Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
UAE property engagement metrics have largely recovered from recent regional uncertainty, with active users on Bayut and dubizzle Property platforms rebounding to 85% of the 2026 baseline by Day 58, while unique buyers returned to 87%, according to new market analysis released by the platforms.
The data from Bayut and dubizzle also showed that platform impressions recovered to 92% of the 2026 baseline, views reached 89%, and high-intent enquiries climbed back to 80%, reflecting sustained confidence in the UAE’s long-term property fundamentals.
Compared to 2025 levels, impressions, views and high-intent enquiries stood at 104%, 105% and 108%, respectively, indicating that activity remains ahead of last year’s performance.
Matt Gregory said periods of uncertainty often reveal the true strength of property markets.
“What we are seeing across our platforms is a measured and confident return of activity, supported by serious buyers, committed agents and increasingly data-led decision-making,” Gregory said in a statement.
According to the analysis, agent engagement also remained resilient, with average daily agent responses recovering to 107% of the 2026 baseline.
Abu Dhabi
The recovery in engagement comes as Abu Dhabi’s property market is increasingly being viewed as insulated from short-term shocks due to strong sovereign backing, low leverage levels and long-term infrastructure planning.
Speaking to Aletihad, Ben Crompton, Managing Partner at Crompton Partners, said Abu Dhabi’s resilience is being driven by several structural factors rarely seen together in global real estate markets.
“First, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth machinery — as ADIA alone manages around $1.18 trillion, with the wider Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth ecosystem estimated at roughly $1.7 trillion — gives the government a lot of capital to deploy through any cycle,” Crompton explained.
He added that the emirate’s property market also remains structurally low-leverage.
“ADREC data shows around 80% of Abu Dhabi residential transactions are in cash, and resident mortgages are capped at a maximum 80% loan-to-value. That means leverage is low and tolerance is high,” Crompton said.
According to Crompton, this significantly reduces the likelihood of distressed selling during periods of volatility.
“Forced sellers only emerge from three triggers: sudden job loss, sharp interest-rate rises, or capital calls on highly geared off-plan exposure,” he explained.
While some speculative off-plan investors have attempted to exit positions quickly amid recent regional tensions, Crompton said the broader market has remained stable.
Crompton also linked Abu Dhabi’s resilience directly to sovereign-backed infrastructure investment and long-term economic planning.
“The fiscal position is unusually strong,” he said, noting that Fitch currently rates Abu Dhabi AA, with government debt at around 15% of GDP and liquid assets estimated at roughly 300% of GDP.
“That gives the emirate room to keep spending on infrastructure even when oil markets wobble,” Crompton added.
Buyer behaviour is also evolving, with many end-users increasingly prioritising lifestyle, stability and wealth preservation over short-term speculative gains.
“Families relocating to Saadiyat, Yas Island and Jubail Island are buying for community, schools, beach access and long-term living,” Crompton explained.
He added that high-net-worth individuals are also increasingly using Abu Dhabi property as a wealth-preservation strategy linked to Golden Visa residency.
Crompton emphasised that confidence in Abu Dhabi real estate is closely tied to long-term urban planning and infrastructure delivery.
“Real estate confidence is a result of economic confidence, and Abu Dhabi’s economic story is built on planning measured in decades, not quarters,” he said.
He pointed to master-planned communities such as Saadiyat, Yas Island, Reem Island and Hudayriyat as examples of integrated urban planning combining infrastructure, schools, cultural assets and tourism development.
Crompton also argued that tighter regulation and accountability could increasingly become a competitive global advantage for Abu Dhabi’s property market.
“The framework is modern, digital, and uncluttered by decades of accumulated bureaucracy,” he explained.
On the UAE’s exit from OPEC, Crompton said the immediate impact on real estate would likely remain limited, but broader economic implications could become more visible over the next several years.
According to Crompton, higher sustained oil output would eventually feed into infrastructure spending, hiring and broader housing demand.
“Decisions made in oil boardrooms eventually show up as occupied apartments,” he said.
Dubai
Dubai continued to attract strong buyer interest across both ready and off-plan markets.
In ready apartment sales, Jumeirah Village Circle, Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Arjan ranked among the most searched communities, while DAMAC Hills 2, Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches 3, Arabian Ranches and Dubai South led villa searches, according to data from Bayut and dubizzle.
For off-plan demand, areas such as Majan, Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai South, Jumeirah Village Triangle and Business Bay saw strong apartment interest, while The Oasis by Emaar, The Valley by Emaar, DAMAC Lagoons, Dubai South and Mohammed Bin Rashid City led villa demand.
Rental activity also remained concentrated in both established and emerging lifestyle communities, including Jumeirah Village Circle, Arjan, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, Meydan, DAMAC Hills 2, Dubai South, Mirdif, Arabian Ranches 3 and The Valley by Emaar.
