Arab Spring encourages green shoots for Dubai property

Dubai's residential property market is benefitting from regional unrest, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.

Dubai's residential property market is benefitting from regional unrest, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. (Jeff Topping/The National) STOCK

More investment is flowing into the Dubai residential sector, as the property market benefits from unrest elsewhere in the region and the UAE's "safe haven" status, according to a new report.

Editor's Pick: The big business stories making headlines today

Next generation's need for speed 4G for the UAE: With 'explosive' consumer demand expected for 4G mobile internet in the UAE, local retailers are preparing to stock up on compatible smartphones. read article

New twist in Al Gosaibis saga a boost for Al Sanea Maan Al Sanea, the Saudi businessman embroiled in a bitter legal battle with the Al Gosaibi family has broken his silence over the case. Read article

The mission to restore Tripoli's water The Libyan rebels were confronted with a mystery on taking control of Tripoli: why had its water stopped flowing? - with video. Read article

"Investor interest and the amount of money seeking a home in the Dubai real estate market has increased during 2011, especially among investors from elsewhere in the GCC region," Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) said.

These investors are buying "completed, income producing properties, with little or no demand for partially completed or poorly let projects".

The high end sector is highlighted as being a main beneficiary.

"It is important that the Dubai Government moves quickly to grasp this opportunity," JLL said. "This interest is yet to result in rents or prices increasing across the board but some localised markets are now approaching stability.

"Interest from those displaced by the Arab Spring or looking for safe haven residential properties in Dubai is reported to be particularly strong for upmarket villas in iconic projects such as Palm Jumeirah."

The tourism and retail sectors in the UAE have also benefitted in the past few months, as GCC tourists in particular have avoided other parts of the region and headed to Dubai. The hotel market is showing signs of "an early recovery", the report stated.

However, JLL also warned that Dubai remains closely linked to the global economy.

"Concerns over mounting debt issues in both the Eurozone and the US have dented the positive sentiment towards the Dubai real estate market during the third quarter 2011."

Prices and rents of offices in Dubai are expected to decline further over the next year, JLL added.

"The residential market has been more mixed, with villas performing better than apartments. Sale prices for the villa segment continue to trend slightly upward especially for the high end villa segment."