How does a double-tax treaty actually protect me on my Dubai property?

A double-tax treaty (e.g. India-UAE, updated 2015) allocates taxing rights so the same income isn't taxed twice. Immovable-property rent and gains are taxed where the property sits, the UAE, at 0% for individuals. But relief isn't automatic: to claim treaty benefits back home you generally need a UAE Tax Residency Certificate plus, for India, an electronically filed Form 10F. Keep the paperwork.