UK demand for properties in non-European property destinations is on the increase, new data from property website PrimeLocation.com shows.

This is particularly the case in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where searches for property increased by nearly 50% during the fourth quarter of 2011.

Meanwhile, the number of searches for property in Spain fell by 15% during the final three months of 2011 compared to the previous three.

Portuguese property fell by 9% while searches for Italian and Cypriot property fell by 14% and 15% respectively.

Nigel Lewis, property analyst at PrimeLocation.com, said: “The UAE enjoy low rates of taxation