Dubai’s real estate market continues to shine as one of the most dynamic and promising sectors in the UAE. After a record-breaking year in 2024, the industry shows no signs of slowing down, with strong fundamentals and forward-looking trends pointing to another banner year ahead.
Here are the key trends shaping Dubai’s property market as we move into 2025:
Li Fanwu, a 36-year-old former property professional from China, identified the shift earlier this year while working for an immigration advisory firm. Seeing the growing number of Chinese nationals relocating to Dubai, Li joined Danube Properties as a Beijing-based salesman.
“China is a ‘blue ocean’ market with the largest growth potential for Dubai’s developers,” Li said. “Firms are actively expanding their sales teams to cater specifically to Chinese buyers.”
Currently, Chinese nationals represent the eighth-largest group of buyers in Dubai’s real estate market.
Dubai’s property market is poised for continued expansion in 2025, supported by strong demand and a steady influx of global wealth. With approximately 41,000–42,000 new residential units expected to be delivered over the next two years, the supply pipeline remains robust.
The government’s forward-thinking visa initiatives, such as the highly coveted Golden Visa, have been instrumental in attracting high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) to the emirate. In fact, UHNWIs invested approximately $4.4 billion in Dubai real estate in 2024, a 26% year-on-year increase. With the number of UHNWIs projected to grow by 60% by 2026, Dubai is set to enjoy a sustained inflow of investment, keeping its real estate market buoyant.
Before the pandemic, China was not only a key source of tourism for the UAE but also a significant contributor to the city’s real estate sector. Faisal Durrani, Partner and Head of Research for the Middle East and North Africa at Knight Frank, emphasized the return of Chinese buyers.
“Both buy-to-let investors and high-net-worth individuals are choosing Dubai as their primary residence and business base,” Durrani said.
This renewed interest has further cemented Dubai’s status as the world’s leading market for luxury properties priced at $10 million or more.
Rohit Bachani, Co-founder of Merlin Real Estate, emphasized the safety and security of Dubai as key attractions.
“Dubai is one of the safest places to live and invest in,” Bachani said. “It mirrors the safety found in China, allowing investors to feel secure about their assets and lifestyle.”
He revealed that a mainland Chinese company recently purchased a waterfront building from Emaar for $35 million and plans to build a twin-tower corporate headquarters.
As of August 2023, there were 5,480 Chinese companies registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Between 2015 and 2023, foreign direct investments from China into Dubai reached AED 19.85 billion.
Additionally, golden visa issuances in Dubai have seen exponential growth, rising from 47,150 in 2021 to 158,000 in 2023.
Dubai’s rental yields are another attractive factor for Chinese investors. Citywide lease rates rose by 18% year-on-year at the end of Q3 2023, offering an average rental yield of 7.6%.
“Apart from economic incentives, security, stability, and high rental yields make Dubai an ideal choice for Chinese and global investors,” Bachani added.
Dubai’s rental yields are another attractive factor for Chinese investors. Citywide lease rates rose by 18% year-on-year at the end of Q3 2023, offering an average rental yield of 7.6%.
“Apart from economic incentives, security, stability, and high rental yields make Dubai an ideal choice for Chinese and global investors,” Bachani added.
