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INSIDE RAK’S NEXT PROPERTY WAVE
Exclusive Interview with Philip Yousef, Chief Sales Officer, Major Developments.
What is driving property buying and selling in the region?
The Ras Al Khaimah market is being driven by a perfect convergence of fundamentals, tourism growth, infrastructure readiness, and yield resilience. In just the first half of 2025, RAK welcomed over 654,000 visitor arrivals, marking a 6% year-on-year surge, with tourism revenues climbing 9%, according to the RAKTDA.
On the capital markets side, residential values have surged 18% year-on-year as per CBRE, with average apartment prices now reaching AED 1,947 per sq ft. Al Marjan Island has been a standout performer, recording an astonishing 71% annual increase in sales prices. Off-plan activity is also exceptionally strong, with 1,760 units sold in H1 2025 alone and Q2 sales reaching AED 3.6 billion, up from AED 2.5 billion in Q1. These aren’t speculative surges; they reflect the depth and maturity of the market, particularly as RAK Central nears full activation as the emirate’s business and commercial hub.
From my lens, what’s fuelling this activity is not just sentiment, it’s structure. Fitch Ratings continues to affirm RAK at A+ with a Stable outlook, while projecting UAE GDP to grow 5.1% in 2025 and RAK-specific GDP to average 6.1% over 2025-26. For us at Major Developments, this stability is the foundation upon which projects like Manta Bay on Al Marjan and Colibri Views in RAK Central are thriving, they’re built at the intersection of high-velocity tourism and long-term economic activity.
What changes are you seeing in buyer preferences – for example, are people prioritizing location, size, or lifestyle amenities differently than before?
Buyer behaviour in RAK has evolved significantly in the past 18 months. Location remains paramount, but the definition of a “prime” location has bifurcated. On one end are leisure-focused buyers who are driving demand on Al Marjan Island, where the +71% price surge underlines the premium for branded, beachfront, short-let-ready homes. On the other end, we see growing demand for urban convenience in RAK Central, where mixed-use infrastructure, offices, and parks are creating a modern business core. Colibri Views is a direct response to this shift, designed to serve the growing executive and corporate workforce that prefers to live at the centre of activity while staying minutes from the leisure coast.
We’ve also noticed that buyers are increasingly seeking fully furnished, turnkey residences. They want to activate their investment from day one, without the friction of setup and fit-outs. That’s why all our homes at Manta Bay and Colibri Views come fully furnished with integrated European interiors and modular layouts.
Most critically, amenities are no longer seen as decorative, they are decisive. This is where innovation is reshaping buyer expectations. At Manta Bay, we’re delivering the world’s first Sky Beach, a fully functional sandy beach suspended several feet above the shoreline, designed as a year-round leisure space. At Colibri Views, we’ve built the world’s first and only Rooftop Footbot experience in collaboration with international football legend Patrice Evra, combining AI-driven wellness with sport and community engagement. These are not vanity add-ons. They’re lifestyle infrastructure, and increasingly, buyers benchmark projects on the depth and uniqueness of their amenity ecosystem.
We’ve also seen a shift from sheer size to specification quality. Today’s buyers prefer slightly more compact homes if it means better views, better design, and better services. This is exactly why our planning philosophy prioritises layout efficiency and convertible spaces over excess square footage.
To what extent are digital platforms, proptech solutions, and virtual property tours influencing how buyers and sellers engage in the market today?
Digital walkthrough solutions and VR-based tools are redefining how potential buyers experience real estate, taking project understanding to an entirely new level. We see a diverse mix of preferences among our clients, some continue to value traditional purchase journeys, while others find greater clarity and satisfaction when engaging through the latest tech solutions.
We remain committed to exploring emerging proptech trends and integrating the most effective innovations to deliver an informed, seamless, and future-ready experience to our clients.
Are you noticing a shift in the profile of investors entering the market – for example, more overseas buyers, first-time homeowners, or institutional investors?
Absolutely. The profile has diversified significantly. European interest is at an all-time high, with the RAKTDA recording the strongest tourism growth from Central and Eastern Europe, Romania up 65% and Poland up 56% in the first half of this year. That correlates directly with what we’re seeing on the ground: more first-time European buyers entering the market, often purchasing for hybrid use – personal holidays and short-let income.
We’re also seeing more first-time regional buyers, particularly younger GCC and expat professionals, entering through fully furnished, ready-to-rent stock. And notably, institutional investors and regional developers are circling RAK, with CBRE data confirming a surge of interest in acquiring or partnering on new branded residential projects on Al Marjan.
Our two projects reflect these buyer personas clearly: Manta Bay caters to yield-driven investors seeking high-visibility leisure stock near the Wynn Resort, while Colibri Views attracts business-adjacent residents and investors who value RAK Central’s emerging ecosystem of offices, retail, and parks. Together, they capture the two strongest growth corridors in the emirate.
Looking ahead, what trends will drive property transactions over the next 12–18 months?
There are four clear forces set to shape the next cycle of property transactions in Ras Al Khaimah. The most immediate catalyst is the Wynn Resort on Al Marjan Island, which is on track to open in early 2027. Each construction milestone has continued to re-rate the value of surrounding real estate, anchoring Al Marjan as the epicentre of leisure-driven investment.
At the same time, RAK Central is transitioning from concept to reality; its land plots are fully sold out, infrastructure is now complete, and commercial tenants are beginning to activate the district. This momentum positions Colibri Views to serve as the residential benchmark of RAK Central, capturing demand from both regional executives and international investors seeking a foothold in the emirate’s emerging business hub.
The tourism base is also compounding at record levels. In H1 2025, visitor arrivals reached 654,000 (+6% year-on-year) and revenues rose 9%, while ancillary segments like MICE and weddings grew +36%. This sustained inflow will directly fuel demand for short-stay-ready residences, especially those with resort-led appeal like Manta Bay.
And underpinning it all is a highly supportive macroeconomic climate. Ras Al Khaimah continues to hold an A+ (Stable) rating from Fitch, and the UAE is forecast to achieve 5.1% GDP growth this year, creating a favourable environment for capital inflows and real estate liquidity.
Looking ahead, I see the market being shaped by distinctive, experience-led projects in catalytic locations. At Major Developments, we’ve already partnered with global football icons like Francesco Totti and Patrice Evra, whose involvement has reinforced buyer confidence and amplified our international visibility. Building on this success, we intend to forge more such high-profile partnerships while also expanding our portfolio into the Beach District, further strengthening our footprint across Ras Al Khaimah’s most future-ready corridors.
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DEYAAR ANNOUNCES Q1 FINANCIAL RESULTS, SUSTAINING STRONG STRATEGIC MOMENTUM INTO 2026
Deyaar Development PJSC (Deyaar), a publicly listed integrated real estate company and one of the leading developers in the United Arab Emirates, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2026, showcasing significant growth and strategic resilience in a dynamic market environment.
Deyaar recorded a 3.2% increase in revenue for YTD March’26, reaching AED 447.1 million compared to AED 433.4 million in the same period last year. This growth was achieved despite a downturn in the hospitality sector, offset by robust performance in Property and Facility Management.
Profit before tax climbed 23.3% to AED 147.7 million for YTD March’26 compared to AED 119.8 million in YTD March’25, reflecting the company’s adeptness in maintaining momentum amidst market fluctuations. Total assets rose by 12.1%, amounting to AED 8,151.5 million as of March 31, 2026, demonstrating the company’s strategic asset management.
Commenting on the results, Saeed Mohammed Al Qatami, CEO of Deyaar, said:This quarter reflects healthy business momentum and a productive start to 2026. We are witnessing steady progress in our financial results, driven by our strategic foresight and a continuous commitment to delivering long-term value for our stakeholders.
Our success mirrors the strength of the UAE and Dubai, which entered this period of global tension from a position of strength; backed by strong fiscal buffers, supply chain flexibility, and healthy consumer demand. What distinguishes this environment is the clarity of leadership and a proactive policy framework that preserves stability and maintains confidence across the system, allowing us to turn challenges into opportunities for sustained growth.
The fundamentals of Dubai’s real estate market remain robust, supported by high demand and favourable economic conditions, allowing us to effectively capitalize on emerging opportunities. We are also dedicated to sustaining profitability while strategically launching select projects that address our customers’ evolving requirements.
Our recent handover milestone showcases our operational efficiency and dedication to delivering quality projects, while our substantial project backlog positions us to meet growing demand. We are well-equipped to harness these opportunities and continue driving future growth.

In Q1, Deyaar achieved a significant milestone by handing over 1425 units across three major projects in Dubai, including the luxury residential tower Regalia in Business Bay, the final district of Jannat in Midtown, and Talia Residences in Al Furjan. This handover reflects Deyaar’s dedication to enhancing the built environment in alignment with Dubai’s 2040 Urban Master Plan.
The UAE real estate market remains stable, driven by robust fiscal policies and significant global capital inflows. Within this resilient landscape, Deyaar continues to strengthen its leadership through a disciplined approach to balance sheet management and strategic execution, highlighting its commitment to sustainable growth.
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GROVY DEVELOPERS SIGNS WITH WYNDHAM TO BRING RAMADA RESIDENCES TO DUBAI ISLANDS

Grovy Developers, an award-winning real estate developer in Dubai, has partnered with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s largest hotel franchising companies, to launch Ramada Residences by Wyndham at Dubai Islands, in partnership with USquare as development partner.
The agreement was formally signed at a full-house event attended by senior leadership from all three organisations, including Abhishek Jalan, CEO of Grovy Developers, Dimitris Manikis, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), and Govind Mundra, Head of Development for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, along with Ubaid Ur Rehman Shaikh and Muhammad Umeed Founders of USquare Luxe Properties. The event saw overwhelming interest from investors and brokers, with attendance exceeding capacity and Expressions of Interest registered on-site—reflecting strong demand for the project even amid evolving global market conditions.
Abhishek Jalan, CEO of Grovy Developers, said: “Branded residences are reshaping real estate investment in Dubai. This partnership is strategically significant for Grovy, as we will leverage the world-class recognition of Wyndham to enhance the overall value of our projects. By implementing Wyndham’s global asset management and operational standards, we can ensure that buyers will receive professionally managed residences with an ongoing consistent level of service. The result is an island address backed by globally recognised hospitality standards, setting a new benchmark for how people live and invest in Dubai.”
Building on this vision, Grovy Developers has established a strong track record in the UAE market since 2015, with the successful delivery of residential developments that are now fully operational and reflect the company’s commitment to quality and end-user satisfaction. Its entry into the branded residences segment is a deliberate strategic move, aimed at elevating residential living standards while creating long-term value for investors. In line with this approach, Grovy sought a globally recognised hospitality partner that could seamlessly integrate service-led living into its developments, ensuring both the residential experience and asset performance. This established reputation and forward-thinking strategy positions Grovy as a natural partner of choice for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as it expands its branded residences portfolio in the region.
Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said: “This project reflects our continued confidence in Dubai’s long-term fundamentals and the ongoing demand for high-quality branded residential offerings, even against a challenging environment. By combining Grovy’s local development expertise with Ramada’s globally recognised standards, we are focused on delivering a property that supports sustainable, long-term value for residents and investors. Through Ramada Residences Dubai Islands, Wyndham is actively opening up the branded residences category to a broader audience through a more accessible offering . We remain committed to working closely with our partners to support thoughtful growth across the region.”
Scheduled for handover in Q3 2027, the property will feature a boutique collection of fully furnished residences and penthouses. Ramada Residences by Wyndham at Dubai Islands comprises one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and four-bedroom penthouses. The residence applies hotel-grade services and operations underpinned by the quality assurance of a world-leading international hospitality brand. Residents will enjoy more than 20 leisure amenities, including an aqua gym, golf simulator, open theatre, and temperature-controlled infinity pool. Ramada Residences by Wyndham at Dubai Islands is among a select number of residences approved for short-term leasing on Dubai Islands.
Located in the cultural district of Dubai Islands, a master-planned coastal destination designed for leisure, connectivity and long-term growth, the development benefits from open beaches, expansive green spaces and direct access to the city in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Masterplan.
Ubaid Ur Rehman Shaikh and Muhammad Umeed, Co-Founders of USquare Luxe Properties, said: “As landowners and development partners, our strategic goal is to work closely with brands which share our vision, and we are proud to be in partnership with Grovy Developers and Wyndham in this journey. The vast experience of Grovy and USquare Luxe Properties combined with a global name like Wyndham will deliver lasting value for buyers, investors, and the broader Dubai market.” Backed by a prime location and strong market fundamentals, the project reinforces growing investor confidence in Dubai’s evolving real estate landscape.
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DUBAI’S WATERFRONT REIMAGINED: THE RISE OF INTEGRATED COASTAL LIVING
By Issa Atiq, CEO of Arabian Acres
There is a moment in every great city’s evolution when it stops building toward the water and starts building with it.
Dubai is living through that moment right now.
For much of the past two decades, Dubai’s relationship with its waterfront was largely transactional. The sea became a backdrop, a view to be monetised, a selling point on a floor plan. Developers raced to maximise density along prime shoreline locations, marketing proximity to the water as the ultimate luxury proposition.
The result was ambitious in scale, but much of it was architecture that merely faced the water rather than truly engaging with it.
That era is now evolving into something far more sophisticated: a philosophy of integrated waterfront living that treats the coastline not as scenery, but as infrastructure. A living amenity that shapes how residents move, socialise, and experience daily life.
Having spent years advising investors and development partners across Dubai’s most sought-after waterfront districts, I believe this transition is not cyclical. It is structural. And it will define the next chapter of Dubai’s real estate story.
What “Integrated” Actually Means
Integrated waterfront living is not simply a mixed-use tower near the sea. It is a masterplanning philosophy that connects private residential life with curated maritime experiences, where the relationship between home and waterfront is intentionally seamless.
In practice, this means private beach access designed as a central feature rather than an afterthought. It means yacht berthing, wellness facilities, walkable promenades, hospitality concepts, and lifestyle-driven retail integrated into the community from the outset. Most importantly, it requires restraint.
The value of true waterfront integration diminishes the moment overcrowding begins. A private beachfront shared by a limited number of residents will always command a stronger premium than high-density development built purely around maximising sellable inventory.
This represents a fundamentally different economic philosophy from the one that shaped much of Dubai’s earlier waterfront expansion. It requires developers to think beyond short-term unit yield and focus instead on long-term capital appreciation, placemaking, and ecosystem value.
The developers who understand this shift are already creating some of the market’s most compelling assets.
Why This Shift Is Happening Now
Several forces are converging to accelerate this evolution within Dubai’s premium residential market.
The first is the changing profile of global wealth entering the emirate. Since 2020, Dubai has experienced a significant influx of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and internationally mobile investors, many of whom have already experienced the world’s leading waterfront destinations, from the Côte d’Azur and Monaco to Malibu and the Algarve.
These buyers are no longer impressed solely by height or density. They are increasingly drawn to exclusivity, privacy, wellness, and meaningful access to nature.
For this buyer demographic, a private shoreline shared among 50 residences is inherently more valuable than a rooftop amenity shared among hundreds.
The second factor is planning maturity.
Dubai’s approach to waterfront development has evolved considerably. There is now greater recognition that indiscriminate densification along the coastline is ultimately a finite strategy, one that risks eroding the scarcity premium that gives waterfront land its long-term value.
The conversations taking place today between developers, planners, and investment groups reflect a more sophisticated outlook: preserving Dubai’s coastline as a globally differentiated asset class rather than simply maximising buildable area.
We are already beginning to see this philosophy emerge across select ultra-prime districts, from low-density beachfront enclaves to next-generation masterplans centred around wellness, hospitality, marina integration, and walkable public spaces rather than standalone towers.
The third factor is simple supply reality.
Truly exceptional waterfront land in Dubai is extraordinarily scarce. Sites with genuine private beach frontage and sufficient scale to support a fully integrated masterplan are exceptionally limited.
That scarcity is precisely what underpins the long-term value proposition for investors and developers operating within this segment.
The Investment Perspective
From an advisory standpoint, integrated waterfront developments increasingly represent one of the market’s strongest long-term capital preservation and appreciation strategies.
This is fundamentally different from the liquidity-driven off-plan investment cycle that dominates much of the broader market conversation.
When executed correctly, these developments tend to produce a more resilient return profile because the underlying product is genuinely difficult to replicate. The premium attached to these assets is structural rather than speculative.
Resale demand also tends to be more internationally diversified and less reactive to short-term local market fluctuations because these assets compete on a global level. In many cases, the buyer is not comparing the opportunity to another Dubai community, they are comparing it to Monaco, Miami, Saint-Tropez, or the Mediterranean coastline.
The development potential of well-positioned waterfront land, when unlocked through thoughtful planning and restrained density, can significantly exceed the long-term value generated through conventional high-density waterfront construction.
However, realising that potential requires a particular type of vision. One that combines design ambition with operational discipline and long-term strategic thinking.
A Defining Decade for Dubai’s Waterfront
Dubai is entering what I believe will become a defining decade for its waterfront real estate market.
The decisions made today, which sites are developed, how they are planned, how much density is introduced, and what quality of experience is ultimately delivered, will shape how Dubai’s coastline is perceived globally for generations to come.
The world’s most respected waterfront destinations earned their reputations by understanding that the relationship between built environment and natural waterfront is something valuable enough to protect carefully.
Dubai already possesses the ingredients: global demand, world-class infrastructure, ambitious capital, and one of the most recognisable coastlines in modern real estate.
The next generation of Dubai’s waterfront will not be defined by who builds the tallest towers, but by who creates the most meaningful relationship between land, water, and lifestyle. The opportunity is extraordinary. So is the responsibility.
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