Who’s buying Dubai real estate in 2025, and why it matters for investors?

Acksa Qasim
Sep 6
2 min read

Key takeaways

Dubai closed 2024 with AED 761 billion in total property transactions, which underscores the depth and liquidity international buyers want to see.

In H1 2025, the residential market logged about 95,000 sales with AED 270 billion in value, and 71 percent of that by value was off-plan.

Broker data shows a shifting mix of buyer nationalities this year, with India, the UK, and Italy prominent, and new momentum from Egypt and others.

What the official tapes say

Dubai Land Department confirmed AED 761 billion in total real estate transactions in 2024 across 226,000 deals. That is the foundation for why liquidity screens well on a global stage.

Into 2025, Q2 shows the market stayed hot. H1 2025 residential transactions were roughly 95,000, with AED 270 billion in value, and a clear tilt toward off-plan launches, which captured 71 percent of value.

So, who is buying?

Betterhomes’ FY 2024 report flagged India and the UK as the top buyer nationalities in their book, then a July 2025 update showed the UK overtaking India in Q2, with Pakistan still in the top three and Poland entering the top five for the first time. That points to a broader and changing base.

At the top end, Knight Frank recorded a new all-time high of 435 sales above US $10 million in 2024, keeping Dubai number one for ultra-prime by deal count. Their 2025 “Destination Dubai” survey also shows where fresh demand is coming from this year, with two-thirds of Saudis and 41 percent of Indians indicating plans to buy in the UAE.

Newsflow also signals more diversity. Arabian Business highlighted August activity where buyers from South Korea, South Africa, Australi,a and Canada helped push apartment sales to dominate volumes. Apartments made up nearly nine in ten residential transactions that month.

Why are they buying now?

Visa rules: A real estate purchase at or above AED 2 million can qualify for a 10-year Golden Visa, subject to the official criteria and documentation.

Rents and yields: CBRE reports Dubai’s average residential rents were up around 7 percent year to date by June 2025, supporting investor returns alongside capital growth.
Market depth: Off-plan continues to scale, creating entry points from compact one-bedrooms to branded luxury. H1 2025 off-plan share by value was 71 percent.

What does this mean for cross-border investors?

For investors in Pakistan, India, the UK, Germany, and the US, Dubai offers a mix of residency pathways, transparent regulation, a deep off-plan pipeline, and a mature secondary market. The buyer pool is broadening, not narrowing, which tends to cushion cycles and sustain exit liquidity. Pair this with a neighborhood-level strategy, and you have a playbook that can work across ticket sizes.

Smart next step: shortlist three master-planned communities with high project completion visibility and strong rental absorption, then match them to your residency or cash-flow goals.