Khaleej Times, Wednesday, Jan 11, 2023 | Jamadi Al Thani 18, 1444
Dubai real estate continues growth momentum with record transactions in 2022
Emirates:
The Dubai’s real estate sector continued its growth momentum in December to
conclude the year on positive note as the residential rents and transactions hit
record highs in 2022.
Latest data released by CBRE showed that the real estate transactions in Dubai
surged 63 per cent to 8,662 last month mainly due to a significant hike of 92.5
per cent in off-plan sales and 35.4 per cent jump in secondary sales. The
emirate recorded 90,881 residential transactions in 2022, exceeding the historic
record high of 81,182 in 2009.
“Average property prices rose by 9.5 per cent in the year to December 2022, with
average apartment prices rising by nine per cent and average villa prices by
12.8 per cent over the same period,” according to CBRE’s Dubai Residential
Market Snapshot.
The report noted that Dubai’s average apartment prices climbed to Dh1,168 per
square foot, and average villa prices reached Dh1,385 per square foot in
December. These average rates have not yet surpassed the record highs of 2014,
with the average apartment and villa prices being 21.5 per cent and 4.2 per cent
below this peak.
Jumeirah has registered the highest sales rate per square foot at Dh2,324 in the
apartment segment while Palm Jumeirah registered the highest sales rate per
square foot at Dh3,921 in the villa segment, according to the report.
Rental market
In line with rising price trend in Dubai, the rental market also registered
strong growth as average rents increased by 26.9 per cent in the year to
December 2022.
“Over this period, average apartment and villa rents increased by 27.1 per cent
and 24.9 per cent, respectively. As at December 2022, average annual apartment
rents stood at Dh95,168, and average villa rents stood at Dh282,150,” according
to the report.
Palm Jumeirah has recorded the highest average annual apartment and villa rents,
with asking rents reaching an average of Dh248,452 and Dh1,016,956 per annum,
respectively, it added.
2022 a record year
Taimur Khan, head of research – Mena at CBRE in Dubai, said Dubai’s residential
market saw a number of records being broken over the course of 2022.
“Residential transactions volumes reached 90,881 for the year, a new record,
beating the 2009 high by almost 10,000 transactions. Residential rental growth
also reached historic levels, with apartment and villa rents increasing by 27.1
per cent and 24.9 per cent, in 2022, respectively,” he said.
The CBRE report noted that villa rents are now 45.3 per cent higher than in
2019, with average villa rents standing at Dh282,150, once again the highest
level on record. Over the same period, average apartment rents are 17.2 per cent
higher and stand at Dh95,168.
“The villa rents have recorded strong growth due to the lack of available villa
stock for rent and growing demand levels for such stock,” the report said.
New milestones ahead
Ata Shobeiry, CEO of Zoom Property, lauds the property market’s remarkable
performance in 2022. He said 2022 proved to be a record-breaking year for Dubai
real estate in many ways.
"Not only was the market able to surpass the 2014 peak levels, but it also
achieved new milestones as the years progressed. The same performance is
expected from 2023 as well since foreign investors and HNWIs continue to get
attracted by the Dubai property market and venture into it,” he said.
He said the contribution of each sector of the market has played a vital role in
the booming success of Dubai real estate.
“With various new developments joining the bandwagon, 2023 will see the property
market reaching new heights of success,” Shobeiry said.
Promising outlook
While these figures may be welcome news for landlords who had seen almost six
years of softening rents until 2022, the rapid rate of growth will continue to
impact demand, where in 2022 the total number of new Ejari registrations fell by
seven per cent.
Overall, the number of Ejari transactions totalled 540,758, reflecting an
increase of 10.8 per cent year-on-year basis, the report said.
“In the year ahead, we expect that both the average rates of price and rental
growth will remain positive, however, we expect the rates to moderate and in
certain more nascent communities with strong supply pipelines, to decline.”
According to a report by the Financial
Times, Dubai’s rich lifestyle, visa schemes, real estate among other
noteworthy attractions have roped in investors, especially the elite.
"This year, a three-floored Atlantis The Royal’s penthouse was sold for Dh180
million.“2020 and 2021 have been incredible years,” said Philippe Zuber, chief
executive of Kerzner International, its developer, was quoted as saying.
Luxhabitat Sotheby’s International Realty executive partner Leign Borg said
Dubai has always attracted millionaires and billionaires, but now they’re moving
here full time and they want the biggest and best homes.