UAE Emerges as Top Global Real Estate Investment Destination: Survey

Dubai, The Gulf Observer: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to rank among the world’s most attractive destinations for real estate investment despite recent regional challenges, according to a new global survey commissioned by property developer Arada.

The Arada UAE Property Investment Index, conducted by US-based research firm Penta Group, found that 56 percent of global investors expressed strong interest in investing in the UAE property market, placing the country ahead of other major investment destinations, including the United States (54 percent), the United Kingdom (41 percent), France (28 percent), and Spain (27 percent).

The survey, carried out between April 1 and April 23 across 12 key international markets, gathered responses from 689 established property investors and is described as the first major study examining international investor sentiment toward the UAE real estate sector.

According to the findings, investor familiarity with opportunities in the UAE real estate market stood at 51 percent, closely matching levels recorded for the UK (51 percent) and the US (53 percent).

The UAE’s appeal was particularly strong among investors in neighboring markets. Around 91 percent of Indian investors, 92 percent of Egyptian investors, and 85 percent of Saudi investors identified the UAE as one of their top three preferred destinations for property investment.

Among European respondents, the UAE emerged as the leading overseas investment choice for French investors (63 percent), German investors (60 percent), and Swiss investors (57 percent).

The survey identified strong return potential as the leading investment driver globally, cited by 38 percent of respondents. Australian investors (57 percent), Spanish investors (56 percent), and British investors (41 percent) ranked investment returns as their primary consideration.

Safety and stability were highlighted as the most important factors by Chinese investors (65 percent) and German investors (58 percent). The report noted that the UAE’s regulatory framework, political stability, and transparent property laws have strengthened its reputation as one of the world’s most trusted environments for real estate investment.

Ease of purchase and property ownership was cited by 34 percent of respondents overall, increasing to 57 percent among Saudi investors and 41 percent among Egyptian investors, reflecting the UAE’s investor-friendly policies and streamlined ownership processes.

Commenting on the findings, Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Arada, said the results reinforce the UAE’s competitive advantages, including regulatory maturity, consistent market performance, and stable economic fundamentals.

“These findings confirm what we have observed in our own sales performance—that despite recent headwinds, international investors continue to recognize the UAE’s structural strengths and long-term investment appeal,” he said.

The report said the UAE continues to perform strongly on key factors valued by investors, including returns, stability, tax efficiency, and market accessibility.

The publication of the survey coincides with the announcement of major infrastructure projects across the UAE, including the AED34 billion Dubai Metro Gold Line, the world’s first commercial air taxi network, and the AED6 billion Fourth Federal Corridor aimed at improving connectivity and reducing congestion between the emirates.

Arada, whose global development pipeline exceeds AED130 billion, said the survey findings validate both the resilience of the UAE property market and the company’s strategy of expanding into other high-growth international markets.