Dubai ranks 17th in 2026 real estate transparency index: JLL, LaSalle

Dubai has risen to 17th globally and first in the Arab world in the 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, climbing 11 places from 28th in 2024.

Published every two years by JLL and LaSalle, the index assesses real estate markets on factors including data availability, regulation, transaction processes, governance and sustainability.

Dubai scored 1.98, placing it ahead of Switzerland, Poland, Italy, Denmark, Norway and South Korea. The United Kingdom retained the top position, followed by France, Australia, the United States and the Netherlands.

Dubai climbs 11 places in two yearsBold

The 2026 index covers 88 countries and territories and 146 city markets, assessed against 260 transparency measures. Markets are grouped into five tiers, with 1.00 representing the highest possible level of transparency.

Around two-thirds of the markets tracked improved over the past two years. JLL identified Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Qatar among the Gulf markets making significant progress and said all four are among the most improved markets of the past decade.

Dubai's rise comes as the emirate continues to digitize real estate services and introduce regulations across the sector.

Digital services support transparency gainsBold

JLL highlighted the role of the Dubai Land Department, describing it as a leader in providing real-time, publicly accessible real estate data.

The report also pointed to greater transparency around operating costs and service charges through the Mollak system, alongside increased use of blockchain technology in property registration.

Mollak monitors service-charge accounts for jointly owned properties. Owners can also view approved service charges through Dubai Land Department's online services.

Reporting on the index also recognized the Dubai REST platform for providing detailed property information to public and private-sector users. The platform gives owners, tenants, investors, brokers and developers access to property services and market information in one place.

Sustainability reporting and investmentBold

JLL said the UAE is among the markets adopting requirements for companies to disclose information covering sustainability strategies, energy use and climate-related risks.

The index also links transparency with global property investment. According to the source report, markets classified as highly transparent or transparent attract more than 98% of global real estate capital. Semi-transparent markets attract 1.3%, while low-transparency markets receive less than 0.1%.

Separately, JLL's 2026 research found that the 13 markets in its highest transparency tier account for more than 80% of global direct real estate investment.