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To date, certain countries have attracted the lion’s share of overseas investment into their residential markets: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the UAE and the United States. These countries are all characterised by remarkably lenient regulations for foreign nationals wishing to buy real estate in their domestic markets. In the UK, for example, there are virtually no restrictions at all, neither geographic, nor residency, not sectoral, nor value. Controls exist only to confirm identity and to prevent money laundering.1 The USA, Australia and Canada are somewhat more restrictive – Canada even imposed a freeze on overseas purchases of residential real estate altogether in 2023.2
Abu Dhabi’s economy demonstrated strong momentum in H1’2025, driven by robust non-oil trade, foreign investment, and high business confidence. Non-oil foreign trade rose 34.7% to AED 195.4 billion. Business sentiment remained positive, with Abu Dhabi Chamber membership exceeding 158,000 companies and foreign net investment on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) nearly doubling to AED 13.6 billion. The aviation sector supported this growth, handling over 15.8 million passengers, aided by expanded international connectivity. Strategic infrastructure projects, ongoing diversification, and investor-friendly policies strengthened economic activity and attracted skilled talent, providing a solid foundation for the residential market.
Dubai’s investment landscape continued to flourish in the first half of 2025, reinforcing its status as the UAE’s leading economic hub. The Emirate attracted 526 greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, representing 86% of the national total and securing USD 3.03 billion in capital inflows. This growth was further supported by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), which recorded a 32% year-on-year increase in new business registrations, with 1,081 companies established. The Dubai office market also delivered an outstanding performance in H1’2025, reaching its highest sales activity in recent years. Approximately 1,900 transactions were completed, reflecting a 21.6% increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, the total value of office sales surged to AED 5.4 billion, marking an 83.9% rise compared to H1’2024.
According to the latest statistics from the Dubai Land Department (DLD), Dubai attracted approximately 94,700 investors in the first half of 2025, marking a significant 26% increase compared to the same period last year. Of these, around 59,000 were new investors, representing a 22% rise year-on-year. Notably, UAE residents accounted for 45% of these new investors, highlighting strong local participation in the market.
