According to a new report by global property consultancy Knight Frank, Dubai’s robust real estate market is poised to attract a significant USD 10.3 billion in global private capital. This projection underscores the strength and increasing appeal of the emirate’s property sector to high-net-worth individuals worldwide.
The “Destination Dubai” report for 2025 by Knight Frank, conducted in partnership with YouGov, surveyed 387 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) across India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and East Asia. The findings indicate a growing appetite among these global investors for Dubai’s thriving real estate landscape.
The report highlights that Dubai’s property market continued its upward trajectory in 2024, with both property values and rental rates reaching new highs. The total value of transactions across all sectors surpassed USD 207 billion, demonstrating the market’s vigorous activity. Demand for homes from the global elite remains particularly strong.
Will McKintosh, Regional Partner, Head of Residential, MENA at Knight Frank, noted, “The depth of demand from these nationalities is also reflective of our own market experience. Indeed, during 2024, Saudi, Indian and British nationals accounted for just over 50 per cent of homes sold by Knight Frank in Dubai.”
The report also revealed record residential sales in 2024, totaling USD 100 billion from almost 170,000 transactions. This momentum has continued into 2025, with home sales reaching AED 100 billion by March 4th. Furthermore, Dubai retained its position as the world’s busiest market for sales of homes priced over USD 10 million for the second consecutive year, recording 435 such sales in 2024, nearly matching the combined figures for London and New York. In the first quarter of 2025, an additional 111 homes sold for over USD 10 million, marking the highest number for any January to March period.
Dubai’s residential market saw property values rise by 19.1 per cent in 2024, averaging AED 1,685 per square foot (psf), pushing prices 13.3 per cent above the 2014 peak. Villa sale prices, on average, grew by 19.6 per cent in the year leading up to the end of Q1 2025, reaching AED 2,088 psf, representing a significant 107.6 per cent increase compared to Q1 2020. This sustained growth underscores the strong appeal of stand-alone villas, beachfront properties, and branded residences that offer immediate access to the Dubai lifestyle.
Key Highlights:
- Knight Frank reports that Dubai’s real estate market is set to attract USD 10.3 billion in global private capital.
- Dubai’s property market saw values and rents reach new highs in 2024, with total transaction value exceeding USD 207 billion.
- The city was the world’s busiest for sales of homes over USD 10 million for the second year running.
- Residential property values in Dubai rose by 19.1% in 2024, with villa prices seeing even greater growth.