Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah is attracting stronger international property interest than Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with overseas searches accounting for nearly half of buyer enquiries.
Property Finder’s September 2026 data shows that Al Marjan Island recorded the highest proportion of property searches originating from outside the UAE among the four locations analysed.
Around 50% of searches for properties on the island came from abroad. For residential sales specifically, the figure reached 52.1%.
Ras Al Khaimah as a whole attracted around one-third of its property searches from overseas, broadly matching Dubai. Abu Dhabi recorded a lower share, at approximately one in five searches.
The findings were presented by Property Finder Chief Revenue Officer Cherif Sleiman during the fourth edition of OBG Connect on November 11.
He said international property interest in the UAE was extending beyond Dubai.
“International interest in the UAE is not just a Dubai story,” said Sleiman.
“Al Marjan Island draws a larger share of its searches from abroad than any market we analyzed, and that should shape who developers and agents are speaking to.”
Property Finder clarified that search location indicates where interest originates, rather than the nationality of potential buyers or the source of their investment funds.
Villas attract a larger share of buyer interest
The data also highlights growing interest in villas across the UAE’s major property markets.
In Ras Al Khaimah, villas account for 23% of buyer interest despite representing just 10% of available listings.
The same pattern appears in Abu Dhabi, where villas attract 28% of buyer interest against an 18% share of listings.
In Dubai, villas account for 19% of buyer interest and 13% of available stock.
These figures suggest that villas are attracting a higher proportion of buyer interest than their share of listed properties in all three markets.
Ras Al Khaimah attracts demand for properties below Dhs 2 million
Buyer budgets also differ between emirates.
Properties priced between Dhs 2 million and Dhs 5 million attract the largest share of buyer leads in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, accounting for 33% and 39%, respectively.
In Ras Al Khaimah and Al Marjan Island, the Dhs 1 million to Dhs 2 million price range leads buyer demand.
The rental market in Ras Al Khaimah also shows strong interest in more affordable properties. Homes with annual rents of up to Dhs 40,000 generate 42% of rental demand, despite accounting for just 16% of available listings.
Dubai rental listings grow faster than demand
Property Finder’s September figures show that rental listings on its platform in Dubai increased by 57% year-on-year, while rental leads grew by 11%.
The figures highlight a widening gap between the growth of available listings and the increase in rental enquiries on the platform.
However, the data alone does not establish whether Dubai’s wider rental market has an oversupply of properties.
Sleiman said developers and agents should focus on providing homes that match what tenants are searching for.
“This is not a question of how much stock there is. It is a question of whether it matches what people are looking for,” said Sleiman. “The opportunity now is putting the right homes in front of the people actually searching for them.”
UAE property demand extends beyond overseas buyers
The panel discussion, titled “Three Markets, One UAE: Real Estate Opportunities and the Road to 2035”, also explored the role of domestic demand in supporting the property sector.
Panellists highlighted how UAE residents are moving between emirates, upgrading their homes and investing in property, alongside international buyers.
The discussion also covered opportunities in commercial real estate as population growth increases demand for workplaces as well as residential properties.
Sleiman said each emirate could attract different groups of buyers by offering properties that match their preferences.
“International demand will only increase from here. Each emirate will have the opportunity to attract different demographics, locally and internationally, by catering to their preferences. The road to 2035 will be built market by market.”
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
