residential

Showing posts for residential

26 August 2025

Unlocking the Kingdom: Housing Markets and Foreign Ownership Rules

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
21 August 2025

Abu Dhabi Residential Market Performance H1 2025

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.
14 August 2025

Dubai Office Market Performance H1 2025

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.
4 August 2025

Dubai Residential Market Performance H1 2025

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.
25 June 2025

Tokenisation of Real Estate: Past Dreams, Present Achievements and a Measured Outlook for the Future

A long history The need for tradeable, liquid real estate assets has long been widely recognised. There have been a range of attempted solutions to the problem. Probably the most well-known attempt was the securitisation market. From tentative origins in medieval Europe, securitised real estate – and especially mortgages – rose to become instrumental in the Global Financial Crisis when […]
17 June 2025

Abu Dhabi Residential Market Performance Q1 2025

Abu Dhabi’s economy recorded robust growth in 2024, with real GDP rising by 3.8% year-on-year to reach an all-time high of AED 1.2 trillion, according to preliminary estimates from the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD). This expansion was largely fuelled by the non-oil sector, which grew by a record 6.2%, increasing its share of total GDP to 54.7%. Building on this momentum, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts further acceleration, with GDP expected to grow by 4.2% in 2025 and 5.8% in 2026.
3 June 2025

Dubai Office Market Performance Q1 2025

Dubai’s office market maintained strong momentum in Q1 2025, driven by solid economic fundamentals and rising investor confidence. The Dubai International Chamber reported a 39.0% year-on-year increase in new foreign company registrations, including 11 multinational corporations and 42 SMEs. At the same time, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce supported the international expansion of 28 local firms. This dual dynamic further reinforced Dubai’s position as a global business hub.
27 May 2025

Dubai Residential Market Performance Q1 2025

The UAE’s GDP is forecasted to grow by 4.7% in 2025, while Dubai is expected to see a 3.3% increase. This sustained economic expansion, supported by population growth and continued investor confidence, reinforces the UAE's and Dubai’s positions as competitive global hubs. In the real estate sector, Dubai’s residential market recorded over 42,000 sales transactions in Q1 2025, reflecting a 10.0% quarterly decline due to a slowdown in new project launches and seasonal factors. However, year-on-year performance remained strong, with transaction volumes rising by 23.1% and total sales value reaching AED 114.4 billion, a 29.6% increase. Apartment sales led the market, while demand for villas and townhouses also grew, reflecting end-users’ preference for larger living spaces.
21 April 2025

Affordable Housing in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Are Developers Ready to Deliver?

The starting point to answer this question is to determine the overall demand for new build housing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first factor to consider is population growth. The latest World Bank population estimate is from 2023: 33.2 million with annual growth of 3.3%
2 April 2025

Dubai Metro Blue Line: Transforming Real Estate and Connectivity

The Dubai Metro has played a pivotal role in the city’s development since its launch in 2009. The addition of the Blue Line underscores the government’s commitment to seamless public transport solutions, aligning with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. With a goal to have 55% of residents within 800 metres of mass transit stations, the Blue Line will serve as a critical component of this vision, fostering sustainable growth and accessibility.
25 March 2025

Abu Dhabi Residential Market Performance 2024

Abu Dhabi’s economy has experienced solid growth, with a 3.9% GDP increase in the first nine months of 2024, largely driven by the non-oil sector, which now contributes more than half of the economy. With growth projected at 5.0-6.0% in 2025 and inflation remaining stable, the outlook remains optimistic, supporting confidence in the real estate market as well.
10 March 2025

The Dubai Smart Rental Index – A Comprehensive Enhancement in Rental Regulation

How can tenants know whether they are getting a good deal or not? How can investors determine whether the rent currently being paid on an existing property (the ‘passing rent’) is above or below the market? And how can existing owners know on what basis they should invest in renovating their properties?

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