Author: Dr Issac PJ

Dubai’s surging population and improving borrowing conditions have propelled the emirate’s real estate market to unprecedented levels, with total property transactions climbing to a record Dh916 billion as demand from new residents and global investors reshapes the residential landscape heading into 2026.The city’s population has crossed the four-million mark, underscoring its growing appeal as a global hub for business, talent and wealth migration.The milestone comes after Dubai added nearly 18,000 new residents in a single month by the end of August 2025, reflecting a sustained influx of professionals, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals drawn by job opportunities, lifestyle advantages and long-term…

Dubai’s villa market is witnessing a powerful new pricing dynamic, with proximity to top-tier international schools emerging as a key driver of capital growth across some of the emirate’s most established residential communities, according to fresh data from property advisory firm BlackBrick.The latest Property Monitor Dynamic Price Index (DPI), which tracks the three-month moving average median price per square foot across 42 master communities, shows that mature villa neighbourhoods with easy access to leading schools are significantly outperforming the broader market.Areas such as Victory Heights, The Lakes, Meadows, Jumeirah Islands and The Greens have recorded some of the strongest price…

The UAE has emerged as one of the world’s fastest adopters of artificial intelligence, ranking third globally with a 56 per cent adoption rate in 2025 as businesses, government entities and consumers rapidly embrace AI-powered tools, a new global study shows.  According to research by Cybernews, AI adoption in the UAE surged from just 10 per cent in 2023 to 27 per cent in 2024 and then doubled again to 56 per cent in 2025, reflecting the country’s aggressive push to position itself as a global technology and innovation hub. The findings are based on analysis of download data for…

Oil prices surged to their strongest one-day gain in months before stabilising, as mounting tensions between the US and Iran rattled energy markets and revived fears of supply disruptions from the Middle East, a region that pumps roughly one-third of the world’s crude.  Brent crude climbed 4.3 per cent in the previous session — its biggest single-day gain since October — to hold above $70 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded above $65. The rally followed reports that Washington could be preparing for possible military intervention in Iran sooner than markets had anticipated, with diplomatic negotiations over Tehran’s…

Mashreq has kicked off the UAE banking sector’s capital market activity for 2026 by raising $500 million through an Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond, marking the first such transaction by a UAE bank this year and signalling strong investor confidence in the country’s financial sector.The Dubai-based lender, rated A3 by Moody’s and A by both S&P and Fitch with stable outlooks, priced the perpetual non-call 5.5-year bond at a coupon of 6.25 per cent per annum. The deal drew overwhelming demand from investors across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, with the order book peaking at $2.1 billion — more…

A proposed takeover of UAE-based dairy and food producer Unikai Foods by Kuwait’s Al Wafir for Marketing Services has failed after the bidder was unable to secure enough shareholder support to complete the transaction.Unikai Foods announced that Al Wafir’s voluntary conditional cash offer to acquire a controlling stake in the company has lapsed after falling short of the minimum acceptance threshold required under UAE takeover rules.Al Wafir had launched the offer in January to acquire a minimum of 50 per cent plus one share and up to 51 per cent of Unikai’s issued and paid-up ordinary shares at a cash…

The UAE’s insurance sector is entering one of its strongest growth phases in years, as declining global premiums combine with surging domestic demand to create a powerful expansion cycle across health, motor, property, and specialty lines.  Insurance pricing is softening globally just as the UAE economy accelerates, creating a rare alignment of lower costs and rising demand that is expected to drive robust growth across the industry in 2026. Strong economic expansion, population inflows, and rising infrastructure activity are fuelling insurance uptake across corporate and retail segments, positioning the sector for sustained double-digit expansion.  According to Marsh’s latest Global Insurance…

Ras Al Khaimah’s transformation into one of the Gulf’s fastest-growing tourism and hospitality hubs is accelerating, with global hotel operators racing to secure a presence in the emirate as visitor numbers surge and a multi-billion-dollar luxury pipeline reshapes its coastline. Fresh research from CBRE Middle East shows Ras Al Khaimah’s real estate market ended 2025 on a strong footing, led by a standout performance in hospitality as the emirate capitalised on rising international tourism, expanding air connectivity and a wave of landmark resort developments that are rapidly elevating its global profile. Visitor arrivals reached a record 1.36 million in 2025,…

Dubai’s property boom is entering a new phase in 2026, with fresh data showing a surge in both buyer and seller activity — a rare dual momentum that signals sustained confidence in one of the world’s hottest real estate markets and suggests transaction volumes could remain elevated despite mounting supply concerns. Online search behaviour, often viewed as a leading indicator of real estate sentiment, shows that interest from both sides of the market has strengthened markedly over the past six months, underlining the depth of demand supporting Dubai’s multi-year property rally. Research by eXp Dubai based on Google Trends data…

Dubai Chambers has partnered with fintech platform Qashio to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with easier access to digital financial tools and alternative funding solutions, in a move aimed at strengthening the emirate’s rapidly expanding SME ecosystem. This collaboration will help SMEs access digital corporate cards, automated expense management systems, and embedded finance options to improve cash flow and financial control. The initiative is part of Dubai Chambers’ broader efforts to boost business competitiveness and support the growth of private enterprises, which form the backbone of the UAE economy. SMEs account for more than 94 per cent of companies operating in…