The Dubai property market has nothing to fear amidst the ongoing regional conflict. That is according to Emirati real estate mogul Mohamed Alabbar, who said he has no concerns about the outlook for Dubai’s property market, even as a wave of new supply is set to arrive in 2026 and 2027.
“We are not here for the short run. We are here for a long, long time to do business,” said Alabbar, CEO and founder of Emaar Properties, one of the world’s largest real estate developers.
In a recent interview with CNBC, he pointed out that the incoming supply was a natural feature of a market built on decade-long ambitions rather than short-term speculation. While he acknowledged that a brief cooling-off period is possible, he was absolutely sure that there would be no problems for the real estate market ahead.
No seller offering discounts
To illustrate confidence in the market, Alabbar shared a personal anecdote. Currently searching for a seafront apartment for his own use, he noted that after two days of looking, not a single seller was willing to offer a discount. “Nobody wants to budge. Nobody wants to give a discount,” he said. “That’s a true situation.” He said it was a quiet but powerful signal of where sentiment stands on the ground.
Alabbar also pointed to a structural characteristic that sets Dubai apart from other global property markets — its real estate sector is not built on bank borrowing. Lending to buyers is tightly restricted, meaning the market is insulated from the kind of credit-driven collapses seen elsewhere. “Our real estate business is not built on bank borrowing. Bank borrowing is very restricted in this market,” he said, adding that while consumer confidence may experience a temporary dip, the UAE’s policy environment has a proven track record of restoring it quickly.
On the broader question of geopolitical uncertainty and Dubai’s reputation as a refuge for global wealth, Alabbar was equally confident. He said investors who study the trajectory of UAE policy over years and decades will consistently find the same qualities: consistency, sustainability, wisdom, and stability. “A country like this, with all these principles and stable leadership and the safety, it has shown that it can deliver,” he said.
Alabbar reserved particular admiration for the UAE’s leadership and its capacity for long-range strategic planning. While acknowledging he is not versed in military affairs, he said he was genuinely moved by the country’s demonstrated capabilities and that serious investors understand what this means. “People with true capital understand this, they appreciate this, and they will double down on investing,” he said.
His comments come as real estate industry experts have pointed out that Dubai has defied regional tensions with 100-million-dollar deals still happening.