Actual property was excessive on the agenda, with overseas possession guidelines, mega-developments and affordability initiatives all transferring from coverage to apply. Aviation, know-how and tender energy additionally featured, underscoring how capital, expertise and affect are being actively reshaped throughout the area.
Compensate for 10 regional enterprise tales this week, as chosen by Arabian Enterprise editors.
Saudi’s Pink Sea turns into first actual check of overseas property possession
Saudi Arabia’s Pink Sea growth is changing into the primary place the place the Kingdom’s newly opened property market is being examined in apply, with worldwide consumers already finishing purchases below guidelines that took impact this month, in response to Pushed Properties CEO Abdullah Al Ajaji.
“We’re already seeing consumers pull the set off,” Al Ajaji advised Arabian Enterprise, referring to overseas buyers buying residential models on the Pink Sea following the introduction of a unified nationwide framework permitting non-Saudis to personal property in designated areas.
The brand new Regulation on Non-Saudis’ Possession of Actual Property has come into pressure this month, changing a restrictive system that had been in place since 2000. The laws permits overseas people and entities to purchase residential, industrial, industrial and agricultural property inside zones to be recognized by the Council of Ministers on the advice of the Saudi Actual Property Common Authority.
How a lot will Dubai property costs rise in 2026? Workplaces tipped to outperform properties
The Dubai residential property market is predicted to shift right into a extra normalised section in 2026, with value progress moderating sharply from current highs, whereas the workplace sector is forecast to stay a standout performer, in response to the most recent outlook from ValuStrat.
In its Dubai Actual Property Outlook 2026, ValuStrat forecasts residential capital beneficial properties of round 10 per cent subsequent 12 months, down from 19.8 per cent in 2025, because the market cools following a number of years of fast appreciation.
Within the consultancy’s base case, residential rents are anticipated to be broadly flat (0 per cent), reflecting a softer leasing cycle and tighter affordability situations. Against this, workplace capital values and rents are each projected to rise by round 15 per cent, supported by ongoing company enlargement and a persistent scarcity of Grade A provide in prime places.
REVEALED: Dubai Sq. Mall to drive ‘greater occupancy, stronger retail gross sales, premium pricing’ for surrounding areas – specialists
Dubai Sq. Mall, a 2.6 million sq. metre retail vacation spot at Dubai Creek Harbour is ready to develop into the most important retail vacation spot on the earth, doubling the dimensions of Dubai Mall.
With the event anticipated to open in roughly three years, in response to the developer, the grasp plan covers round 11 million sq. metres and is valued at AED180bn.
With the town already dwelling to thriving retail districts together with Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, the brand new growth would imply a “rebalancing of gravity,” Yogesh Bulchandani, CEO and founding father of Dawn Capital advised Arabian Enterprise.
Abu Dhabi actual property growth looms in 2026 as off-plan gross sales set to exceed $32.7bn
The Abu Dhabi residential property market is poised for a powerful 12 months, with whole off-plan gross sales anticipated to succeed in over AED120 billion ($32.7 billion) in 2026, as purchaser confidence returns and off-plan demand accelerates, supported by a sturdy pipeline.
The Abu Dhabi housing market, in response to Metropolitan Capital Actual Property, is predicted to profit from a shift away from short-term hypothesis in the direction of finish customers and long-term buyers, supported by infrastructure enlargement, stabilising costs and a extra mature investor base.
“Abu Dhabi’s property market is getting into a extra mature section of progress,” stated Evgeny Ratskevich, chief government of Metropolitan Capital Actual Property.
Saudi Arabia opens actual property possession to non-Saudis below new legislation
Saudi Arabia has formally carried out a brand new legislation regulating the possession of actual property by non-Saudis, marking a major step within the Kingdom’s evolving property framework.
The Saudi laws entered into pressure on January 22, and is now being utilized as a part of the nationwide actual property legislative system.
The Actual Property Common Authority (REGA) confirmed that purposes for non-Saudis to personal property might be obtained completely via the official digital platform Saudi Properties.
Emirates agrees multi-billion-dirham deal for brand new cabin crew housing challenge
Emirates Airline has signed an settlement with Dubai Investments Park to amass land for a brand new purpose-built Cabin Crew Village, marking a multi-billion-dirham funding in residential infrastructure for its workforce.
The event, which might be delivered via a long-term lease association, is designed as a mixed-use residential group able to housing as much as 12,000 cabin crew members. Groundbreaking is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, with the primary section of the challenge anticipated to be accomplished in 2029.
The settlement was signed by Ali Mubarak Al Soori, Emirates’ Chief Procurement and Amenities Officer, and Khalid Bin Kalban, Vice Chairman and Chief Govt Officer of Dubai Investments. The signing occurred within the presence of senior executives from each organisations, together with Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Working Officer Adel Al Redha.
Dubai Silicon Oasis launches $3.49bn enlargement as Sheikh Mohammed backs future tech financial system
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched enlargement tasks at Dubai Silicon Oasis, with whole investments of AED12.8bn ($3.49bn).
The tasks reinforce Dubai Silicon Oasis’ function as a key pillar of Dubai’s information financial system ecosystem and align with the emirate’s ambition to place itself as one of many world’s most future-ready cities.
Sheikh Mohammed stated the launch displays Dubai’s imaginative and prescient to anticipate and form the long run via superior applied sciences deployed to serve individuals, the financial system, and society, whereas persevering with to construct a sustainable information financial system rooted in innovation.
Dubai First-Time Residence Purchaser Program drives $885m in gross sales as 2,000 residents purchase first properties
The Dubai First-Time Residence Purchaser (FTHB) Program is accelerating entry to homeownership throughout the emirate, enabling greater than 2,000 residents to buy their first dwelling prior to now six months and producing greater than AED3.25bn ($885m) in residential property gross sales, in response to figures from the Dubai Land Division (DLD).
Launched in July 2025, the initiative was collectively developed by the Dubai Division of Financial system and Tourism (DET) and DLD to make homeownership extra accessible for residents of all nationalities and earnings ranges.
This system brings collectively authorities entities, builders, and monetary establishments to supply precedence entry to new tasks, tailor-made mortgage options, and preferential pricing for first-time consumers.
UAE ranks amongst world’s prime ten in 2026 International Mushy Energy Index for fourth consecutive 12 months
The UAE has consolidated its place among the many world’s prime ten nations within the 2026 International Mushy Energy Index issued by Model Finance, marking the fourth consecutive 12 months the nation has maintained this international standing.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the World Financial Discussion board conferences in Davos, Switzerland, within the presence of the previous Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
The outcome displays rising worldwide recognition of the UAE’s affect and popularity on the worldwide stage. The UAE’s continued rating among the many world’s main tender energy nations highlights the steadiness of its growth mannequin and its capacity to strengthen its worldwide presence amid fast international change and declining belief in a number of conventional powers.
Qatar targets $25bn funding as Goldman Sachs deepens QIA partnership
Qatar Funding Authority and Goldman Sachs Asset Administration have signed a deal to increase their strategic partnership, with QIA focusing on a mixed dedication of $25bn to funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Administration and co-investment alternatives.
Below the settlement, QIA will help Goldman Sachs Asset Administration throughout each present enterprise strengths and new areas of progress, alongside direct funding alternatives.
The expanded partnership builds on the longstanding relationship between the 2 establishments and is aimed toward enhancing entry to international funding alternatives.
