

Accepted Answer

Every metric is sourced from the Dubai Land Department (DLD), the government authority that records all property transactions in Dubai. We also use licensed market data providers for rental yields, vacancy rates, and construction progress. You can trace every data point back to its source.

Question 5

Is Oliva free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Browsing projects, scoring data, and all analytical tools are free. For off-plan purchases, the developer pays all brokerage fees. You pay 0% commission to Oliva. Our incentive is to help you find the right property, not the one that pays us the most.

Question 6

Can a developer pay to improve their score?

Accepted Answer

No. Scores are calculated algorithmically from verified data. Developers cannot sponsor listings, pay for higher rankings, or influence their scores in any way. If a project has weak financials or a developer has a history of delays, the score reflects that. We publish the methodology so you can verify how every score is computed.

Question 7

What does the Oliva Score measure?

Accepted Answer

6 dimensions across 97 metrics: financial value, market dynamics, location quality, developer trust, risk assessment, and liquidity & exit. Macro context (interest rates, GDP, inflation) is computed nightly and shown separately as Market Context on each project page - we keep it out of the composite because macro factors move every Dubai project identically in a given quarter and don't differentiate one project from another.

Question 8

Can I invest from outside the UAE?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Oliva is designed for international investors. Dubai allows 100% foreign ownership in designated freehold areas. We handle documentation, financing coordination, and property management setup remotely.

Question 9

Is Oliva regulated?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Oliva DB Properties CO. L.L.C. S.O.C. is a RERA-licensed brokerage (BRN 1573501) regulated by the Dubai Land Department. We operate exclusively in Dubai under RERA regulation.

Underwrite any Dubai project before you wire a deposit.

Underwrite any Dubai project before you wire a deposit.