Insights
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Oman’s hospitality sector demonstrated robust performance in the first nine months of 2025, supported by strong domestic and international demand. Airport traffic reached 11.2 million passengers, while guest volumes in 3-5 star hotels rose to 1.7 million, representing a 9% increase compared with the same period last year. Occupancy levels strengthened further, reaching 52.8%, a notable 13.1% growth over 2024, signalling that the market is effectively absorbing demand even during shoulder months. Meanwhile, average room rates (ARR) remained broadly stable, indicating that hotels are focusing on maximising occupancy and optimising inventory utilisation rather than pursuing aggressive rate increases to drive revenue growth.
Dubai's office market delivered a strong performance in Q3 2025, supported by robust economic fundamentals and ongoing business formation activities. Dubai Chamber of Commerce welcomed approximately 53,000 new member companies in the first nine months of 2025, up 4% year-on-year, and attracted 261 foreign companies, a 65.2% increase over the same period in 2024. This surge in business activity fuelled heightened demand for office space, with sales transactions reaching approximately 1,200, up 39.9% year-on-year, and transaction values climbing to AED 3.1 billion, reflecting 87.6% annual growth. The off-plan segment was the primary driver, with volumes rising 463.8% year-on-year.
Despite Q1 2025 residential unit sales transactions being lower than Q4 2024 due to seasonal factors and limited new launches, Abu Dhabi City’s real estate market regained momentum in Q3 2025, reaching its highest level of residential unit sales transactions on record. This rebound was supported by favourable economic conditions and rising demand from both investors and end users. The upward revision of the UAE’s 2025 GDP forecast to 4.9%, together with the International Monetary Fund’s projection of 6% growth for Abu Dhabi, highlights the solid economic backdrop that continues to support market activity.
Dubai’s real estate market continues to expand and diversify, with the office sector playing a central role in the city’s growth story. The market is characterised by multinational corporations establishing regional headquarters in Dubai, SMEs seeking flexible workspaces, and startups scaling up. More recently, the global trend of employees returning to the office has also reinforced demand for high-quality, well-located […]
In the UAE’s fast-moving real estate market, investors are no longer satisfied with surface-level indicators such as location and yield alone. They now seek certainty about hidden liabilities, building performance, and long-term asset resilience. In this environment, Technical Due Diligence (TDD) has become a critical component of every acquisition or financing decision. It provides investors, lenders, and developers with a […]
Dubai was officially recognised as the first Certified Autism Destination™ in the Eastern Hemisphere, demonstrating its commitment to accessible and inclusive tourism. The Emirate's safety credentials also received global recognition, with Dubai placing third and Abu Dhabi first in Numbeo's city-level safety index, reinforcing the UAE's position as one of the world's safest destinations.
With the world still recalibrating its relationship with office space post-pandemic, Dubai presents an anomaly. While commercial towers in cities like London, New York, and Hong Kong grapple with under-occupancy and uncertain futures, Dubai’s office market is surging ahead, defying market expectations and setting benchmarks. But behind the headlines of soaring rents and record-high occupancy lies a complex landscape, one […]
Executive Summary with Key Trends In the first half of 2025, Dubai’s retail market recorded around 500 sales transactions valued at approximately AED 1.4 billion. Overall transaction volume and value declined year-on-year by 17.3% and 1.8%, largely due to a slowdown in off-plan activity. In contrast, the ready retail segment performed strongly. On the rental side, overall contracts increased compared […]
