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The UAE’s real estate sector has carried its strong momentum into 2025, buoyed by resilient economic performance across both oil and non-oil sectors, increasing foreign investment inflows, and a growing pipeline of ambitious development activity. Market data, expert commentary and recent industry discussions collectively point to a dynamic property cycle marked by sustained demand, heightened investor confidence, and evolving regulatory and technological trends shaping the next era of growth.
According to the latest global reviews and specialised assessments, the UAE’s economic trajectory remains positive throughout the year, with the launch of major real estate projects, record-breaking sales milestones, and rising occupancy and rental rates across commercial, residential and industrial segments, a WAM report said.
Ismail Al Hammadi, Founder and CEO of Al Ruwad Real Estate, underscored the sector’s strong foundations, stating that property transactions across all emirates continue to demonstrate significant growth and sustained momentum. For Dubai in particular, Al Hammadi noted that the emirate remains a global magnet for investors, with some projects selling out within one or two weeks despite projected delivery timelines of up to three years, a pace virtually unmatched in other global markets.
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Saeed Abdulkareem Al Fahim, CEO of Stratum Owners Association Management, added that both Abu Dhabi and Dubai continue to witness rising demand across luxury, mid-range, and broader residential categories, further reinforcing the sector’s depth and long-term appeal.
This broad-based expansion is reflected in transactional data throughout 2025. Betterhomes, citing Property Monitor data, reported that Dubai’s residential market maintained its upward trajectory in July 2025, with rising transaction volumes and stable demand across both off-plan and secondary markets. W Capital Real Estate reported that Dubai achieved Dhs100bn in property sales by March 4, significantly earlier than in previous years, when the milestone was reached on March 22 in 2024 and April 11 in 2023.
Industry gears up for the Gulf Business Real Estate Summit
As the market reaches new heights, industry leaders and stakeholders are increasingly shifting their focus to sustainability, regulation, and the emerging technological and structural forces that will define growth in the years ahead. These core questions were at the centre of the Gulf Business Real Estate Summit, held on November 25, 2025 at the Metropolitan Hotel Dubai.
The summit explored pressing themes such as tokenisation, investor behaviour, the future of off-plan development, and whether a market correction may be on the horizon in Dubai. The event will bring together leaders across finance, regulation, development, brokerage and advisory services, with four focused sessions designed to deliver concise, high-impact insights.
Panel 1: Tokenising UAE real estate – from pilot to mainstream
A key highlight of the summit was the session titled “Tokenising UAE Real Estate – From Pilot to Mainstream,” which explored the transition of tokenisation from theoretical concept to practical, scalable market application. The panel, moderated by Gulf Business Editor Neesha Salian , included senior leaders such as Cherif Sleiman (Property Finder), Scott Thiel (Tokinvest), Riz Ahmed (SmartCrowd), Fouad Bekkar (Coraly.ai), and Felix Vartanov (Black River Capital).
Cherif Sleiman emphasised that while investor appetite for innovative investment models is strong, trust and transparency remain fundamental pillars for adoption. According to Sleiman, the regulatory environment still requires maturation, and investors need confidence not only in the assets themselves but also in the entities responsible for custody and settlement.
He highlighted that the technology underpinning tokenisation, although more than a decade old, has yet to achieve the seamlessness required for mainstream use. Ideally, Sleiman noted, technology should operate “invisibly,” allowing consumers to transact without needing to understand complex technical protocols. This shift, he argued, is essential to broadening participation, particularly among new retail investors.
Scott Thiel, CEO and founder of Tokinvest, echoed these sentiments during the panel, arguing that mass adoption will depend on removing barriers, raising awareness and ensuring investors can participate in an intuitive, accessible manner. Thiel stressed that the goal is to make investing in tokenised real estate as user-friendly as possible, even for those with limited technological familiarity.
Panel 2: Is a Dubai real estate correction imminent?
Amid soaring transaction volumes and rapid development activity, the question of whether Dubai’s property market is facing a potential correction has gained prominence. This debate took centre stage during the summit’s panel titled “Is a Dubai Real Estate Correction Imminent?” moderated by Gareth van Zyl, group editor, Gulf Business.
Lewis Allsopp, chairman of Allsopp & Allsopp, rejected assertions from global credit agencies and short-term reports suggesting imminent downside risk. He argued that such assessments lacked context and failed to account for Dubai’s underlying growth fundamentals, including expanding infrastructure, rapidly growing population, and rising demand for housing.
However, other panellists noted that new data points are emerging beneath the surface. Gregory Lewis, CEO of AirDXB, said that upon reviewing information from agencies, press sources, data providers and online discussions, “things are not what they used to be.” His own platform, which analyses accounting and transaction data, has identified shifting patterns in the market.
According to Lewis, property transactions from April through October fell by roughly 8 per cent, while total sales for 2025 are down around 5.5 per cent. Increasing supply is playing a central role, he said, with about 40,000 units under construction and an estimated 67,000 units delivered each quarter. With forecasts indicating 15,000 units for the current quarter and continued deliveries ahead, Lewis questioned how this rising inventory will influence pricing and absorption.
He stressed that while prime areas like Palm Jumeirah continue to see strong double-digit growth in both pricing and transaction activity, emerging locations such as JVC or Island Park are showing stable pricing but greater saturation.
Panel 3: Off-plan in the UAE – where the value still lies
The summit’s final session, “Off-plan in the UAE – Where the Value Still Lies,” moderated by Gulf Business Deputy Editor Rajiv Pillai, examined the drivers of the UAE’s expanding off-plan market.
Mohammad Khader, Head of Project Development at Almal Real Estate Developments, opened the discussion by emphasising the importance of competition among developers. With a growing number of players in the market, developers must differentiate themselves through strategic choices and compelling product offerings.
Khader noted that investors today seek control and clarity when evaluating opportunities, prioritising projects that demonstrate long-term appreciation potential. He stressed that developers must equip buyers with the right tools and information to make confident decisions.
A transforming landscape with resilient growth drivers
Taken together, the insights from market reports, industry experts and summit discussions paint a picture of a resilient yet evolving UAE real estate landscape. The sector continues to benefit from robust economic performance, rising investor confidence, and strong demand across both established and emerging segments.
While questions surrounding supply pressures, price sustainability and market corrections remain, the long-term fundamentals, from infrastructure expansion to global investor inflows, continue to underpin growth. At the same time, emerging themes such as tokenisation and new investment models signal a sector preparing for its next chapter.
With 2025 already marked by historic sales milestones, rising occupancy rates and an increasingly sophisticated investor base, the UAE property market appears poised to maintain its momentum while navigating a dynamic and rapidly changing environment.
