Investors eye UAE as Belt and Road real estate gateway for Asia

Chinese investors are pouring record sums into UAE property, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai emerging as key Belt and Road hubs, according to new figures released at a Shanghai forum

Chinese investors are pouring record sums into UAE property, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai emerging as key Belt and Road hubs, new figures suggest.

The United Arab Emirates is attracting growing attention from Chinese investors as a hub for Belt and Road capital, according to industry executives at the 2025 Middle East Property Investment Forum, hosted in Shanghai this week by China Real Estate Information Corp (CRIC).

CRIC published its latest H1 UAE Residential Market Trends Report at the event, showing Abu Dhabi’s population rose to 4.14m in 2024, overtaking Dubai, with housing transactions worth 21.85bn dirhams ($5.95bn) in the first half of this year, a 30 per cent rise year on year. Average prices climbed 17 per cent to 3.3m dirhams per unit.

Dubai recorded 98,726 property deals in the same period, a 22 per cent rise, with transaction values jumping 40 per cent to 326.9bn dirhams. Luxury rental yields reached 5.3 per cent in 2024, ranking second globally.

Ding Zuyu, chairman of CRIC, told China Daily: “Overseas property investment should concentrate on regional hub cities. In the Middle East, Dubai and Abu Dhabi stand out as the key destinations.”

He added that leading cities in mature markets such as New York, London and Singapore have long been magnets for real estate investment, and that the UAE’s core cities were now performing the same role for the wider Middle East.

Jonathan Emery, CEO of Aldar Development, added: “There is a growing appetite from investors in China for Abu Dhabi. We see that opportunity increasing as we invest more time here and build brand awareness.

“With bilateral trade now approaching $100 billion, the scope for deeper cooperation is substantial. And it is not only in commerce, but also in investment, culture, tourism, and education where the ties between the UAE and China continue to grow stronger.”

As the capital’s largest developer, investor and manager, Emery said Aldar’s figures illustrated the trend, adding: “In 2024, overseas and expatriate buyers accounted for 78 percent of our UAE sales, up from just 21 percent in 2021. A major part of this growth is coming from China. Over the past three years, purchases by our Chinese customers have increased almost three-fold, already surpassing $690 million this year with the final quarter still to come.”

According to Emery, the combined investment of around $700 million made by Chinese investors in the UAE to date this year comes from both individuals and institutions. “We hope to grow this opportunity as we invest time in communication and work with partners,” he said.

Academics at the forum argued that the UAE’s role as a Belt and Road gateway is reinforced by wider trade shifts. “The global trade landscape is undergoing profound adjustments, with growing emphasis on regional trade, fair trade, green trade, and secure trade,” Luo Changyuan, professor at Fudan University’s School of Economics, said.

The forum also heard warnings about policy and geopolitical exposure. Li Lan, general manager of Shanghai Construction Group’s overseas business management division, said: “When Chinese companies expand overseas, several factors should be considered.

“First, such ventures need to align with national strategies, ensuring that policies and development plans between the two countries are compatible. For example, the Belt and Road Initiative should be coordinated with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy to secure a strong foundation for future growth.

“Second, attention should be paid to the development prospects of the target country or region, such as the presence of major cultural or public events, which can help ensure sufficient construction demand for building companies.

“Third and finally, a coordinated approach along the entire industry chain is ideal. Forums like today’s, which bring together investors, developers, contractors, and suppliers on a single platform, demonstrate that having the right people, at the right time, in the right place, is crucial for fostering connections and collaboration based on past overseas experiences.”

READ MORE: ‘UK to restart trade talks with China after seven-year pause‘. Secretary of State Peter Kyle travels to Beijing for first JETCO meeting since 2018, with £1bn in market access wins expected

Do you have news to share or expertise to contribute? The European welcomes insights from business leaders and sector specialists. Get in touch with our editorial team to find out more.

_{Main image: Jonathan Emery, CEO of Aldar Development, speaks at the forum (China Daily).}