BY DR. SALWA ARFAOUI, CERTIFIED INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE STRATEGIST & TRAINER | REGIONAL DIRECTOR, NEXT LEVEL REAL ESTATE | FOUNDER WOMEN OF VISION
Dubai’s real-estate market has achieved what few global cities have — scale, speed, and international trust. Record transaction volumes and sustained foreign demand confirm its global appeal. However, as we approach 2026, the true challenge is not growth, but how that growth is protected.
Recent global indicators, including the UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index, highlight the importance of managing markets that experience rapid price acceleration. Dubai remains attractive, but rising values and a large future supply pipeline mean protection mechanisms must evolve to preserve long-term stability.
If I could change one thing in 2026, it would be this: institutionalizing transparency and buyer protection as a permanent foundation. This means a real-time public data platform showing supply pipelines, absorption rates, and segmented pricing ,,allowing buyers, banks, and investors to make informed decisions. It also means stronger off-plan protections through standardized contracts, independent escrow oversight, and clearer delivery accountability, especially as off-plan transactions continue to dominate market activity.
Equally important is smart supply management. Development approvals should be phased in line with real demand and infrastructure readiness, reducing the risk of sudden oversupply and price correction.
Finally, Dubai has an opportunity to lead globally by combining protection with inclusive growth, supporting women investors, brokers, and developers through targeted access to education, capital, and leadership platforms strengthens the market socially and economically — and differentiates Dubai from every competing global city.
In 2026, Dubai will stand out not only because it grows faster than others — but because it grows wiser, fairer, and more resilient as well.
