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.

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.

The trajectory of key determinants of successful real estate development and investment, such as construction costs, rents, capitalisation rates and prices, can be substantially altered by geopolitical events, for example, elections, sanctions, wars, and resultant hydrocarbon price spikes. This is as true in the Gulf as anywhere: the Gulf is structurally exposed to geopolitical risk because of hydrocarbon-linked liquidity cycles, expatriate population dynamics and, as demonstrated so clearly by the present conflict, regional security architecture. The present conflict has exposed the degree to which Gulf real estate is entangled with regional security dynamics, making geopolitical risk management no longer optional but foundational.

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.