Dubai Real Estate Matures Into One Of The World's Most Resilient Markets

Dubai continues to mature into one of the world's strongest and most resilient real estate markets, according to an industry expert, as regulation, technology, and investor appetite reshape how property investment is accessed and scaled across the UAE.

Riz Ahmed, CEO of SmartCrowd, said the evolution of the market has gone hand in hand with higher expectations around transparency, governance, and performance, particularly within the region's growing real estate investment platforms.

“Being the first fully regulated real estate investment platform in the region gave us a foundational advantage: trust before scale. When we launched, the industry was still warming up to alternative investment models. Regulation allowed us to build credibility early, demonstrate compliance, and set standards that others have since followed.”

Ahmed explained that early regulation reshaped investor behaviour across the sector, setting new benchmarks that have since become standard practice.

“Transparency became non-negotiable. Investors now expect real data, audited returns, and full visibility: benchmarks we established from day one. Accessibility became mainstream. Fractional investing was niche when we introduced it; today it's a recognised asset class. Risk management became central. Our regulated framework prioritised investor protection, which has shaped how the entire ecosystem approaches real-estate investing online.”

Performance over time, rather than short-term campaigns, has been key to proving the viability of real estate crowdfunding in the UAE, Ahmed said.

“The biggest proof point is performance over time - not campaigns, not marketing, but actual exits and realised returns. Across more than 60 successful exits, which is 3 times more than all the other crowdfunding platforms in the region combined, we've delivered consistent, real-world returns through different market cycles.”

He pointed to realised returns as evidence that fractional real estate has moved beyond experimentation.

“Our investors have earned an average net annualised return of 14.34%, with an average net return of 43.95% (net of all fees) in a holding period of 3.2 years across all exited Buy & Hold properties. Our Flip exits have also delivered strong results, generating an average net return of 27.40% over an average holding period just shy of 15 months, with a net annualised return of 24.01%.”

Ahmed added that investors are benefiting not only from income yields but also from the broader strength of the market.

“The numbers speak for themselves, especially for an asset class traditionally viewed as stable rather than high-yielding. Investors aren't just receiving predictable rental income; they're also benefiting from capital appreciation as Dubai continues to mature into one of the world's strongest and most resilient real estate markets.”

Innovation, he said, has been driven by shifting investor preferences, particularly demand for shorter investment cycles and faster liquidity.

“The idea for Flip came from a very clear gap we saw in the market. Many are looking for shorter cycles, faster liquidity and capital appreciation, and access to value-add opportunities that would normally require significant capital and on-ground expertise. Flip was our answer to that.”

The model, according to Ahmed, complements longer-term strategies rather than replacing them.

“The model allows users to co-invest in premium properties with strong value-add potential. These properties are renovated and sold within a targeted 9 to 15 months, creating a faster path to returns without the hassle of managing the renovation, upgrades, or resale process.”

Looking ahead, Ahmed said continued leadership in the sector depends on constant iteration rather than one-off innovation.

“Every innovation we've brought to market, be it fractional ownership, regulated structures, our biannual share transfer facility for liquidity, or our Flip model, came from listening to investor needs and anticipating where the market is heading. Innovation for us isn't a milestone; it's a continuous state.”

Following SmartCrowd's acquisition by Nawy, Ahmed said the focus is now on building a fully integrated ecosystem for real estate investment across the region.

“The acquisition has unlocked a shared ambition. SmartCrowd and Nawy both believe that real estate investment in MENA is ready for its next leap, and that leap requires more than just capital efficiency. It requires an integrated ecosystem.”

He added:“Through Nawy, we're building a full-stack ecosystem where users can invest, finance, manage, and exit, all under one digital umbrella. The goal is clear: to create MENA's most trusted, most innovative, and most accessible real estate investment marketplace.”

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