In 2023, the Dubai luxury real estate market made a huge breakthrough that broke records in several areas. The penthouse at the Como Residences on Palm Jumeirah achieved an incredible Dh24,000 per square foot for Dh500 million, setting a record.
The sales of ultra-premium apartments, with one at Bulgari Lighthouse fetching Dh420 million and another at Marsa Al Arab fetching Dh410 million, further highlighted the peak of the luxury market. Dubai’s standing as a center of unmatched opulence and luxury was cemented when an impressive Dh600 million was paid for a custom-built mansion in Palm Jumeirah.
DXBInteract.com reports that the market also saw a spike in high-value transactions, with 1,200 sales of apartments costing more than Dh11 million. These deals, which were distributed among 150 opulent projects in ten prominent master-planned communities, show a notable influx of affluent investors, many of whom are billionaires.
Impact on land prices
Land prices have been significantly impacted by the increasing demand, especially for prime plots that are well-located. A plot on the Dubai Water Canal served as an example of this, selling for a record-breaking Dh1,700 psf on the GFA, more than quadrupling the pre-Covid average of Dh400.
The transformative nature of real estate developments around the Dubai Canal, such as the Four Seasons, Mr. C, and other branded residences, is credited with this significant increase. These developments’ completed apartments, which come with an average price per square foot of Dh8,000, support the high land prices.
2024 projections
2024 will see the arrival of new luxury icons and a continued evolution of Dubai’s luxury real estate market. Luxurious mansions expected to be unveiled by La Mer will range in price from Dh90 million to Dh400 million.
With about 140 mansions located between Jumeirah Beach Road, the Dubai Water Canal, Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown, and Citywalk, Al Wasl Villas is expected to become another prestigious community.
More opulent mansions are about to be delivered to Jumeira Bay Island.
The moderate delivery of ultra-luxury units anticipated this year suggests that the equilibrium between supply and demand for ready-to-move-in luxury homes is likely to hold.
It is anticipated that the trend of buying ultra-luxury off-plan properties will pick up steam.
From late 2025 to 2027, the ultra-luxury segment’s viability will be put to the test, especially after the supply of recently completed units.
Launching branded homes will play a bigger role in Dubai’s luxury real estate story going forward since these kinds of relationships are starting to define luxury in the market.
From 2023 to 2024, I see a big trend continuing. While the luxury market is booming and many ultra-luxury projects are breaking records, it’s crucial to remember that not all developments are enjoying the same level of success. Certain ultra-luxury projects have not attracted attention from the start. Several issues, such as overly aggressive pricing, less-than-ideal locations, mismatched brand names, poor branding, or poor project launch tactics, are mostly to blame for this lack of focus.
When the micro-market fundamentals of Dubai’s luxury real estate are closely examined, there is a compelling argument to be made that the market is driven more by legitimate demand than by speculation. Generally speaking, investing in properties that are worth more than Dh15 million—particularly those that approach half a billion dirhams—is not speculative. Dubai has become a reliable place for these people to invest in trophy assets, taking market share away from more established safe havens like New York, London, and Paris.
The market dynamic dictates that if a billionaire investor were to leave the asset, it would probably pass to another person with a comparable level of wealth. When big cities that draw trophy asset investors are examined, a recurring pattern emerges: once a city becomes known as a haven for billionaires, it stays that way forever, independent of changes in the local or international market.
A steady and steady number of sales transactions, especially in the off-plan sector, is anticipated, even though a persistent price increase within the ultra-luxury segment is not predicted. In the end, when a property is finished and has to withstand the scrutiny of actual end-user demand, that is when its true sustainability for any real estate market segment will be determined.