Investors who hesitated during predicted slowdowns in Dubai’s real estate sector missed out on significant opportunities as the market continues to scale new heights, according to a real estate expert.
Firas Al Msaddi, the Chief Executive Officer of Dubai-based fäm Properties said that those now seeking the best returns should focus on well-planned, high-quality developments, which continue to sell out quickly, reflecting genuine and sustained demand.
“Bidding on reports of a slowing market has resulted in a massive opportunity being lost for those who fell for it,” Al Msaddi said. “Dubai has bounced back stronger and faster than any other city in the world since the 2009 global financial crisis and the COVID pandemic, highlighting the city’s exceptional resilience,” he added.
While growth has naturally slowed compared to the record-breaking pace of 2021–2022, Al Msaddi said that this reflects a healthy, sustainable market rather than a loss of momentum. “The first eight months of this year have seen off-plan sales rise by 25 per cent and resales by 13 per cent, which is a rock-solid indication of a market that remains firmly on an upward trend,” he added.
He, however, cautioned that investors often go wrong by opting for poorly designed developments, whether luxury villas or towers, which are slow to sell. In contrast, carefully designed projects continue to sell out within months, reflecting genuine demand and rational market behaviour.
Dubai’s investor and buyer base, he pointed out, has never been more diverse, with strong participation from India, China, the European Union and across the Middle East. This broadens the market’s foundation and reduces reliance on any single nationality, strengthening long-term stability.
With Dubai’s population now past the four million milestone, Al Msaddi identified regional investment, the global strength of the Dubai brand, the attraction of branded residences to millionaires and billionaires, the growing presence of institutional investors encouraged by improved market transparency, and the influx of foreign real estate developers bringing loyal clients from their home markets as the main factors driving demand this year.
New real estate milestones set throughout 2024 culminated in an all-time peak of 180,900 transactions worth AED 522.1 billion. Data from DXBinteract shows that by the end of August 2025, sales were already up 33.9 per cent in value year on year to AED 445 billion, with deal volume increasing by 21.8 per cent.
“Dubai does not settle and does not sleep,” Al Msaddi said. “The city’s global branding and marketing strategies are now a benchmark model worldwide. These efforts, combined with ongoing population growth, underpin sustained demand. The trajectory we are seeing, with 2025 expected to beat last year’s record real estate sales, points to sustainable, long-term growth.”
