The Abu Dhabi market is increasingly attracting high-net-worth-individuals (HNWI). The super-rich around the world are prepared to spend US$ 408.3m on residential real estate in Abu Dhabi.
Adding to that and a further US$ 388.5m in Ras Al Khaimah, according to global property consultancy Knight Frank’s second annual 2024 Destination Dubai report.
Knight Frank surveyed 317 HNWI – 217 around the world and 100 GCC-based HNWI expats – to gain an understanding of their attitudes, appetite and aspirations when it comes to investing in real estate in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Collectively, the HNWI respondents have a net worth of US$ 5.4bn and own 1,149 homes around the world between them.
Abu Dhabi
Knight Frank says HNWI demonstrate a modest appetite to purchase real estate in the UAE capital, with 23% indicating a desire to do so.
This pattern quickly reverses as personal net worth rises. Indeed, while just 14% for those with a net worth of US$ 2m to US$ 5m are keen to purchase property in Abu Dhabi, 57% for those with personal wealth in excess of US$ 15m would like to buy residential property in the UAE capital.
Furthermore, Knight Frank highlights the success of the ‘Visit Abu Dhabi’ campaign, with 50% of GCC-based expat HNWI and 67% of global HNWI with a net worth of over US$ 20m. This indicates they have been positively influenced in the direction of visiting the city directly as a result of global advertising efforts.
“Residential values in Abu Dhabi have remained relatively stable for the last four years, which has played a significant role in encouraging domestic buyers to transition from renting to owning. And with homes in Abu Dhabi trading for around AED 1,000 per sq ft, they remain about one-third cheaper than Dubai, which is further adding to the appeal of home ownership in the city amongst domestic buyers. International buyers too have become increasingly active, contributing to the rising deal volumes now being recorded in the emirate.”
Shehzad Jamal, Partner – Strategy & Consultancy, MEA, Knight Frank
During 2023, Abu Dhabi market registered a record 15,653 property deals (up 73.7% on 2022) totalling AED 87.1bn in property deals, across all sectors, up on the AED 61bn figure reached in 2022. Notably, the capital welcomed 1,098 non-resident investors in 2023, which represents a 175% increase on 2022.
“While 40% of HNWI plan to purchase in Abu Dhabi purely for investment reasons, 8% are keen on a primary residence in the city, while a further 15% would consider buying a second home in the UAE capital. This is watershed moment for the city, which has often trailed Dubai in this area.
“Furthermore, the sale of a Nobu-branded three-bedroom penthouse in March represented a significant milestone for Abu Dhabi’s residential market. This is not only because it is the most expensive property ever sold in the capital – both in terms of absolute price and price per sqm – but also because it signals Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a magnet for global capital. Indeed, this is reflected in the fact that the total value of sales to international buyers not residing in the UAE has jumped from just 3% of all of Aldar’s home sales in 2021 to 28% last year”.
Faisal Durrani, Partner – Head of Research, MENA
Favourite hot spots
Abu Dhabi island (21%) commands the most interest in terms of locations for a property acquisition amongst HNWI despite not being designated as an investment zone for international buyers, says Knight Frank.
Saadiyat Island, (16%) which is home to the F1 Grand Prix race each November, as well as the Louvre and Guggenheim museums is named as the second most likely target neighbourhood for a real estate purchase.
GCC-based expat HNWI top location choices in Abu Dhabi include Saadiyat Island (32%) and Maryah Island (24%), while for global HNWI, Saadiyat Island (33%) emerged as the top pick.
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK)
Away from the UAE capital, Knight Frank has found that the UAE’s northern most emirate, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) (2%) has been named as the fourth most likely property investment destination in the country for global HNWI, behind Dubai (67%), Abu Dhabi (23%), Sharjah (5%).
According to Knight Frank, the planned arrival of the Wynn Resort, including its responsible gaming venue, is playing a significant role in transforming the fortunes of Ras Al Khaimah.
“Ras Al Khaimah’s rugged natural landscape and adrenaline fuelled attractions stand in stark contrast to Dubai’s hyper-urban, skyscraper studded skyline. Ras Al Khaimah has quietly carved out a niche for itself over the last ten years, emerging as an alternative tourist magnet to Dubai. And the Wynn Resort is adding to the long list of growing attractions.”
Shehzad Jamal, Partner – Strategy & Consultancy, MEA
Knight Frank has found that 46% of global HNWI view Ras Al Khaimah more favourably, as a result of its economic transformation and increasing level of tourism infrastructure. This figure climbs to 75% of those with a net worth of over US$ 20m.
UAE-based HNWI expats (80%) and Saudi-based HNWI expats (60%) consider the arrival of the Wynn Resort most favourably in the context of viewing Ras Al Khaimah as a real estate investment destination, says Knight Frank.
Ras Al Khaimah for the big leagues?
30% of global HNWI say they are prepared to spend US$ 500,000 on property in Ras Al Khaimah, lower than Abu Dhabi’s US$ 3.4m. Budgets however rise rapidly with levels of personal net worth.
37% of those with a net worth of more than US$ 15m, for instance, would be willing to allocate US$ 2m to US$ 4.9m towards real estate in Ras Al Khaimah and a further 21% would be prepared to spend over US$ 5m.
East Asian HNWI appear to be most convinced by the area’s tourism and hospitality offering, with 28% willing to commit to spending US$ 2m to US$4.9m – the highest across all our HNWI regions, according to Knight Frank’s report.
On an individual level, GCC-based expats have the lowest budgets (US$ 700,000), while global HNWI budgets range from US$ 1.2m for those with a net worth of less than US$ 5m and climbs to US$ 3.9m amongst the UHNWI.
US$ 388.5m in private capital is poised to move into the Ras Al Khaimah property market, but this figure is just 4.8% lower than for Abu Dhabi, highlighting how quickly the area’s appeal has grown globally both as a tourist destination and a property investment location.
Overall the real estate market in the UAE is expected to undergo significant growth and dynamic changes in 2024.
