Historical January Indicators Outline a Strong and Record-breaking Real Estate Year Ahead in Dubai
Attracting 100 New Real Estate Technology Firms to Strengthen the Emirate’s Global Position
Majid Al-Meiri, the Executive Director of the Real Estate Registration Sector at Dubai’s Land Department, has revealed that Dubai is solidifying its status as one of the most dynamic and mature real estate markets globally. This momentum is fueled by a rapid adoption of technology, flexible regulatory frameworks, and growing confidence from both local and international investors. The indicators from January signal a robust start to 2026, showcasing record performance that boosts expectations for an exceptional year in real estate and underscores the market’s trajectory towards achieving a trillion dirham target ahead of schedule. This is a direct reflection of strong demand and an expanding investor base.
In remarks made during the “PropTech Connect” conference, which commenced yesterday in Dubai, Al-Meiri highlighted that alongside market performance, Dubai is actively developing a future-focused real estate ecosystem anchored in innovation and technology. The plan includes attracting 100 new real estate tech companies while enhancing the role of digital solutions to improve efficiency, expedite processes, and reduce costs. He mentioned the consideration of expanding the “Own Your First Property” initiative to include visitors and non-residents, a move that demonstrates the flexibility of real estate policies in responding to global shifts and opens new avenues for a broader range of investors to engage in Dubai’s real estate market.
Al-Meiri confirmed that the “PropTech Connect” conference serves as a pivotal point in the emirate’s real estate development journey, reflecting Dubai’s commitment to establishing itself as a global hub for real estate technology. This aligns with the directives of the leadership and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, affirming the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033.
During the conference, he emphasized the event’s importance in showcasing the impact of real estate technology on the sector, particularly in Dubai, where the experience is distinct from other Arab countries in terms of rapid adoption of digital solutions and establishing an integrated system that connects government entities with the private sector and startups.
He pointed out that the launch of the PropTech Hub initiative by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, reflects a clear approach to support startups in collaboration with the private sector and to embrace global experiences. Al-Meiri revealed that a strategic partnership had been established with PropTech Connect in London, leading to their presence in Dubai and the announcement of the summit at this time.
He added that the summit exceeded expectations, aiming to attract 3,000 participants, with registration exceeding 4,000, featuring over 300 expert speakers, more than 50% of whom are from outside the country, thanks to partners’ extensive databases in Europe and other global markets.
The event will include 70 exhibition platforms and is organized to host approximately 12,000 meetings and workshops over two days. He mentioned that a comprehensive marketing and media campaign was executed with partners over several months to ensure the summit’s success.
Al-Meiri noted that the summit’s timing coinciding with major events in Dubai, such as government summits, allowed international visitors to benefit from multiple activities simultaneously, whether in real estate investment, tourism, or attending economic conferences. He affirmed that this integration enhances Dubai’s global appeal.
Regarding business incubators, Al-Meiri stated that the Land Department, in partnership with strategic allies, has launched several incubators specialized in real estate technology, including those in the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Silicon Oasis, as part of a comprehensive program to train startups and provide them with all necessary facilities.
He highlighted that the REES initiative, launched in 2024, is one of the cornerstones of Dubai’s real estate technology ecosystem, allowing startups from both within and outside the UAE to present their ideas to experts and investors, which can be evaluated for potential adoption and funding.
Al-Meiri confirmed that the goals of these initiatives focus on leveraging real estate technology to expedite processes, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency, reinforcing Dubai’s contribution to the global real estate tech landscape.
In response to a question about the impact of real estate technology on the sector, he explained that utilizing artificial intelligence in construction and management processes helps cut operational costs, improve efficiency, and reduce dependence on human resources without entirely eliminating the need for them, but rather enhancing oversight and control.
He also noted that the department previously launched a smart property valuation program based on analyzing millions of data points using AI, which enabled the issuance of valuation certificates in just seconds, realizing significant time and cost savings.
40,000 Participants in the “First-Time Buyer” Initiative
Al-Meiri touched on the “First-Time Buyer” initiative, developed in collaboration with the private sector and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, which enables residents to purchase their first property through discounts offered by developers and facilitating financing from banks. He announced that eight new property developers have joined the initiative’s second phase.
He noted that more than 40,000 individuals have registered for the initiative to date, highlighting a growing interest from investors and developers, and confirmed that the initiative is expected to attract an even larger audience in its upcoming phases.
Currently, registration requires applicants to be residents holding a UAE ID, which can be registered using the “UAE Pass.” There are plans to consider the inclusion of new categories, such as non-residents and visitors, after studying registration and verification mechanisms.
Regarding market performance, Al-Meiri stated that Dubai is nearing its trillion dirham target ahead of schedule, noting that recorded figures have surpassed expectations and that January has shown historical indicators.
129,000 New Investors
He explained that the number of new investors has surged by approximately 129,000, thanks to significant facilitation of procedures and the availability of digital services around the clock. Al-Meiri emphasized that the department collaborates with partners to provide services beyond traditional working hours, aligning with the expectations of the new generation.
Looking ahead, Al-Meiri expressed optimism about the market’s prospects for the current year, with preliminary indicators, particularly from January’s results, signaling the potential for a strong and record-breaking year ahead. He revealed that one of the primary objectives of the real estate technology ecosystem in Dubai is to attract over 100 startups and new offices to establish their presence in the emirate, guided by clear targets through business incubators and PropTech initiatives.
He mentioned that several companies are already prepared to establish their operations in Dubai, currently completing licensing processes, and reaffirmed that the selection of these companies will follow specific criteria in coordination with strategic partners, supporting Dubai’s aspiration to become a global leader in real estate technology.