A survey of home buyers and investors across the GCC and Egypt has shown that real estate is the number one preferred investment, underlining the buoyancy of the regional property market.
The Real Estate Barometer study, conducted by global market research company YouGov in partnership with Cityscape Global, revealed that more than half of respondents (54%) would choose real estate as their preferred investment category, followed by stocks (13%) and precious metals (11%).
The sentiments have been announced as thousands of investors from around the world prepare to descend upon the Middle Easts largest property showcase, Cityscape Global, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 6 8 September. Now in its 15th edition, the exhibition will host 272 international and regional exhibitors covering 41,000sqm of exhibition space.
The YouGov research also indicated that the UAE is one of the most appealing countries in the world in which to invest in real estate, with 65% of respondents citing it as the most attractive option within the Middle East, while 64% believed that Dubai is the prime city in which to buy property in the region.
YouGovs Head of Real Estate Research, Lara Al Barazi said: Its not surprising that the UAE and Dubai top the most attractive places to invest in real estate as the decision to invest in this sector depends foremost on the state of the economy in the market of interest according to 73% of respondents across the region.
That said, what investors and home buyers are telling developers is that the market is missing affordable housing which constitutes by itself potential unmet needs waiting to be fulfilled. Market gaps, micro and macro appeal along with class sentiment are all parameters covered in the Real Estate Barometer which will be unveiled during the Cityscape Global Conference.
Al Barazi, along with other notable speakers such as Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future and Craig Plumb, Head of Research at JLL MENA will deliver exclusive presentations to more than 1,000 delegates on 5 September during the Cityscape Conferences at Conrad, Dubai.
Displaying their Mada Residences project, located in the heart of Downtown Dubai, ARTAR Real Estate Development offers investors good value for money on their units with only a 30% investment required before the project is completed.