Dubai is making rapid progress towards becoming a tier-one global city and fully established global hub, according to a new report by Driven | Forbes Global Properties, Dubai’s award-winning real estate brokerage.

 

The report, titled “Dubai on the Verge of Tier-1 City Recognition,” presents the first analytical framework developed by the UAE-based brokerage, Driven, to measure how a city stacks up against the world’s most established hubs. 

 

Drawing on 28 quantitative indicators, spanning infrastructure, governance, economic depth, safety, quality of life and inter appeal, the new index introduced in the report benchmarks Dubai alongside Singapore, Sydney, London, New York, Hong Kong and Paris to spotlight the city’s approach towards recognition as a tier one global city. This is backed by wider visions, including its D33 Economic Agenda and Dubai 2040 Master Plan. 

 

The new report, based on rigorous primary and secondary market research, caters to a diverse range of stakeholders—including investors, family offices, developers, and individuals aiming to explore and invest in the city’s ever-evolving real estate market from various real-time perspectives.

 

“We saw a chance to elevate the conversation, beyond headlines and market sentiment, and to ground it in real data, global benchmarks, and long-term vision, and we felt a responsibility to lead that effort,” said Abdullah Alajaji, CEO and Founder at Driven | Forbes Global Properties.

 

Dubai: 5th out of 7 leading global cities 

Driven | Forbes Global Properties is also the first real estate brokerage in the region to develop and publish its own proprietary Tier-1 City Index, marking a bold move in providing a structured, data-backed lens on Dubai’s transformation into a global hub. 

 

According to the Index, as outlined in the report, Dubai ranks fifth out of seven leading global cities, with standout performances in infrastructure (2nd), international appeal (3rd), safety and security (4th), and quality of life (4th). 

 

Industry sentiment echoes this progress, with most stakeholders believing the emirate will achieve full tier-one status within 5-10 years.

 

Further, the report highlighted how Dubai currently offers higher cap rates than traditional tier-one markets, owing to the emirate’s shorter real estate market history and higher historical price volatility, a marginally higher financial risk-free rate, and other factors. Through its gradual maturity, cap rate compression can be expected, aligning Dubai’s investment profile with other leading global real estate hubs.

 

Highlighted trends, considerations and opportunities

A key pricing trend unveiled that Dubai is entering a more mature pricing phase. Almost half (43%) of surveyed respondents believe Dubai’s property prices to be appropriately valued, while 35% see them as somewhat overvalued. Only 11% believe prices are undervalued.

 

The report also stressed several investor considerations, including the need to track, in real time, project pipelines and demographic trends to prevent supply-demand mismatches, and ensure market stability. At the same time, the report spotlighted several strategic investment opportunities, such as limited-supply asset classes including waterfront and coastal properties. These properties are likely to resist price fluctuations and provide stronger long-term value. Affordable and mid-income housing also presents strong development potential, among other similar opportunities.

 

Predicted outcomes

The report concluded that Dubai’s real estate market is steadily evolving into a mature global hub, on the cusp of full tier-one city recognition. While short-term price fluctuations may persist, Dubai’s strong fundamentals and increasing institutional capital inflows position it as a strategic long-term investment destination. As the market continues to mature, it is expected to mirror the stability and investment appeal of established global cities. – TradeArabia News Service