Insights
Discover the latest market insights and hear our expert opinion
Many property assets in the UAE are underutilised or not operating at their full potential. The UAE has significant latent value within its real estate market. While no single figure captures the scale of unrealised value, opportunities often lie in assets whose highest and best use has yet to be identified through strategic analysis. For many property owners, unlocking this value begins with understanding […]
Dubai’s residential real estate market recorded approximately 44,200 sales transactions valued at AED 139.1 billion in Q1 2026, up 4.6% and 21.5% year-on-year respectively. The off-plan segment continued to dominate, accounting for 73% of all transactions, supported by flexible payment plans, developer incentives, and sustained investor participation, with transaction values reaching AED 105.5 billion, up 34.6% year-on-year, notably outpacing volume growth and pointing to a meaningful rise in average transaction values. The ready segment, by contrast, recorded 12,000 transactions valued at AED 33.6 billion, declining 8.7% and 7.0% year-on-year respectively, with March bearing pressure as Ramadan seasonality and geopolitical uncertainty converged.
Dubai is one of the world’s most visited cities, underpinned by its position as a global hub and the constant flow of international visitors. In 2025, the city welcomed more than 19 million tourists, highlighting the massive scale of demand across the hospitality sector.
Ras Al Khaimah’s macroeconomic environment remained strong in 2025, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimated to have grown by 4.3% according to S&P Global, supported by a diversified economic base. Economic indicators also reflected sustained momentum, particularly in business formation, with new business licence issuance rising by 31.5% to 1,789 licences and total active economic licences increasing to 21,938 by year-end. In parallel, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) continued to play a central role in economic diversification, recording a 44% increase in new company registrations and expanding its business community to over 40,000 entities.
Oman’s hospitality sector delivered a strong performance in 2025, supported by continued growth in tourism demand and improving connectivity. Airport traffic reached 14.9 million passengers, up 2.8% year-on-year, reflecting steady recovery momentum and enhanced route networks. This translated into solid hotel performance, with the 3–5-star segment welcoming approximately 2.4 million guests, a 10.8% increase compared to 2024, supported by both domestic and international segments, contributing to greater demand diversification.
Dubai's retail and warehouse sectors demonstrated resilience and growth in 2025, supported by strong fundamentals including record tourism, population growth, and rising e-commerce activity. Both sectors, however, faced tightening supply conditions that shaped market dynamics throughout the year.
The retail sector experienced robust growth in 2025, with sales transaction values rising 48.4% year-on-year to AED 4.6 billion, significantly outpacing the 7.6% increase in transaction volumes. Rental activity showed signs of supply constraint, with new leases declining 15.7% whilst renewals strengthened by 6.5%, as tenants prioritised retaining space in prime locations amid limited availability, pushing rental rates 7.1% higher year-on-year.
In today’s business environment, organisations often focus on immediate risks such as supply chain disruption, cost inflation, project delays, and market volatility. Yet one critical area is often overlooked: whether insured property values still reflect the true cost of rebuilding. For owners, occupiers, investors, and operators of commercial real estate, this is where a reinstatement cost assessment becomes especially important. […]
The UAE’s real estate market has continued to perform strongly in recent years, with sustained transaction activity and evolving investor demand. However, as regional dynamics shift in early 2026, valuers are increasingly operating in conditions where market signals are less straightforward. In such an environment, understanding how real estate is valued is essential for investors, lenders, and developers. When market […]
