The UAE real estate market continues to demonstrate strong momentum, supported by sustained interest from buyers, investors and end users. According to the latest study by Savills Middle East on real estate investor trends in the UAE, around 45% of survey participants are planning to buy property within the next 12 months.

The study included a broad range of market participants, including investors, end users, property owners, tenants and potential residents. Its findings underline the depth of demand in the UAE property market and reflect continued confidence in the country’s long-term real estate fundamentals.

Andrew Cummings, Head of Residential Agency at Savills Middle East, said the data clearly shows that demand remains firmly in place. He noted that the market is witnessing a shift in buyer and investor behaviour, supported by a more mature and confident base of participants.

The study also pointed to a stable ownership environment, with more than 60% of current property owners saying they intend either to retain their real estate portfolios or expand them over the next six months. Meanwhile, only around 4% are considering selling, a level considered normal in an active property market.

This strong holding sentiment among owners is helping to support prices across several real estate segments. According to Cummings, continued confidence among property owners reflects the strong position many of them have built following the solid performance of the market in recent years. This is helping the sector move toward a more balanced and sustainable phase.

Real estate transaction activity also remains high by historical standards, supported by several key factors. These include long-term population growth, continued capital inflows and a strong pipeline of property projects under development across different emirates.

The survey showed a clear preference for ready properties compared with off-plan units. Around 60% of respondents said they prefer to buy completed assets, while about 23% prefer properties that are still under construction or being sold off-plan.

The findings also highlighted the growing maturity of the buyer base in the UAE real estate market. End users and long-term investors are playing an increasingly important role, supporting demand through real housing needs and longer-term investment strategies.

This shift adds further stability to the market, as demand is increasingly driven by homeowners seeking quality residences and investors looking to hold assets over longer periods, rather than short-term activity alone.

Looking ahead, Savills expects the UAE real estate market to continue adapting positively, with villas and luxury residential assets likely to remain relatively resilient. The country’s strong fundamentals, including population growth, investment appeal and continued capital inflows, are expected to remain key drivers of long-term property demand.