Opinion
Hear our experts’ take on the latest developments and trending topics
11 April 2021
We should no longer ask how real estate markets recover from political or macroeconomic crises. Rather, we should ask how the dynamics of real estate markets themselves operate to create, manage and transfer wealth, frequently at a national or even regional level. Read more from our chief economist in his latest article.
23 March 2021
Worldwide there is evidence that if properly managed, rent-to-own can be a successful way to improve market liquidity, encourage home ownership and contribute to affordable housing in particular, which is the main real estate challenge facing governments in the Gulf. Read more in our latest opinion article.
11 October 2020
How does the UAE, and Dubai particularly, compare to countries such as Australia and Portugal for the purpose of retirement? Find out in this 2020 update on retiring in the UAE.
20 September 2020
Working from home and increased home deliveries are set to alter developers’ future choices of project locations. Read more in our latest opinion article.
3 June 2020
What determines yields? Real estate yields are usually defined as net income receivable over transaction price paid. Both terms are subject to varying definitions, whilst yields themselves apply to initial investments on exit or over a given lifetime. A standard yield model uses three independent variables: the risk-free rate, the expected rent, and the risk premium[1], all of which assume […]
6 May 2020
Why build a price index? Real estate market participants want to know what is happening to key market indicators. Amongst these indicators, prices are the most important. Construction, investment, sales and portfolio forecasts and decisions all rest on which way prices have moved, and by how much. The recent history of a real estate market’s performance is a collection of […]
26 March 2020
Famous pandemics of history Plagues have marked human history, from the Black Death in the 14th century to the Great Plague in London in the 17th century and the successive waves that affected Islamic cities such as Baghdad and Alexandria in the 19th century. In more recent times, the most famous was the 1918–19 Spanish flu pandemic which infected 500 […]
25 February 2020
Buy with a mortgage In most parts of the world, developers have insufficient size and financial ability to provide financial support to residential real estate purchasers. Instead, banks and other financial institutions provide mortgages for those unable, or unwilling, to make purchases in cash. In the UAE, mortgages are limited to a loan-to-value ratio of 80% (for citizens), and 75% […]
5 February 2020
The property price correction in the UAE has triggered many investors to explore alternate investment avenues to preserve and grow their wealth. Ironically, the current downturn in the real estate sector is also an opportune time to invest in a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). REITs allow investors exposure to the real estate sector without the risk and hassle of […]
16 December 2019
How easy it is to retire in the UAE? Easier as of this year, is the simple answer.
15 December 2019
It’s the time of the year when companies try to maximise efforts for a strong close to the last quarter before jetting off on long-planned holiday breaks. It is also the time when they are closing their books for the year, ensuring accuracy of all financial information before starting afresh in the new year. With a rise in the number […]
20 October 2019
A simple business model of leasing large, coveted office space on a shared basis; a peak valuation of USD 47 billion; a mission to “to elevate the world’s consciousness”. These factors seemed to be the ideal ingredients for a successful start-up with a social conscience – WeWork. But, one look at a filing from the industry-leading unicorn as part of […]