FIRST-TIME BUYERS ARE DRIVING DUBAI'S PROPERTY GROWTH IN 2025

New and younger residents aren't waiting too long to buy a home

- BY MANOJ NAIR

First-time property buyers have made their presence felt in Dubai during the first four months of the year — they could well be what the market needs to sustain the growth story through the rest of 2025.

Developers' sales records show a sharp rise in younger buyers, most of whom have been UAE residents for just 3 to 5 years before deciding to purchase a home.

"Where it used to take 10-15 years before residents thought of buying a property in Dubai, newer residents are coming in much earlier," said an estate agent.

DEMAND DRIVES SALES

"The 2021-22 Dubai property boom was set off by these long-term residents now, the market is seeing 'short-termers' becoming homeowners. In earlier times, you still had to convince many long-timers to buy a property here. These days, new residents in Dubai are thinking how long to wait before they buy."

The same trend is visible in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah real estate too, according to industry experts.

Throw into the mix the steady stream of overseas investors wanting to park their investments in the UAE through property buys or other assets, it gives the Dubai and wider UAE property market the cushion to tackle geopolitical turmoil.