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Dubai’s Luxury Home Market Hits Record With 435 Sales In 2024 On Strong Q4 Demand

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 3, 2025

Sales of luxury homes in Dubai valued at over $10 million surged to a record 435 transactions in 2024, slightly surpassing the previous year’s total of 434, as reported by global property consultant Knight Frank.

Q4 Drives Record-Breaking Sales

The substantial growth in 2024 can be attributed to a robust performance in the final quarter, where 153 luxury homes were sold, setting a new record for quarterly sales.

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Palm Jumeirah remained the standout location for high-end property sales, accounting for 127 deals or 29% of the total. This area alone generated $2.3 billion in sales, making up 32.5% of the total value of Dubai’s luxury home market.

Other Key Luxury Areas

Palm Jebel Ali followed with 36 luxury property transactions in 2024, with the first homes in this area expected to be completed by 2027. In terms of transaction value, Emirates Hills secured second place, with sales totaling $514.5 million, or 7.3% of the market.

Jumeirah Bay Island, District One, and Dubai Hills Estate rounded out the top five locations, contributing 6.7%, 6.6%, and 6.2% to the luxury market, respectively.

Villa Demand Fuels Market Growth

Villas made up 68.5% of all luxury property sales in 2024, up from 52% in 2022 and 2023. This growth was primarily driven by increasing demand from international high-net-worth individuals.

More than half (52%) of luxury home sales took place in the primary market, with major developers such as Omniyat, Nakheel, and Emaar Properties accounting for 46% of these transactions.

A Slight Dip In High-End Listings

The report also revealed a 40% decrease in the number of homes listed above $10 million, with only 2,490 properties available in 2024, compared to 4,120 in 2023.

Faisal Durrani, Partner and Head of Research for MENA at Knight Frank, commented on Dubai’s growing appeal: “The city’s magnetic attraction is evident in its population growth, which reached over 3.8 million, increasing by 170,000 or 4.6% during 2024. This growth continues to fuel housing demand across all price ranges.”

Dubai Real Estate Market Performance

The Dubai Land Department recently reported that the emirate’s real estate sector achieved a total value of $207.2 billion (AED 761 billion) in 2024, marking a 20% year-on-year increase. The number of real estate deals reached a record 2.7 million, which includes sales and rental agreements, up 17% from the previous year.

Real estate transactions alone amounted to 226,000, reflecting a significant 36% rise compared to 2023.

Abu Dhabi’s Strong Growth

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s real estate market also saw impressive growth in 2024, with transaction values rising by 10.5% to $26.2 billion (AED 96.2 billion). The number of transactions surged by 24.2% year-on-year to reach 28,249.

Leading Real Estate Players

Emaar Properties from Dubai and Aldar Properties from Abu Dhabi were the region’s top revenue-generating real estate companies, with Emaar reporting $6.5 billion and Aldar $4.5 billion for the first nine months of 2024.

This continued strong performance reflects a thriving luxury real estate market in the UAE, attracting international investors and contributing to the broader growth of the region’s economy.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Competition Authority Launches Comprehensive Review of ExxonMobil Cyprus Acquisition

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 16, 2025

Investigation Initiated Over Strategic Acquisition

The Competition Protection Authority has commenced a thorough investigation into the acquisition of ExxonMobil Cyprus Limited’s share capital by Petrolina Holdings Public Ltd through Med Energywise Ltd. This inquiry was formally initiated following a session held on 10 September 2025, after an in-depth review of the pertinent report by the Authority’s Service.

Concerns Over Market Compatibility

Authorities have expressed serious concerns regarding the compatibility of the transaction with established competitive practices. The review indicates that the acquisition may affect several critical petroleum markets, both horizontally and vertically, thereby raising the potential for adverse impacts on market dynamics.

Horizontal Market Dynamics

On the horizontal front, potential effects have been identified in the import market for petroleum products, as well as in both wholesale and retail distribution channels of these products. The consolidation is believed to increase the risk of price rises and coordinated actions, given the direct competitive proximity between Petrolina and ExxonMobil.

Vertical and Adjacent Market Implications

Vertical aspects of the merger are also under close scrutiny. The new entity could restrict competitors’ access to critical infrastructure such as storage facilities, supply channels, and customer bases. These restrictions could further affect the onshore distribution of fuels, the wholesale market for lubricants, and specialized technical services connected with fuel station operations.

Local Market Considerations

Particular attention is being paid to the potential concentration in the retail fuel market. The investigation suggests that a reduced competitive landscape within a four-kilometer radius of the companies’ fuel stations could lead to diminished local competition, adversely impacting consumer prices and options.

Next Steps and Industry Impact

The Competition Protection Authority, which reached a unanimous decision to pursue a full investigation, remains open to submissions from parties that might be affected by this transaction, as mandated by current legislation. A final decision is expected within four months upon receipt of all necessary evidence, potentially setting a significant precedent for future market consolidation cases in the energy sector.