Author: Dr Issac PJ

Dubai’s property market is rising at a pace few global cities can match, but analysts say the current upswing is being driven by structural demand rather than speculative excess.While inflation-adjusted home prices surged in 2025, drawing comparisons with some of the world’s most overheated housing markets, the emirate’s rapid population growth, diversified inflows of capital and shift toward long-term residency are cushioning it against the risks that have destabilised other cities.Inflation-adjusted home prices in Dubai climbed to their highest level in more than a decade last year, according to UBS Group AG, placing the emirate among global cities where housing…

Dubai’s property market closed 2025 with its momentum firmly intact, as demand for ready homes in prime locations stayed strong and the rental market pushed to new highs, reinforcing the emirate’s status as one of the world’s most active real estate hubs.Fresh data from dubizzle’s Annual Dubai Property Market Report paints a picture of a market that is broadening rather than overheating, with buyers, tenants and investors spreading activity across luxury, mid-tier and affordable communities.Transaction volumes across ready properties remained resilient throughout the year, even as off-plan sales dominated headlines. Analysts say this balance has become a defining feature of…

Oil prices are drifting lower with a stubborn sense of inevitability, weighed down by swelling supply and an unconvincing geopolitical risk premium, even after the shock of a US strike in Venezuela.From Wall Street to Mumbai, analysts are converging on a view that crude could revisit levels last seen during periods of acute oversupply, with Brent flirting with $50 a barrel by mid-year and struggling to mount a durable recovery.The immediate drag is Opec+ itself. After years of restraining output to prop up prices, the producer group has begun loosening the taps, betting that demand will eventually absorb the extra…

The UAE’s luxury residential real estate market is on a strong upward trajectory, with projections indicating expansion from $45.11 billion in 2025 to $70.91 billion by 2030.The sector’s momentum was clear in the past two years, when high-end property sales in Dubai and Abu Dhabi surpassed pre-pandemic levels, buoyed by rising transaction volumes, record prices and continued demand from international high-net-worth buyers.Luxury housing in the UAE has moved beyond a post-pandemic rebound to become a vibrant, long-term investment segment. Political stability, investor-friendly regulations, and world-class infrastructure have sustained confidence, while lifestyle-driven development has redefined premium real estate as both a…

Gold is poised to remain a cornerstone of investment portfolios in 2026, with analysts projecting the yellow metal to average $4,538 per ounce next year and bullish scenarios pointing toward $5,000 an ounce, underscoring its enduring appeal as a hedge against uncertainty and a key driver of returns.In a widely followed annual outlook, Michael Widmer, head of Metals Research at Bank of America (BofA), highlighted that tightening market conditions and persistent demand are positioning gold as a “hedge and alpha source” for investors navigating a complex macroeconomic backdrop. His firm’s forecast rests on a mix of supply constraints, rising production…

Business activity across the UAE’s non-oil private sector closed 2025 on a strong footing, underlining the economy’s resilience and breadth as firms continued to benefit from firm demand, supportive government policies and sustained domestic and international interest.The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index data from S&P Global point to an expansion that, while slightly softer than November’s peak, remained among the fastest recorded during the year and signals positive momentum heading into 2026.The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index stood at 54.2 in December, easing from a nine-month high of 54.8 in November but closely aligned with its long-run average…

The UAE economy is on track for another year of standout performance, with fresh forecasts pointing to strong and broad-based growth that underscores the country’s rising stature as one of the world’s most resilient and dynamic economic hubs.According to Standard Chartered, the UAE’s gross domestic product is expected to expand by 5.0 per cent in 2026, a sharp upgrade from its earlier 4.0 per cent projection and well above the anticipated pace of the global economy. This momentum builds on an already solid 2025, when nominal GDP is estimated to have reached around $569 billion, reflecting the success of diversification,…

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) closed 2025 with one of the strongest performances in its history, underscoring both its expanding global footprint and Dubai’s growing influence as a centre for aviation finance, leasing and maintenance.The Dubai-based aviation services company reported major gains across aircraft acquisitions, leasing activity, engineering operations and capital markets, reflecting sustained airline demand and a robust post-pandemic recovery in global air travel.During the year, DAE Capital completed and integrated the $2.0 billion acquisition of Nordic Aviation Capital, a transaction that significantly expanded its scale and customer base. The group acquired 280 aircraft during the year, including 261 owned…

Oil prices opened the first full trading week of 2026 with a muted reaction to one of the most dramatic geopolitical events in recent history: the weekend US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.  Benchmarks such as Brent crude edged slightly lower, with WTI also dipping as investors weighed whether the upheaval in Caracas could meaningfully alter the supply–demand balance in a market already grappling with oversupply and subdued demand growth.  The Wall Street Journal and other outlets noted that markets were awaiting clarity on the oil supply implications of the US action,…

GCC equity markets ended 2025 with mixed performances, underlining a widening gap between regional exchanges and global peers, as well as sharp divergences within the Gulf itself.Dubai emerged as one of the standout performers in the region, while Abu Dhabi posted a steadier, more subdued recovery, according to Kamco Invest research. The contrast highlighted how sector composition, liquidity, and exposure to global trends shaped market outcomes during a year marked by geopolitical strain and falling oil prices.Dubai’s benchmark index finished 2025 as the third-best performing market in the GCC, rising 17.2 per cent to close at 6,047.1 points. While the…