Dubai housing market on the rise

We've singled out the most important benchmarks on its way back to the top.

Almost all experts in Dubai in real estate industry agree about a new round of rapid (or stable) growth waiting for the property market just around the corner. At the same time, Dubai real estate has its own development peculiarities, such as fragmentation, volatility, premium to affordable housing market segments ratio, as well as common indicators, such as the supply and demand balance. We’ve summarized the most common points of view for you, and got the following picture:

1. Supply volume steady growth
   
   According to second sector’s leading developer DAMAC Properties, Dubai housing market is going to face a stable and gradual growth in supply, compared to the average over the last two years. Around 11,000 to 12,000 residential properties are about to hit Dubai market in 2017. At the same time, the number of offers won’t considerably exceed the level of demand.
   "The real estate market in its entirety has turned a corner," DAMAC’s chief finance officer Adil Taqi told Reuters news agency recently.
   
   
2. Fragmentation of demand and of buying activity
   
   Fitch rating agency’s experts believe that both rental and sales prices in Dubai are likely to remain under pressure until the end of 2017, but the demand and transactions number will be different across areas and in different price categories. A recent report by Fitch claims that premium real estate will show greater price stability, while more affordable housing options on the periphery of Dubai may become cheaper both for tenants and buyers.
   
   
3. Dubai master developers’ net profits and revenues increasing
   
   Dubai's largest developer, Emaar Properties reported a 15% percent rise in first-quarter net profit, broadly in line with analysts' expectations, while the second-largest developer DAMAC said its entire revenue growth was 20% higher in the first quarter of the year, although the company's net profit has somewhat reduced due to higher sales costs.
   
   
4. New premium project launches multiply in the run-up to the Expo 2020
   
   Dubai developers boost the number of new project launches according to their vision of the market development. As expected, the closer to Expo 2020, the more of hospitality, entertainment, and both residential projects will appear in Dubai. One of such large projects was presented last week. It’s Marsa Al Arab AED 6.3 billion (USD 1.7 billion) worth huge development situated partly on two new artificial islands near The Burj Al Arab, which is about to become a new magnet for tourists and a new premium home for a large number of  high-net-worth residents. Many other impressive projects are being completed these days, such as Al Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel on the Bluewaters Island and The Opus legendary project by Zaha Hadid.