Gulf Today, Tuesday, Aug 15, 2023 | Muharram 28, 1445
Abu Dhabi and Dubai property markets show resilience in Q2
The real estate markets of Abu Dhabi and
Dubai have observed remarkable trends in second quarter of the 2023 as both
Emirates demonstrated great resilience in the face of rising interest rates
and inflation, according to report by Asteco, the UAE’s leading full-service
Real Estate company.
The Asteco Q2 report indicates that approximately 1,400 apartments were
added to the Abu Dubai market during Q2 2023, with another 2,200 apartments
and 850 villas expected for delivery by the end of 2023. Whilst new supply
was distributed across most established International Investment Zones, the
majority was delivered within the Al Reem Island and Saadiyat Island master
plan communities.
Several new projects are also in the planning / design stage with official
announcements expected later in 2023 and early 2024. The market also saw a
number of new projects launched for sale in Q2 2023, including Murjan
Saadiyat, The Source on Saadiyat Island and Jubail Island – Phase 3.
In the rental market, rates for both apartments and villas within prime and
high-quality residential developments increased between 2% and 5% over Q2
2023. Prime villa communities, particularly those located on Saadiyat and
Yas Islands, remain the most sought-after, with rental hikes of up to 10%
over the same period last year. Mid and low-end developments remained
relatively stable with nominal rental rate changes. Lower-end stock, on the
other hand, has continued to face pressure from rising supply and expanding
number of options.
Furthermore, there was high demand for office space, notably in the Grade A
/ B+ category, with interest expressed by from both existing companies
seeking to expand their footprint and new entrants to the Abu Dhabi market.
Strong transactional volumes for completed and off-plan developments were
also recorded in Q2, with the end-user segment accounting for a significant
amount of this demand. Moreover, sales prices for completed apartment
developments proved relatively stable over Q2, with an average 1% annual
increase.
Average villa sales prices within Abu Dhabi increased by nearly 2%
throughout the quarter. However, sales prices for high-end and
well-established villa communities continue to outperform, with some
achieving sales price growth closer to 6%.
In addition, prime and high-quality off plan projects, located on Saadiyat
and Yas Islands, have been well received with sales prices ranging between
Dhs1,500 and Dhs3,800 per square foot.
Dubai’s market: In Dubai, Asteco noted that almost 11,000 residential units
were delivered over Q2 2023, with apartments accounting for the majority of
this stock (9,400 units). Although villa supply slowed over the quarter, it
is expected to pick up again in the second half of the year. The pace of
supply is forecasted to further increase thereafter, with close to 20,000
completions planned for 2024/25.
Despite continued demand from existing tenants and newcomers, the market is
not immune to changes in the real estate dynamics, including at a micro
level.Some areas, like Meydan (with the addition of Azizi Riviera), Arabian
Ranches 3, and Al Furjan, saw minimal rental growth due to increased supply.
On the other hand, popular communities like Dubai Silicon Oasis (Cedre
Villas), Al Waha/Layan Villas, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), and The
Greens/Views experienced above-average rent increases due to limited
availability and tenant movement.
In the rental market, average apartment, villa, and office rental rates
increased by 6%, 3% and 6% respectively over the quarter and 21%, 23% and
25% annually. Though the upward pressure continued unabated across all asset
classes, the pace of increase has slowed within some communities and asset
classes, particularly within the villa segment.
Demand and options within the high-quality, hybrid, and co-working office
space market also continued to grow with office rentals remaining on a
strong footing, particularly with respect to Grade A space.
With regard to the sales market, Dubai sales price growth appears to be
slowing with quarterly increases of 2% for apartments, 3% for villas and 4%
for offices. Annual changes stood at 14%, 15% and 22%, respectively. The
market continued to set new records across beachfront locations including
Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Bay Island, Bluewaters and Madinat Jumeirah Living,
as well as ‘desert destinations’, such as Lanai Island (Tilal Al Ghaf).
Asteco noted that increased demand from tenants looking to become homeowners
is expected to continue in the second half of 2023 and well into 2024.
The Northern Emirates real estate market has continued to record positive
growth due to various factors, making it an attractive option for both
residents and investors. The leasing market continued to benefit from a
spill over of Dubai tenants amidst a climate of rising rents.