Dubai, UAE -Dubai has climbed 11 places in two years to rank 17th globally and first in the Arab world in the 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index issued by JLL and LaSalle.
The emirate, which ranked 28th globally in the 2024 edition, recorded a score of 1.98 in the latest index.
The improvement reflects developments in Dubai's regulatory environment, access to real estate data and the digitalisation of property services and procedures.
Badar Rashid Al Blooshi, Chairman of Arabian Gulf Properties, said Dubai's progress reflects the growing maturity of the market's institutional framework and gives investors clearer information when assessing property opportunities.
Al Blooshi said: “Transparency has become one of the key factors influencing real estate investment decisions today, particularly for international investors comparing several markets before allocating capital. The greater the ability to access data, verify information and clearly understand procedures and costs, the stronger investor confidence becomes and the lower the level of uncertainty associated with investment.”
Digital services support transparency gains
The 2026 index identified Dubai and Abu Dhabi among markets that have recorded notable improvements in transparency over the past decade.
The report linked part of Dubai's progress to the digitalisation of services and new regulations, as well as the Dubai Land Department's role in making real-time property data publicly accessible.
Greater access to transaction data, prices, fees and ownership information is giving buyers and investors more information to assess opportunities and compare properties before making decisions.
Al Blooshi said: “The strength of a market is measured not only by sales volumes or the number of new projects, but also by the quality of information available to investors and the clarity of the regulatory environment in which they operate. In a market experiencing this level of growth and project diversity, transparency becomes essential to improving the quality of investment decisions and strengthening competition among developers and projects.”
The report also highlighted greater visibility around operating costs and service charges, increased use of technology in property registration and the Dubai REST platform, which provides digital real estate data and services.
Investor access and regulation remain key
Arabian Gulf Properties said Dubai's higher transparency ranking strengthens its ability to compete for long-term investment as its real estate market and international buyer base continue to grow.
Al Blooshi added: “As the market evolves, investors will look beyond returns alone. They will increasingly consider the strength of regulation, transparency of data, ease of completing transactions and their ability to assess risk. Dubai’s progress in these areas strengthens the foundations for the market’s long-term growth.”
He said continued development of digital systems, higher levels of disclosure and wider access to market information would further support the maturity of Dubai's real estate sector.
