Real estate first in preferred investment

Manama : A survey of home buyers and investors across the GCC and Egypt has shown that real estate is the number one preferred investment, underlining the buoyancy of the regional property market.

The Real Estate Barometer study, conducted by global market research company YouGov in partnership with Cityscape Global, revealed that more than half of respondents (54pc) would choose real estate as their preferred investment category, followed by stocks (13pc) and precious metals (11pc).

The sentiments have been announced as thousands of investors from around the world prepare to descend upon the Middle East’s largest property showcase, Cityscape Global, to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from September 6 to 8. Now in its 15th edition, the exhibition will host 272 international and regional exhibitors covering 41,000sqm of exhibition space.

The YouGov research also indicated that the UAE is one of the most appealing countries in the world in which to invest in real estate, with 65pc of respondents citing it as the most attractive option within the Middle East, while 64pc believed that Dubai is the prime city in which to buy property in the region.

Conducted in partnership with Informa, the organisers of Cityscape Global, the study showed that properties that are built to a high standard of quality as well as those that deliver good value for money are the most important factors considered by respondents before investing in residential real estate.

YouGov’s Head of Real Estate Research, Lara Al Barazi said, “It’s not surprising that the UAE and Dubai top the most attractive places to invest in real estate. Because the decision to invest in this sector depends foremost on the state of the economy in the market of interest according to 73pc of respondents across the region.”

“Market gaps, micro and macro appeal along with class sentiment are all parameters covered in the Real Estate Barometer, which will be unveiled during the Cityscape Global Conference,” he added.