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In recent years, Dubai's real estate market has entered a new period of prosperity, attracting a surge of investors as property prices and transaction volumes have seen significant increases. Dubai property prices have surpassed peak levels from 2014 by nearly 10% and continue to climb.

In May 2024, the volume of ready property transactions in Dubai surged by 53% year-on-year to 17,713 transactions, with the total transaction value increasing by 38% to 46.5 billion dirhams. Off-plan markets have also shown strength, reaching historical highs with 11,107 transactions valued at 22.7 billion dirhams. These figures highlight the strong demand for Dubai real estate.

Sales of luxury homes in Dubai, priced over $10 million, have exceeded those in traditional markets like New York, London, and Hong Kong. A significant influx of wealthy individuals into the UAE is noted, with Dubai alone hosting over 72,500 high-net-worth individuals with liquid assets exceeding $1 million, 212 individuals with net assets over $100 million, and approximately 15 billionaires with assets exceeding $1 billion. Over the past decade, the number of millionaires has grown by 78%.

In the first quarter of 2024, Dubai's population increased by 25,700 people, reaching a total of 3.6 million. Projections estimate Dubai's population will reach 7.8 million by 2040. Analysts suggest the need to construct approximately 51,440 new housing units annually to meet the housing needs of permanent residents and a large number of tourists.

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Since 2020, Dubai's property prices have steadily risen. According to the Dubai Property Monitor's Dynamic Price Index (DPI), as of April 2024, property prices in Dubai stand at 1,351 dirhams per square foot, up 9.5% from the historical peak in September 2014. The UAE real estate market is expected to reach a scale of 2.6 trillion dirhams ($707.86 billion) by the end of the year.

In the first quarter of 2024, Dubai sold 105 luxury homes valued at over $10 million each, marking a 19% increase from the first quarter of 2023. The cumulative sales value of luxury homes grew by 6% year-on-year to $1.73 billion. The high-net-worth individual population growth rate in Dubai is expected to reach 24.6% annually, further boosting demand for luxury homes.

The expansion project at Al Maktoum International Airport has driven up property prices in surrounding areas. Potential price increases of up to 15% are expected in Dubai South and neighboring regions this year. Several prominent developers are undertaking large-scale projects in the area, including Emaar Properties' Emaar South project, DAMAC's Riverside Community project, and Dubai South Properties' Pulse Villas.

Emaar South spans approximately 7 million square meters and includes over 15,000 residential units, retail spaces, office buildings, and recreational facilities. DAMAC's Riverside Community offers 1,900 townhouses, while Emaar has also announced new projects such as "The Heights" and "Expo Valley." Pulse Villas is slated for completion this year, offering villas and townhouses.

Despite several large-scale projects in the pipeline, analysts predict that Dubai's housing demand will far exceed supply, estimating a shortfall of 190,439 units. This could lead to a significant 5-7% surge in property prices in 2024 and 2025. Since 2020, rental yields for Dubai apartments have increased by 32%, with current yields of 5-6% surpassing those in China and India, making average returns on investment highly attractive, ranging from 10-15%.

Given that property prices have surpassed 2014 peak levels and with supply shortages persisting, Dubai's property prices are poised to continue rising. Analysts project that by the end of 2024, the UAE's commercial real estate sector will reach $307.1 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.01% from 2024 to 2028, further escalating to $345.8 billion by 2028.