Abu Dhabi’s super-prime market: tradition and life-style gas rise as a world powerhouse

The Middle East’s super-prime residential market is getting into a extra mature part outlined by world capital, long-term considering and a rising deal with life-style and tradition. That was the message from a panel dialogue titled ‘2030 Vision: The future of super-prime property in the Middle East’, held on the Spear’s Summit in Abu Dhabi on 9 December, 2025.

Hosted on the Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sotheby’s International Realty, the session introduced collectively senior figures from throughout the area’s actual property sector to debate how Abu Dhabi, Dubai and neighbouring markets are evolving and why Abu Dhabi is more and more on the radar of the world’s wealthiest consumers.

The dialogue was chaired by Spear’s editor-in-chief Edwin Smith and featured George Azar, chairman and CEO of Dubai, UK, Abu Dhabi and KSA Sotheby’s International Realty, Jonathan Emery, CEO of Aldar Development and Abdulla Binhabtoor, CEO of Shamal.

Azar described Abu Dhabi as a market nonetheless early in its super-prime journey however with sturdy momentum and ‘very bullish for the next four years’, he advised the panel. While the quantity of transactions within the area remains to be highest in Dubai, he stated Abu Dhabi is attracting a distinct kind of purchaser – one that’s extra worldwide, discerning and ready to pay extra for elements like high quality, discretion and long-term worth.

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That shift is already seen in pricing, the panellists stated. A current penthouse sale on the Four Seasons on Saadiyat achieved near AED 14,000 (£2,814) per sq. foot, setting a brand new benchmark for town. Not solely that, however the sale of a beachfront villa on Saadiyat for AED 400m (£80.4m, the most costly single residence ever bought in Abu Dhabi) was additionally cited as a transparent sign that the market has entered a brand new part.

Emery stated Aldar’s personal figures additionally replicate how shortly Abu Dhabi has globalised. Five years in the past, the developer was promoting round £740m a yr in off-plan actual property, largely to native consumers. This yr, gross sales are anticipated to achieve £8.88bn, with round 75 per cent of purchasers now coming from outdoors the UAE.

Much of Abu Dhabi’s attraction, the panel agreed, lies within the sustained authorities funding in infrastructure and tradition, which for a lot of UHNW consumers has made a big distinction.

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More particularly, the audio system talked about Saadiyat Island, which has emerged as a globally recognisable vacation spot, now additionally boasting establishments such because the Louvre Abu Dhabi, with the Guggenheim and different cultural tasks nonetheless to come back. ‘Whether that’s leisure by means of Disney and F1 or tradition, I believe there’s some differentiating elements in life-style [which mean that] the extra UHNW and the extra discerning are preferring Abu Dhabi,’ Emery advised the panel.

In truth, within the UAE, luxurious isn’t only for particular events anymore – it’s a part of on a regular basis life, elevating the bar for design, facilities and total expertise. Abdullah bin Habtoor stated there’s a deal with creating properties for ‘a very specific customer that requires a very specific lifestyle’. Even and not using a huge model title, he noticed that consumers nonetheless care deeply about high quality and expertise, and that specializing in the little issues, ‘from the kitchens to the Lutron lighting’, could make a property simply as priceless.

The panel then addressed the speedy development of branded residences. Azar famous that ‘it’s all the time simpler to go together with manufacturers which have a hospitality element’, since with out it, how a property is managed or serviced may be dangerous. Established names with a confirmed observe report have a tendency to carry their worth, whereas newer or much less genuine manufacturers carry extra uncertainty.

The dialogue additionally seemed past the UAE, turning to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and different rising markets within the area. Azar stated Saudi stays a long-term proposition, with large-scale tasks akin to these on the Red Sea needing time, infrastructure and visibility earlier than demand can totally develop. Egypt, in the meantime, continues to see sturdy curiosity in second-home locations, whereas markets akin to London have been described as longer-term performs.