The reality of Dubai's property price index and a look at the foreseeable future

Document Type : Original

Author

Department of Mathematics, Financial University, Moscow, Russia.

Abstract

The real estate market serves as an important indicator of economic health, reflecting the complex interaction of numerous factors. The study provides a detailed assessment of the real estate sector in the United Arab Emirates, with a particular focus on the Dubai market. Using price data from 2012 to 2024 compared to a base index of 1.00 (equivalent to AED 934,524 for apartments and AED 1,646,567 for villas), the results show a steady upward trend in value. This growth will peak in 2024, when the index will reach 1.58 for apartments and 1.43 for villas. The study uses the Orange-ARIMA forecasting model, according to which the period of market stability will continue until 2028. At this stage, a slight correction is expected, with the forecast indices stabilizing at 1.57 for apartments and 1.37 for villas. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the apartment price index fell to a low of 0.99 in the second quarter of 2021, while the villa price index reached its lowest point in the first quarter of 2020, recording 0.99. The research confirms that the Dubai real estate market has remarkable resilience and great potential for sustainable growth. This stability is underpinned by solid economic fundamentals and a predictable political environment. Key drivers include the increasing adoption of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, which enhances operational efficiency and market transparency. All these factors together reinforce Dubai's unique and leading position as a safe and advanced investment center in the region.

Keywords

Main Subjects


حوزة موضوعی: دبی

Scope: Dubai

Al Abdulsalam AS, Al-Baiti Al Hashemi MM, Aleissaee MZS, Almansoori ASH, Ertek G, Labben TG. (2024). “A novel data analytics methodology for analyzing real estate brokerage markets with case study of Dubai”. Buildings. 14(10): https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103068.
Aldarbas A. (2024). “Assessing real estate ownership regulations in GCC countries: Towards convergence or divergence”. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development. 12(10). https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v12i10.3706.
Douissa IB, Besbes K, Hussain MA, Awad A, Chenguel MB. (2025). “Demystifying the reciprocal influence between media narratives and real estate investment trends: The case of Dubai, 2019-2025”. SSRN. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5348717.
Dahan AA. (2018). “The future of the real estate industry of Dubai: The demand for real estates (2000-2020)”. Journal of Global Economics. 6(4). https://doi.org/10.4172/2375-4389.1000317.
Fan KY, Shen J, Hui ECM, Cheng LTW. (2024). “ESG components and equity returns: Evidence from real estate investment trusts”. International Review of Financial Analysis. 96(B). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103716.
Fetais AH, Aysan AF, Nagayev R. (2024). “Navigating the complexities of GCC real state markets: An analysis of interlinkages amidst shocks and oil effects”. Journal of Multinational Financial Management. 74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mulfin.2024.100859.
Fuerst F, Milcheva S, Baum AE. (2013). “Cross-border capital flows into real estate”. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2352073.
Gertler M, Gilchrist S. (2018). “What happened: financial factors in the great recession”. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 32(3): 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.32.3.3.
Government of Dubai. (2025). “Residential sales price index”. https://dubailand.gov.ae/ar/open-data/residential-properties-price-index-rppi/#/.
Ibrahim Moawad AM. (2023). “Factors influencing real estate purchasing in Dubai”. Westcliff International Journal of Applied Research. 7(1): 30-50. https://doi.org/10.47670/wuwijar202371AMIM.
Ismail NH, Abd Karim MZ, Bao HXH. (2025). “Foreign investment and housing market stability in developing economies: Empirical evidence from Malaysia”. Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 18(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18040187.
Jianghong Z, Chen W. (2011). “Dynamic impact of interest rate policy on real estate market”. Asian Social Science. 7(10): 188-188. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v7n10p188.
Mishkin FS. (2011). “Over the cliff: From the subprime to the global financial crisis”. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 25(1): 49-70. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.25.1.49.
Ramey VA. (2019). “Ten years after the financial crisis: What have we learned from the renaissance in fiscal research?”. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 33(2): 89-114, https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.33.2.89.
Pillai R, Al-Malkawi HAN, Bhatti MI. (2021). “Assessing institutional dynamics of governance compliance in emerging markets: The GCC real estate sector”. Journal of Risk and Financial Management (JRFM). 14(10): 501. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm14100501.
Renaud B. (2012). “Real estate bubble and financial crisis in Dubai: Dynamics and policy responses”. Journal of Real Estate Literature. 20(1): 51-77. https://doi.org/10.1080/10835547.2012.12090313.

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 January 2026
  • Receive Date: 05 November 2025
  • Revise Date: 19 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 08 December 2025
  • First Publish Date: 04 January 2026
  • Publish Date: 04 January 2026