Invest in the United Arab Emirates

The average rental yield is around 6.7% a year, while well-selected apartments reach as much as 7–8% ROI. In the most attractive investment locations – Business Bay, Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Hills, Dubai South or JVC – high occupancy translates into highly competitive investment results.

The average property price in 2026 is around AED 20,600/m², although the most prestigious waterfront projects and premium developments sit considerably higher.

Dubai’s strength lies in a combination of factors: no personal income tax, record tourist numbers, a steadily growing expat population, one of the best-developed infrastructures in the world, and an exceptionally liquid property market.

What is being built?

Dubai is delivering the largest urban plan in its history, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. By 2040 the area of green and recreational space will double, the length of public beaches will grow by 400%, and 60% of the emirate’s surface will be green space and nature reserves. The project will significantly raise both quality of life and the city’s investment appeal.

In parallel, work continues on Al Maktoum International Airport, set to become the largest airport in the world, handling up to 260 million passengers a year. It will completely reshape southern Dubai, driving the growth of Dubai South, Expo City and new residential districts.

One of the most spectacular projects is Palm Jebel Ali, a new island more than twice the size of Palm Jumeirah. It will hold around 80 luxury hotels and resorts, exclusive villas, waterfront apartments and over 90 kilometres of new coastline.

Dubai is also building the transport of the future. The planned launch of eVTOL air taxis, the extension of the Dubai Metro Blue Line, the development of Dubai Islands, new marinas, luxury hotels and Ciel Tower, now the tallest hotel in the world, are only part of what will draw further millions of tourists and new residents in the coming years.

Dubai continues to set global trends, which keeps it one of the most sought-after property markets in the world.

Estimated rental yields currently run at around 5–8% a year, with apartments averaging 6–7%, depending on location and the standard of the development.

Prices are higher than in Ras Al Khaimah, but the market is more stable than Dubai. According to 2026 data, the average price is around AED 15,480/m² on the secondary market and AED 23,067/m² in off-plan projects.

The greatest growth potential sits in the most prestigious locations: Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island and Al Maryah Island. That is where the largest government investments, luxury residential projects and world-class tourist attractions are concentrated.

What is being built?

The biggest development of recent years is the Disney Theme Park Resort on Yas Island, the first Disney park in the Middle East and the seventh in the world. Delivered by Disney together with Miral, it is expected to draw millions of visitors from Europe, Asia, India and Africa, sharply increasing demand for short-let apartments.

Alongside it, the Saadiyat Cultural District is taking shape, the most prestigious cultural quarter in the region. It is already home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and in the coming years the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will join it, forming one of the world’s major cultural centres.

Yas Island is cementing its position as the largest entertainment hub in the region. Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, SeaWorld, Yas Marina Circuit (Formula 1), luxury marinas and five-star hotels keep visitor numbers rising and make Abu Dhabi an increasingly strong premium rental market.

Abu Dhabi is for investors who expect steady appreciation, a high level of security and the prestige of one of the most exclusive locations in the UAE.

The northernmost emirate of the UAE, set on the waters of the Arabian Gulf, borders Oman and the emirates of Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Sharjah. Its strategic position gives convenient access to the key markets of the Middle East, Asia and Africa, while developed road, sea and air infrastructure further reinforces its standing as a business, logistics and tourism centre.

Unlike more mature markets such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah still offers competitive property prices with clear potential for asset appreciation. Average rental yields sit at 6–8% a year, while property directly adjacent to Al Marjan Island can reach 9–15%, and some analyses suggest that, once the key projects complete, the potential may be higher still. This is a market in an intensive phase of development, and its greatest value remains the prospect of long-term growth.

What is being built?

The most important project under way in the emirate is Wynn Al Marjan Island, the region’s first luxury integrated resort with a casino, with a real chance of raising the international profile of Ras Al Khaimah and strengthening its position on the global tourism market.

The complex will hold over 1,000 luxury hotel rooms and suites, an extensive dining offer, a conference and events centre, entertainment zones, exclusive boutiques and the first legal casino in the United Arab Emirates. The scale of the venture invites frequent comparison with the effect Marina Bay Sands had on the property market and tourism sector in Singapore.

Alongside it, further premium residential developments, new hotels and marinas are being built, together with expanded transport infrastructure including Wynn Bridge, which will connect Al Marjan Island to the main routes leading to Dubai.

The emirate’s growth also covers premium leisure infrastructure. Al Hamra Golf Club, regarded as one of the best courses in the United Arab Emirates and host to international tournaments, together with Tower Links Golf Club, is an important part of the region’s lifestyle offer. The presence of prestigious sporting venues raises the appeal of the location, supporting the premium property segment and rising interest among affluent buyers and investors.

From a property-market perspective, Ras Al Khaimah is at a pivotal stage. The scale of the projects under way, the inflow of international capital and the consistent build-out of infrastructure create conditions that favour long-term asset appreciation. Experience from other global markets shows that projects of comparable scale often become the trigger for a durable rise in property prices and for a region establishing itself as a prestigious investment destination.