With
the weakening of COVID-19 at the end of 2021, the easing or lifting of various
quarantine restrictions in Dubai, public life and economic activity began to
return to normal in the emirate. At the same time, the city opened up to many
foreigners: tourists, businesses, investors and experts.
Dubai
has gained particular attention among a wide range of high-net-worth
individuals (HNWI), who were attracted by the local elite, but relatively cheap
real estate. The emirate's housing market has picked up the moment of growth
and retains it to this day, having already lived several historical records and
not going to stop there.
At
the end of October 2022, 8,649 real estate transactions totaling $6.6 billion
were concluded on the market in a month. The indicator is slightly lower than
9,720 transactions in August, but in annual terms it is still an increase of
13% in the number of transactions and 24% in the amount of proceeds.
For
the fourth month in a row, real estate sales have exceeded the $5.5 billion
mark, which the market owes to a lot of wealthy investors interested in elite
and ultra-luxury residential real estate offers. In total, for the year to the
end of October, the market earned more than $50 billion from transactions.
Over
the past two years, Dubai has managed to assert its role as a «safe haven» for
investors and the best place for wealthy foreigners to live thanks to a number
of achievements at once: the successful holding of Expo-2020, which lasted six
months from October 1, 2021, the successful response to the pandemic in
2020-21, as well as the active liberalization of the policy of issuing various
resident visas and business visas in the first half of 2022.
Coupled
with the recovery of business activity in the region, which began in the first
quarter of this year, foreigners have accumulated enough reasons to choose
Dubai as the most profitable destination for starting a business or moving.
Especially considering that the most elite properties in the emirate, even
against the background of inflation and high competition among buyers, remain
noticeably lower than global competitors such as London or New York.
Villas
remain the main commodity among wealthy buyers, especially in the elite areas
of Palm Jumeirah (for example, Frond G), Dubai Marina or Emirates Hills. In October,
almost 1,700 villas were purchased for a total of $1.5 billion — an increase of
1.6% year-on-year. Experts believe that this segment of the market will
continue to grow at an active pace in sales volumes and prices, so many buyers
who previously doubted will start thinking about acquiring such assets now,
while prices still allow such a purchase to be made.