Dubai property delivers stronger returns than global markets, new report shows

Dubai real estate investors are seeing a better return from properties in the city than overseas investments, according to a new betterhomes report. 

The Futureliving Report 2025 reveals that 44 per cent of homeowners say their Dubai property investments deliver stronger returns than their investments overseas.

This, the report notes, reaffirms the emirate’s global competitiveness and reflects a maturing market in which both capital appreciation and rental yields continue to outperform major international hubs.

Dubai real estate investments

It comes as the Dubai real estate market continues to strengthen, with new data showing rising investor confidence, long-term commitment and a growing belief that the emirate now outperforms major global hubs.

The trend is supported by population growth, business-friendly policies and an expanding base of long-term residents, positioning Dubai among the world’s strongest-performing real estate ecosystems.

The Futureliving Report 2025 highlights a broad range of indicators that point to deepening confidence among property owners:

• 87 per cent of homeowners and landlords are satisfied with current rental yields
• 30 per cent purchased their first Dubai property more than a decade ago, signalling long-term commitment to the city
• A maturing ownership base shows 41 per cent owning one property and 38 per cent owning multiple, indicating continued reinvestment and portfolio expansion within Dubai rather than abroad

Investor confidence

Taken together, these data points show that investors are not only earning more in Dubai—they are choosing to consolidate wealth inside the emirate instead of diversifying away from it.

Louis Harding, CEO of betterhomes, said: “Dubai has moved far beyond being an emerging market story. When 44% of investors say their properties here outperform those they hold overseas, it signals a market operating at a genuinely global standard.

“Steady yields, long-term residency trends, and policy certainty are creating one of the most resilient real estate ecosystems anywhere in the world.”

The report’s respondent base spans more than 90 nationalities, making the findings reflective of global sentiment rather than regional bias. The strongest buying intent originates from the UK, a mature and globally influential investor market.

This diversified demand base underscores Dubai’s appeal at a time when several traditional international hubs face economic and geopolitical pressures.

Further cementing this shift, 89 per cent of homeowners believe Dubai will stand alongside London, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong as a top-tier real estate market within the next five years.

With nearly 200,000 new units expected by 2027 and continued capital inflows, the report concludes that Dubai has proven itself a resilient, world-class market attracting investors who value both opportunity and stability.