From vision to value: how Dubai Land Department pitched the emirate to institutional investors at RISE 2026

Dubai: Dubai Land Department (DLD) used the opening of RISE 2026 on 14 October to show international investors what Dubai’s real estate market has already delivered this year. In the first half of 2026, 104 real estate projects were completed in the emirate, with a combined value of more than AED 111 billion, 52 per cent higher than the same period last year.

DLD took part in the one-day summit at Dubai World Trade Centre as a strategic government partner. Director General His Excellency Omar Hamad BuShehab gave the official opening address to an audience of institutional investors, sovereign wealth fund representatives, government leaders and developers, which the organisers put at more than 250 senior delegates.

The numbers behind the pitch

The completion figures were first published in August, in DLD data released through WAM. Set against the first half of 2025, they show growth on every measure:

• Completed projects: 104, up from 75
• Value of completed projects: more than AED 111 billion, up from AED 73 billion (+52%)
• New units delivered: 24,537, up from 18,043 (+36%)
• Built-up area completed and ready for handover: 95 million sq m, up from 1.58 million sq m (+23.4%)
• Value of land allocated to completed projects: AED 19.46 billion, up from AED 8.27 billion

For an audience of long-term investors, completions carry particular weight. They are the point at which launches become finished homes and buildings that can be handed over, occupied, leased and valued, and they give investors a measurable record of what the market delivers.

The real estate sector is a clear reflection of Dubai’s long-term vision, given the growth it continues to achieve, the opportunities it creates and its role in urban and community development and quality of life.”Omar Hamad BuShehab, Director General, Dubai Land Department

In his opening remarks, BuShehab said: “The real estate sector is a clear reflection of Dubai’s long-term vision, given the growth it continues to achieve, the opportunities it creates and its role in urban and community development and quality of life. The sector’s performance reflects the strength of this model. In the first half of 2026, 104 real estate projects were completed, valued at more than AED 111 billion, representing 52% growth in value compared with the same period last year. We continue to build on these foundations through the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, advancing integrated economic and urban growth while strengthening Dubai’s appeal to capital and long-term investment.”

He pointed to the emirate’s long-term economic vision, infrastructure, competitive business environment and public-private partnerships as the foundations of its investment appeal.

A summit about where capital moves next

RISE 2026, held under the slogan ‘Recharging Momentum in Global Economies’, is the first edition of the summit. It is organised by inD, the events partnership between Informa and Dubai World Trade Centre, with DLD and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism as strategic government partners. RICS and FIABCI Emirates are supporting partners and ValuStrat is knowledge partner.

The programme focused on shifts in global capital flows and what they mean for cities and property markets, alongside trade, infrastructure, tokenisation and the energy demands of AI data centres. Listed speakers included former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar, Aldar Group CEO Talal Al Dhiyebi and Dubai Holding Real Estate CEO Khalid Al Malik, according to the organisers’ programme.

From vision to value

Majid Saqr Al Marri, CEO of the Corporate Support Sector at DLD, joined a panel titled ‘From Vision to Value: Shaping the Future of Dubai’s Real Estate Sector’, moderated by real estate expert Ismail Al Hammadi. The discussion centred on how transparency, regulation, market data and digital transformation protect investor rights and make the market more attractive.

Al Marri said DLD’s role as strategic partner reflects its aim of building partnerships across the real estate ecosystem, and described the summit as a platform for direct engagement with investors and developers. He listed Dubai’s regulatory environment, efficient infrastructure and the range of property opportunities on offer as the main drivers of investment appeal.

From renting to owning

Al Marri singled out the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, which helps residents move from renting to ownership. Launched in July 2025 by DLD with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, it is open to UAE residents aged 18 and over, of any nationality, who do not already own a freehold residential property in Dubai. Members get priority access to new off-plan launches, preferential pricing on homes up to AED 5 million and tailored mortgage products.

By June 2026 the programme had helped more than 3,200 residents buy their first home, with transactions worth more than AED 5 billion. It now has 22 participating developers and five partner banks. Wider home ownership is a stated goal of the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, which targets a home ownership rate of 33 per cent.

Digital tools for developers, investors and buyers

Al Marri also outlined DLD’s digital services, which are designed to simplify each step for investors, developers and customers:

• Initial Registration: launched in September 2026, the platform brings project registration, transaction registration and escrow account management together for developers. It uses AI to read Emirates IDs, passports and sales contracts, can approve standard transactions on submission, and offers a ‘Project 360’ view of each project.
• Dubai REST: DLD’s app for property services and market information.
• Malik: DLD’s AI-powered virtual assistant, available on the DLD website, which supports customers with enquiries.

These sit alongside wider DLD programmes to support brokers, develop Emirati talent and expand the range of investment tools available in the market.

What it means for the market

DLD’s message at RISE was built on delivery and data: a clear regulatory framework, digital services that shorten transactions, and completion figures that show projects reaching handover at a faster pace. For institutional investors, that record is the evidence base. For developers, Initial Registration promises faster approvals. For residents, the First-Time Home Buyer Programme offers a direct route from renting to owning.

All three support the Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, which aims to grow real estate transactions by 70 per cent and double the sector’s contribution to GDP, and the wider Dubai Economic Agenda D33.