Latest news with #Bayut
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Rising rents in Dubai push expats to Ajman's relatively cheaper homes
Ajman recorded a 50% surge in lease contracts in 2024 as rising rents in Dubai and Sharjah pushed many expatriates to seek affordable housing alternatives in the northern emirate/Image: Shutterstock TL;DR: Driven by soaring rents in Dubai and Sharjah, Ajman experienced a 50% increase in lease contracts and AED 4.93 billion in rental transactions during 2024 making it an attractive budget alternative. Studios in Ajman now start at AED 22,000 annually, while one-bedrooms range from AED 25,000–34,000 as compared with AED 30,000+ in nearby emirates. Many rent-saving expats accept longer commutes (60–120 minutes daily), striking a balance between affordability, emerging infrastructure, and community lifestyle. As the UAE grapples with record rental inflation, a growing number of budget-conscious expatriates are turning to Ajman, once overlooked, now resurging as a residential lifeline. In 2024, Ajman recorded a swift 50% surge in lease contracts, handling nearly AED 4.93 billion in rental deals which is a clear sign of shifting demographics. With studio prices rising to AED 22,000 (USD 5,991) and one-bedroom units fetching AED 25,000–34,000 (USD 6,807-USD 9,258), families and young professionals are making the tradeoffs: longer commutes for lower living costs, with many praising Ajman's affordability, modern amenities, and growing investment in infrastructure. But can this northern emirate sustain the influx without stretching resources and what will commuting do to daily lives? A Budget Anchor in a Rising-Rent Sea Ajman municipality reports that Ajman's lease contracts jumped 50% in 2024, up from AED 3.28 billion (USD 893 million) in 2022 to AED 4.93 billion (USD 1.342 billion) last year. That stems from sharp rental appreciation across Dubai and Sharjah where smaller flats saw 20%–30% rent hikes, pushing expats to Ajman. Bayut and Asteco data further confirm that studios start at AED 22K (up from AED 11K), with one-bedrooms averaging AED 25K–34K. These savings serve as powerful lures for budget-minded renters. Infrastructure & Community Life on the Rise Ajman Municipality rolled out new online systems for inhabitant services, streamlining rental registrations including over 100,000 residential contracts in 2024. Investors are building modern apartments, malls, restaurants, and parks drawing remote workers and families searching for quality on a budget. Locals note Ajman offers a community feel with amenities that match its urban neighbours plus a quiet that Dubai can't offer. Communities around DIFC and Sharjah report daily one-way trips from Ajman lasting 60–120 minutes especially during rush hour. Many commuting expats describe these longer hours as manageable for a higher quality living environment but warn against unpredictable traffic delays. Demand Pressures & Cooling Rents Ahead Notably, northern emirates like Ajman, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah saw Q4 2024 rental growth of 4%–8% before levelling off around 3%. Sharjah alone saw 26% jump in rental agreements mid‑2024, driven by the Dubai spillover. While Ajman may have begun its own price climb, its rates remain significantly lower. Whether Ajman can sustain affordability while handling increased demand and how much longer rents will stay low—remains a critical question. What's Next for Ajman? Ajman's rise seems tied to its geographic advantage, close to major emirates yet relatively affordable. With infrastructure upgrades underway (bridge expansions, new roads), commute conditions may improve. Yet the emirate must continue to balance housing supply with amenities, transportation, and lifestyle offerings, or risk merely replicating Sharjah's inflationary cycle. Ajman's 50% lease contract boom in 2024 signals a northward shift by cost-conscious expats chasing affordability, community, and value. Studio and one-bedroom rents offer AED 8K–18K (USD 2,178-USD 4,912) savings per year, offsetting longer commutes of 60–120 minutes. With strategic infrastructure upgrades, Ajman could become a lasting, affordable alternative to Dubai and Sharjah. Still, rising demand suggests rent levels may soon edge higher. For now, Ajman stands as a deliberate trade-off: cheaper living, justifying the commute.
Al Etihad
6 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi real estate sector sees robust growth in H1 2025: Report
17 July 2025 21:39 AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi's property market has continued its impressive upward momentum in the first half of 2025, as detailed in Bayut's Abu Dhabi Sales Market Report H1 2025. The report highlights notable gains across affordable, mid-tier, and luxury property segments, driven by strong investor confidence, lifestyle-oriented developments, and high rental to Bayut report, affordable apartment prices rose by up to 7%, while affordable villas saw increases of up to 5% compared to H2 2024. In the mid-tier segment, apartment prices climbed by 2% to 11%, with Al Reem Island leading the way. Notably, mid-tier villas in Al Samha registered a significant 26.7% jump in price per square foot, the highest across all real estate also remained in high demand. The price of luxury apartments increased by up to 17%, particularly on Saadiyat Island and Yas Island. Luxury villa prices rose between 6% and 9%, with Yas Island dominating buyer interest. However, Al Jubail Island was the only area in the luxury category to experience a drop in villa prices, declining by 17.8%, likely due to shifting investor buyers seeking affordable options, Al Reef emerged as the most popular area for both apartments and villas, supported by high returns on investment (ROI) and relatively modest price increases. Al Ghadeer followed closely, offering attractive pricing and strong the mid-tier apartment segment, Al Reem Island stood out with a 10.7% price increase, driven by its central location and growing infrastructure. Masdar City and Baniyas also attracted investors with solid ROIs and moderate price appreciation. Meanwhile, Al Raha Gardens led the mid-tier villa segment, offering a strong 6.17% ROI and steady pricing buyers continued to favour Yas Island, Al Raha Beach, and Saadiyat Island. Apartments in Saadiyat saw the highest surge in per square foot pricing at 16.5%, while Yas Island apartments posted the highest ROI in the luxury category at 7.15%.In terms of rental yields, Al Reef topped the list for both affordable apartments (9.33%) and villas (6.34%). Masdar City delivered the highest ROI for mid-tier apartments at 8.41%, while Al Raha Gardens led for mid-tier villas. Among luxury properties, Yas Island posted the best ROI across both apartments (7.15%) and villas (5.46%), thanks in part to renewed interest following the announcement of Disneyland Abu developments have also gained traction in H1 2025. In the affordable segment, Al Reeman 1 in Al Shamkha and Bloom Living in Zayed City stood out. Yas Bay led mid-tier apartment projects, while Nawayef Park Views and Saadiyat Cultural District were preferred luxury developments. On the villa front, affordable buyers focused on Bloom Living and Al Reeman 2. Yas Acres remained a favourite in the mid-tier bracket, while Nawayef West and Saadiyat Lagoons continued to attract luxury investors.
Arabian Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Abu Dhabi's First‑Half Momentum Reinforces Investor Confidence
Abu Dhabi's property scene is riding a wave of investor interest and stable growth during the first half of 2025, underpinned by strong infrastructure development and pro-investor policies, according to a fresh analysis by Bayut. Listing prices surged across all segments, rental yields reached double digits in many areas, and transaction volumes remain robust, fueling the capital's appeal as a reliable investment destination. Listing figures show affordable apartments climbed by up to 7 percent, while villas in the same category surged by as much as 5 percent. Mid-tier apartment prices rose between 6 percent and 11 percent, with mid-range villas in Al Raha Gardens gaining 2.68 percent and in Al Samha soaring by 26.7 percent—though Baniyas bucked the trend, dipping by 1.45 percent. In the luxury tier, apartment prices on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island jumped 17 percent, while luxury villa prices grew 5 percent to 10 percent, save for a 17.8 percent drop in Al Jubail Island. Yield data makes an attractive case for investors. Affordable apartments offered yields over 9 percent in Al Reef and 8.5 percent in Al Ghadeer. Mid-tier apartments delivered 8.41 percent in Masdar City and 7.59 percent in Al Reem Island. Even the luxury apartment segment returned notable yields—7.15 percent on Yas Island and 6.58 percent in Al Raha Beach. Rental gains also extended to villas: affordable villa rents increased by up to 13 percent and mid‑tier villas by around 7 percent, with luxury villa rents rising by 7 percent in Saadiyat Island and Al Bateen. ADVERTISEMENT Total transaction volume continued its upward trend. ADREC data confirmed first-quarter transactions hit AED 25.3 billion, a 34.5 percent rise from AED 18.8 billion in the same period a year earlier, powered by 6,896 deals—up from 5,773 in Q1 2024—with mortgage activity increasing 49 percent to AED 9.8 billion, and foreign buyer transactions reaching AED 1.58 billion for 384 deals. This upswing highlights growing investor trust and Abu Dhabi's regional market leadership. Bayut reports that more than 9.3 million visits were recorded on its Abu Dhabi listings during the period, reflecting strong public engagement. Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut and Dubizzle Group MENA, affirmed that the figures underscore the capital's steady growth and broad investor appeal. Infrastructure and policy reforms have been central to the city's momentum. The launch of Disneyland Abu Dhabi bolstered interest in Yas Island's premium properties, while a unified legal framework and new community governance structures have improved sector transparency. In addition, Al Reem Island's development under Abu Dhabi Global Market regulatory expansion supports value appreciation in that mixed-use district. Abu Dhabi Investment Office and ADGM have played vital roles in promoting foreign direct investment. ADIO's 2019-formed cluster programmes and new global offices aim to reinforce Abu Dhabi's economic diversification, while ADGM's jurisdictional expansion to Al Reem Island introduces a common-law regulatory ecosystem for real-estate transactions. Broader macroeconomic trends also favour continued expansion. The UAE's forecast GDP growth of 4.7 percent in 2025—notably for Dubai—drives job creation and consumer confidence, indirectly strengthening Abu Dhabi's property market. Meanwhile, government measures such as Golden Visa schemes and low tax rates support long-term residency and investment. Looking ahead, several shifts appear set to shape the remainder of the year. Demand is gaining ground in mid-tier communities like Masdar City, Al Raha Gardens, Al Ghadeer, and Al Samha. Yas Island's upward trajectory appears sustained by theme-park-linked demand. The mid-tier villa market shows signs of saturation in Baniyas, with a modest price retreat, while Al Jubail Island's luxury villas experienced a sharper drop, possibly reflecting investor rebalancing. Rental yields remain a strong draw. Affordable and mid-tier apartments are offering returns between 7.5 percent and 9.5 percent, while luxury segments yield 6 percent to 7 percent. Even some villa rentals exceeded 7 percent in luxury zones. Annual asking prices in Abu Dhabi mark a steep rise: property finder data shows apartment asking prices up 23 percent year-on‑year in Q1 and villas up 18 percent. Investors will monitor emerging regulatory enhancements, such as developer off‑plan contract reforms and integrated community management frameworks designed to bolster market confidence and governance. With pipeline projects like Saadiyat luxury launches and infrastructure-linked developments taking shape, Abu Dhabi's appeal remains buoyant.
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi realty prices show resilience in first half of 2025
The Abu Dhabi property market has demonstrated exceptional resilience and growth in H1 2025, as listing prices for apartments in the affordable sector have risen by up to 7 per cent, while budget-friendly villa prices have increased by as much as 5 per cent, data showed on Wednesday. According to research by Bayut, the UAE's leading property portal, the emirate has established itself as one of the region's most attractive investment destinations. Budget-conscious property-seekers have focused on affordable areas such as Al Reef, Al Ghadeer, Khalifa City and Al Shamkha. Mid-tier investors have favoured Al Reem Island, Masdar City, Al Raha Gardens and Al Samha. Abu Dhabi's popular island communities, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, have remained of significant interest to potential high-profile investors. The mid-tier segment has seen apartment prices appreciate by 6 per cent to 11 per cent. Mid-tier villas reported a listing price increase of up to 2.68 per cent in Al Raha Gardens and a surge of up to 26.7 per cent in Al Samha, highlighting a sustained demand for family homes. Bucking the trend slightly, mid-tier villas in Baniyas have become cheaper by 1.45 per cent. According to the H1 2025 luxury property sales data, listing prices for luxury apartments in Yas Island and Saadiyat Island have increased by up to 17 per cent, an unsurprising surge when the announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi is taken into account. The luxury villa segment has experienced comparatively moderate increases of 5 per cent to 10 per cent. Villa prices in Al Jubail Island have recorded a significant 17.8 per cent decrease, most likely due to investor interest shifting towards Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. Rental yields In the affordable segment, Al Reef apartments have delivered lucrative yields of 9.33 per cent, followed by Al Ghadeer at 8.45 per cent. Mid-tier apartments have offered promising returns of 8.41 per cent in Masdar City and 7.59 per cent in Al Reem Island. For luxury apartments, Yas Island has recorded yields of 7.15 per cent, while Al Raha Beach has offered 6.58 per cent. Affordable villas in Al Reef have provided solid returns of 6.34 per cent. Mid-tier villas have yielded 6.17 per cent in Al Raha Gardens and 5.75 per cent in Al Samha, while premium villas in Yas Island have offered investors a 5.46 per cent return. Abu Dhabi's diverse off-plan market has continued to attract significant interest from both local and international investors. For affordable off-plan apartments, Al Reeman 1 in Al Shamkha and Bloom Living in Zayed City have garnered significant investor interest. Those looking for off-plan apartments in the mid-tier range have focused their interest on Yas Bay, whereas Nawayef Park Views on Hudayriat Island has emerged as the preferred choice in the luxury category. Investors eyeing villa purchases have favoured Bloom Living in Zayed City, Al Reeman 2 in Al Shamkha and Reportage Village Abu Dhabi in Khalifa City for affordable options. Off-plan villa buyers have shown a preference for Yas Acres and Al Jurf Gardens in the mid-tier segment. Nawayef West in Hudairiyat Island and Saadiyat Lagoons have garnered the most investor interest in the luxury category. Abu Dhabi's rental market strength has been driven by population growth and consistent demand for quality accommodation from expats: For affordable rentals, Khalifa City and Al Shamkha have remained popular for both apartments and villas, with tenants also considering Shakhbout City for family homes. In the mid-tier segment, tenants have favoured Al Reem Island and Al Khalidiyah for apartments, while Al Raha Gardens and Al Muroor have been popular choices for villas. Yas Island and Saadiyat Island have remained the top luxury picks for both apartments and villas. Rents for affordable apartments have increased between 2 per cent and 21 per cent, with the highest rental rises observed for 2-bedroom units in Al Nahyan, signifying growing demand for larger, budget-friendly units. Mid-range apartment rentals have mirrored this trend, with increases ranging from 3 per cent to 68 per cent; studio units in the Tourist Club Area have reported the highest surge following an increased demand for limited inventory. Asking rents for luxury apartments have reported moderate to major increases of 3 per cent to 14 per cent across popular districts. However, 2 and 3-bedroom units in Saadiyat Island have experienced marginal price reductions of 0.47 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively. In the affordable category, villa rentals have risen by up to 13 per cent in prominent districts. Asking rents for mid-tier villas have generally risen by up to 7 per cent. Luxury villa rentals have reported a mixed trend with up to 7 per cent price increases for 4-bedroom units in Saadiyat Island and Al Bateen, but a somewhat surprising 6 per cent decrease for 5-bedroom units in Saadiyat Island and Yas Island. Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut, CEO of Dubizzle Group MENA and Board Member of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said: 'Abu Dhabi's real estate market has been on a steady upward path this year, and the interest we're seeing speaks for itself with over 9.3 million visits recorded on Bayut's Abu Dhabi listings in just six months. With strong demand and smart initiatives such as ADREC's Madhmoun boosting transparency, the capital is shaping up to be a really exciting space for both homebuyers and investors. All signs point to Abu Dhabi emerging as one of the most exciting and future-ready real estate destinations in the region.'
Arabian Business
7 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Abu Dhabi Real Estate: Rents climb by up to 68%, yields top 9%, top areas for property price gains revealed
Abu Dhabi's real estate market is gaining powerful momentum in 2025, with robust growth across sales, rentals, and off-plan investments, according to a new report from Bayut. In its H1 2025 market analysis, Bayut highlighted rising investor interest, strong rental yields, and dynamic price appreciation across all market segments—underscoring the capital's growing status as a regional real estate powerhouse. The platform reported more than 9.3m visits to Abu Dhabi listings in the first six months of the year, reflecting surging demand from both local and global investors. Abu Dhabi property price trends Affordable apartments saw listing prices rise by up to 7 per cent, with villas increasing by up to 5 per cent Mid-tier apartments appreciated between 6 per cent and 11 per cent, while villas rose by 2.68 per cent in Al Raha Gardens and a significant 26.7 per cent in Al Samha Luxury apartment prices on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island rose up to 17 per cent, bolstered by the Disneyland Abu Dhabi announcement Luxury villa prices increased moderately by 5–10 per cent, though Al Jubail Island villas declined by 17.8 per cent as investor attention shifted Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut, CEO of Dubizzle Group MENA and Board Member of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said: 'Abu Dhabi's real estate market has been on a steady upward path this year, and the interest we're seeing speaks for itself with over 9.3m visits recorded on Bayut's Abu Dhabi listings in just six months. 'With strong demand and smart initiatives such as ADREC's Madhmoun boosting transparency, the capital is shaping up to be a really exciting space for both homebuyers and investors. 'All signs point to Abu Dhabi emerging as one of the most exciting and future-ready real estate destinations in the region.' Abu Dhabi rental yield highlights Affordable apartments in Al Reef delivered yields of 9.33 per cent, followed by Al Ghadeer at 8.45 per cent Mid-tier apartments offered 8.41 per cent in Masdar City and 7.59 per cent in Al Reem Island Luxury apartments on Yas Island yielded 7.15 per cent, while Al Raha Beach posted 6.58 per cent Villas ranged from 6.34 per cent in Al Reef to 5.46 per cent on Yas Island, demonstrating healthy returns across categories Abu Dhabi off-plan investment hotspots Top off-plan projects attracting investor interest in H1 2025 include: Affordable: Al Reeman 1 (Al Shamkha), Bloom Living (Zayed City) Mid-tier: Yas Bay, Yas Acres, Al Jurf Gardens Luxury: Nawayef Park Views and Nawayef West (Hudayriat Island), Saadiyat Lagoons Abu Dhabi rental market trends Rents continued to climb: Affordable apartment rents increased 2 per cent–21 per cent, with the steepest rise in 2-bed units in Al Nahyan Mid-range rents surged 3 per cent–68 per cent, driven by studio demand in the Tourist Club Area Luxury apartment rents rose 3 per cent–14 per cent, though some 2 and 3-bedroom units in Saadiyat Island saw slight declines Villa rents increased up to 13 per cent in affordable areas, up to 7 per cent in mid-tier locations, and up to 7 per cent for luxury 4-beds in Saadiyat and Al Bateen However, five-bedroom luxury villas in Saadiyat and Yas Island saw a 6 per cent decrease in asking rents
