UAE Ranked World's Top Real Estate Investment Destination, Arada Reveals

DUBAI, UAE – The UAE has been ranked among the world's most sought-after real estate investment destinations, with a new global survey revealing that the country now leads international investor preferences ahead of major markets including the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to Arada's UAE Property Investment Index, conducted by US-based Penta Group, 56% of global investors expressed serious interest in investing in the UAE property market, placing the country ahead of the United States (54%), the United Kingdom (41%), France (28%) and Spain (27%).

The survey, conducted between 1 April and 23 April across 12 key international markets, gathered responses from 689 established property investors and represents one of the most comprehensive studies of international sentiment towards the UAE real estate sector.

The research found that familiarity with the UAE property market has reached 51%, placing it on par with more established investment destinations such as the United Kingdom (51%) and the United States (53%).

Regional investors demonstrated particularly strong interest in the UAE. Among respondents, 91% of Indian investors, 92% of Egyptian investors and 85% of Saudi investors ranked the UAE among their top three property investment destinations.

The appeal also extended across Europe, where the UAE emerged as the preferred overseas investment destination for 63% of French investors, 60% of German investors and 57% of Swiss investors.

The survey identified strong investment returns as the leading driver of property investment decisions globally, cited by 38% of respondents. The factor was especially important for investors from Australia (57%), Spain (56%) and the United Kingdom (41%).

Safety and stability were highlighted as the most important considerations among Chinese and German investors, with 65% and 58% respectively identifying these factors as key decision drivers. The UAE's regulatory framework, political stability and transparent property legislation continue to support its reputation as a trusted investment destination.

Ease of purchase and ownership was cited by 34% of investors overall, rising to 57% among Saudi investors and 41% among Egyptian investors, reflecting the UAE's investor-friendly environment and accessible property ownership framework.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said, “These findings confirm what we have observed in our own sales performance – that despite recent headwinds international investors recognise the UAE's structural advantages in regulatory maturity, track record of performance, and stable economic fundamentals. Continued adaptation has been key to the UAE’s rise as a global investment destination - whether it’s the pandemic or the financial crisis, this country has demonstrated time and again that it adjusts fast and better than anywhere else in the world.”

The report also highlighted the UAE's broader investment ecosystem, supported by major infrastructure commitments. Recent announcements include the AED34 billion ($9.3 billion) Dubai Metro Gold Line, the world's first commercial air taxi network, and the AED6 billion ($1.6 billion) Fourth Federal Corridor project designed to improve connectivity between the emirates.

According to Arada, the findings reinforce the UAE's position as a market that continues to perform strongly across the metrics most important to international investors, including returns, stability, tax efficiency and accessibility.

The research also aligns with Arada's long-term growth strategy as the developer continues to expand its portfolio in markets that share similar economic and demographic fundamentals to the UAE.