By Eng. Amer Khansaheb, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Union Properties PJSC

In today’s buoyant UAE Real Estate landscape, conventional metrics like unit sales volumes are becoming obsolete. Instead, genuine success increasingly lies in value measured through long-term rental income, growth, asset quality, and capital appreciation. Developers who adopt an investor-led mindset, prioritising yield, durability, and premium standards, are effectively shaping the future of the sector in the UAE.

From Selling Today to Earning Tomorrow

To achieve this shift, developers must transcend the traditional focus on one-time sales. Developers must embrace business models that generate sustainable rental income, ensuring a predictable stream of cash flow even during market fluctuations. Future-focused project planning must integrate rental viability, anchoring developments in steady long-term returns rather than immediate, speculative gains. This investor-first approach positions developers for long-term growth.

Rental Market Momentum: Major Growth Engine

The UAE’s residential leases market is projected to reach USD 27.98 billion in 2025 and USD 33.10 billion by 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3 per cent. Developers who prioritise rental-ready, high-quality units will be best placed to capture this expanding market, appealing both to residents seeking premium housing and to investors seeking reliable returns. This demonstrates the enormous potential that rental-centric development strategies hold.

Supply Growth and Still Solid Returns

Despite expectations of 180,000 new residential units by 2026, rental yields remain strong at 7.4 per cent. This reveals persistent demand, indicating prime opportunities for value-added investments. Developers can capitalise this by offering thoughtfully designed projects with integrated amenities and sustainability features on strategic locations, elements that elevate rental income and investor appeal.

Attracting Global Capital through Investment-First Mindset

The UAE’s progressive policies such as long-term visas, free zones for Real Estate, and investor-friendly reforms, continue to magnetise international and institutional capital. By adopting an investor-first mindset, developers can meet this evolving demand by offering investment-grade opportunities and high-quality, income-generating assets that appeal to discerning global investors.

Differentiating Through Quality

To differentiate in this present market increasingly defined by long-term value rather than rapid turnover, excellence in design, exceptional finishes and long-term value are keys. Developers who invest in durability, sustainability, and strategic positioning, beyond sheer scale, will attract tenant loyalty and investor confidence. This differentiation fosters both brand equity and financial resilience.

Aligning with Future: Investor Mindset as Strategy

As the UAE Real Estate landscape evolves, we can safely state that those developers that think like investors will certainly emerge as leaders. By aligning projects with long-term income generation, adhering to global investment standards, and offering quality-driven, sustainable developments, they lay the groundwork for enduring success.

This dynamic Real Estate environment is not merely a passing trend but a blueprint for sustainable, value-based growth in the UAE market. Developers who embrace this investor-led vision, integrating rental yield, design excellence, and global standards, will not only thrive but also redefine the future of the sector.

Dubai’s tallest commercial tower honors’ two decades of architectural innovation

OMNIYAT, Dubai’s visionary ultra-luxury developer, has officially launched LUMENA ALTA, a 380-metre landmark redefining the city’s skyline. Upon completion in 2030, it will become Business Bay’s tallest commercial tower.

The launch also celebrates OMNIYAT’s 20th anniversary, symbolizing two decades of design, craftsmanship, and creativity. Moreover, with a Gross Development Value above AED 5 billion, LUMENA ALTA continues the success of LUMENA and ENARA, reaffirming OMNIYAT’s position as a leader in luxury real estate.

A Vision Elevated

From its name, LUMENA ALTA captures light and ambition. “Lumena,” derived from the Latin lumen, evokes brilliance and creativity, while “Alta,” meaning elevated, conveys height and aspiration. Together, they express OMNIYAT’s guiding principle – The Art of Elevation.

Furthermore, the tower’s spiraling glass façade reflects sunlight by day and glows softly by night. Its fluid design embodies motion and progress, mirroring Dubai’s rise as a global capital of innovation.

Workspaces That Inspire

Designed for global visionaries, LUMENA ALTA blends performance, wellbeing, and prestige in one vertical destination. Triple-height sky lobbies, panoramic terraces, and bright atria bring openness and balance to every floor. In addition, landscaped sky gardens and private terraces connect work with nature, creating calm within energy.

Strategically located on Sheikh Zayed Road, the tower provides direct access to Downtown Dubai, DIFC, and the future Dubai Metro Gold Line. Together with its twin, LUMENA, it forms a luminous gateway to Business Bay – a landmark of connectivity, commerce, and culture.

A World Above Expectation

Crowning the structure, a five-star lifestyle hotel merges hospitality with architectural artistry. Its Sky Pool, suspended 335 metres above the city, will be the world’s highest infinity pool.

At the summit, the Sky Restaurant will deliver panoramic 360° views of Dubai’s skyline and coastline. Each evening will blend gastronomy, design, and spectacle – a sensory experience above the clouds.

Moreover, wellbeing defines the tower’s rhythm. Private fitness suites, hydrotherapy zones, vitality pools, and spa sanctuaries offer renewal throughout the day. A 25-metre indoor lap pool completes a lifestyle that balances achievement and serenity.

Service Beyond Space

As with all OMNIYAT masterpieces, LUMENA ALTA offers service that matches its design. A dedicated concierge team manages reception, meetings, and lifestyle coordination. Furthermore, residents and guests can access tailored experiences – from wellness scheduling and luxury travel to event planning and personal shopping.

Drawing inspiration from The Opus, One at Palm Jumeirah, and The Lana, OMNIYAT turns architecture into living art, ensuring every interaction feels seamless and refined.

Smart, Sustainable and Future-Ready

LUMENA ALTA is engineered to achieve LEED Platinum, Platinum WELL, Platinum WiredScore, and SmartScore Certifications. These standards emphasise sustainability, technology, and human wellbeing. Consequently, the tower establishes a new benchmark for intelligent, future-focused commercial spaces.

A Legacy of Ambition and Artistry

Reflecting on the milestone, Mahdi Amjad, Founder and Executive Chairman of OMNIYAT, said:

“Dubai attracts global enterprises that value excellence and creativity. As demand for premium space grows, OMNIYAT will keep reshaping the skyline with bold, intelligent designs that inspire progress.”

Over the past two decades, OMNIYAT has evolved from a developer into a curator of architectural art. With LUMENA ALTA, the company begins a new chapter – one where art, architecture, and ambition converge to define Dubai’s next horizon.

check this out Sobha Realty Sells 50% Downtown UAQ Within First Week

Attributed by Olga Pankina, Chief Operating Officer, Whitewill Dubai

Dubai’s real estate market crossed AED 522.5 billion ($143 billion) in transactions during 2024, a 27% jump on the previous year, according to the Dubai Land Department. This surge highlights not just rising volumes but growing complexity. Knight Frank reports that more than 40% of ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the GCC now view real estate as a key component of diversified wealth portfolios rather than simply lifestyle purchases. In response, brokers are evolving from dealmakers into strategic advisors who help clients structure long-term wealth strategies.

How brokers are adapting

Market complexitySavills data shows Dubai launched more than 70 projects in 2024, ranging from branded residences to creative payment schemes and mixed-use formats. Brokers are responding by building specialist teams that analyse developer track records, payment plan risks, and brand value premiums. They are no longer just introducing projects—they are running scenario models on potential delays, interest rate movements, and projected resale values to advise clients which launches fit their investment strategy.

Global benchmarkingWith Dubai’s rental yields averaging 6.8–7.5%, far stronger than the 3–4% seen in London or Paris, brokers are positioning themselves as comparative analysts. They present clients with side-by-side yield scenarios, factoring in currency exposure and financing costs across markets, so investors can decide whether Dubai should serve as a core yield play or be complemented with international assets for balance.

Policy and regulatory shiftsBy the end of 2024, the UAE had issued more than 158,000 Golden Visas, creating new investment dynamics. Brokers now advise clients on selecting properties that can qualify for residency, structuring ownership to maximise visa eligibility, and aligning investments with long-term family relocation plans. As new sectors like gaming expand in Ras Al Khaimah—anchored by Wynn Resorts’ 2025 opening—brokers are also flagging secondary growth corridors to investors, integrating policy insights into their advisory.

Trusted advisor model

Deloitte’s surveys show that 72% of GCC investors now expect brokers to advise on taxation, ownership structures, and exit strategies. Leading firms have broadened their offerings to include full lifecycle support: arranging financing, overseeing management and leasing, and planning exit timing. Some brokerages integrate concierge services, legal counsel, banking contacts, family office networks, so clients interact with a single advisor orchestrating the entire ecosystem.

Regional broker strategies

Dubai and Abu DhabiThe Dubai Land Department notes that 36% of all transactions in 2024 were for ready properties, signalling investor preference for immediate income-producing assets. Brokers are shifting accordingly, building ready-asset portfolios and negotiating rental agreements and management contracts alongside the sale. In Abu Dhabi, they are emphasising projects with infrastructure certainty, guiding clients toward assets that can deliver both lifestyle and reliable returns.

Saudi ArabiaVision 2030 has placed over a trillion dollars’ worth of projects into the pipeline, but execution quality varies. Brokers are acting as filters, vetting projects based on developer capability, financing security, and infrastructure backing before presenting them to clients. They frequently run due diligence with engineering consultants and local legal teams to protect investors from speculative risks while highlighting projects aligned with government priorities.

OmanCBRE recorded 8–10% price growth in Muscat and Muttrah in 2024, spurred by early foreign demand. Brokers here are counselling clients against pure speculation, instead positioning Omani assets as long-term diversification plays. They provide guidance on ownership regulations, residency eligibility, and exit options, ensuring foreign investors understand the timelines and obligations before entering the market.

Skills for modern brokers

Financial fluency is becoming a baseline skill. Brokers are expected to present internal rates of return, cash-flow projections, and exit models. In premium Dubai projects, IRRs of 12–14% are achievable under active management, but only if brokers can demonstrate scenarios clearly.

Additionally, JLL forecasts that by 2026, over half of MENA property transactions will rely on AI-driven dashboards. Many brokers are already using predictive analytics to assess submarket vacancies and rental trends. With more than 35% of Dubai’s buyers coming from abroad, cross-border fluency—tax treaties, cultural norms, legal frameworks—has become part of the broker’s toolkit. None of this is possible without network capital: relationships with developers, bankers, and regulators that give brokers the leverage to deliver better outcomes for clients.

Market insight

Knight Frank highlights a shift among GCC investors from single-unit acquisitions to multi-asset strategies. Brokers are helping clients pair prestige villas for lifestyle and residency benefits with mid-market rental units generating 6–9% yields. Others are designing “exit packages,” advising on resale timing, tenanting strategies, or even property repurposing if liquidity dries up, so portfolios remain resilient.

Forward outlook

PwC estimates that $2.5 trillion in UHNW capital will move across borders by 2030, and brokers will be positioned as the private bankers of real estate. Some firms are already experimenting with hybrid compensation models, retainers plus performance fees, to reflect this shift from transaction to long-term wealth management.

As yields in Dubai stabilise around 5–7% by 2026–27, investors will value strategy over opportunism. The brokers who thrive will be those who build trust as advisors, helping clients protect, grow, and align property with broader wealth ambitions. The industry is moving decisively away from transactions. Strategy is the new currency.