The United Arab Emirates has one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the world. Each year billions of dollars are invested in this sector, meaning that there is constant ongoing work for real estate sector development operating in this country. Because of this, it should not be surprising that there are many different real estate developers in the UAE that try to take control of as much of this booming market as possible. Because of this tough competition, every developer tries to create the best properties possible, which helps to guarantee the quality of these properties. In this article, we will give you a list of real estate companies in the UAE and look at what makes them stand out from the rest.
UAE’s top real estate companies and developers
- Emaar Properties
- Nakheel
- Meraas
- Aldar Properties
Emaar Properties
Emaar Properties is one of the oldest UAE real estate developers and probably the best of the lot. Established in 1997, it is one of the largest real estate developers in Dubai and is a publicly-traded company with a market capitalization of $51 billion. This developer has their hands in pretty much everything, with residential, commercial, retail, and hospitality properties all residing under their big umbrella. On top of operating in the UAE, they also have developments in North Africa and other middle eastern countries.
Even if this is the first time you are hearing about this developer, you will probably be familiar with one of their projects. Emaar Properties is the developer behind the world’s largest building, the infamous Burj Khalifa, and on top of that, they are also the ones who constructed Dubai Mall, which is one of the biggest shopping malls in the world. These are not the only major projects bearing their name as they have many other projects that have gained worldwide recognition.
When it comes to other projects, Emaar Properties have developed neighborhoods, with the likes of Arabian Ranches, The Meadows, The Greens, The Lakes, Dubai Marina, and The Springs all being developed by them. These are all luxurious neighborhoods in Dubai, meaning that most of their properties are focused on luxury and priced on the expensive side. But this does not mean that they only offer expensive properties. Investors can purchase properties developed by Emaar Properties for around $400,000 – $700,000. These are still very expensive properties, but compared to some of their other ventures, these fall on the cheaper side of the line. All in all, this is the biggest real estate developer in the UAE and their properties are always in demand.
Nakheel
The next real estate developer on our list is Nakheel, which is another well-known brand and one of the biggest real estate companies in the UAE. Founded in 2003, this is a privately owned company; owned and operated by the government of Dubai. Just like any other big United Arab Emirates real estate company, Nakheel has all types of real estate properties under its belt, including residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, and more.
Nakheel is behind some of the most noteworthy developments in Dubai, with Palm Jumeriah being its crowning jewel. This artificially developed archipelago is famous for the beauty and complexity that went into the development of this project. This project added more than 300 kilometers to the Dubai coastline and created many beautiful properties, both residential and commercial. Nakheel also just recently continued working on the previously abandoned project Palm Deira and renamed this upcoming artificial islands to Dubai Islands.
Other than these projects, Nakheel is the developer behind many different famous projects in Dubai. In the residential sector, they have constructed areas such as Discovery Gardens, Nad Al Sheba Villas, International City, and Jabel Ali Village. In the commercial sector, they are the developers behind projects such as Nakheel Mall, Golden Mile Galleria, both Dragon Marts, and many more. This is the largest privately owned UAE real estate developer and the second-largest developer in the whole country.
Meraas
Founded in 2007, Meraas is another privately owned real estate developer that is well known for its amazing real estate developments. Technically Meraas is a holding company that operates not only in real estate but in other sectors as well. Their portfolio includes residential, retail, hospitality, entertainment, and healthcare real estate properties all across Dubai.
When it comes to noteworthy properties, Meraas does not have properties such as the Burj Khalifa or Palm Jumeirah to brag about. The most popular property that Meraas has constructed is the Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest Ferris wheel. Other than that, Meraas primarily dedicates its resources to developing and constructing different residential areas.
Meraas is the developer behind properties such as Bluewaters Residences, Bvlgari Residences, Central Park at City Walk, and Nikki Beach Residences. All of these residences are constructed in one of the best and most desirable places in Dubai. Bvlgari for example is located in Jumeirah Bay, the man-made island Dubai is so famous for. Just like Bvlgari, most of the Meraas properties are located in similar locations, where prices are high, but come with some of the best locations, views, services, and more.
Aldar Properties
Founded in 2004, Aldar Properties is one of the largest real estate companies in the UEA. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Aldar Properties is one of the best Abu Dhabi real estate developers, with a market value of $35 billion. Aldar Properties pretty much constructs every type of real estate imaginable, with the hospitality sector being one of the biggest segments they tackle.
Being one of the biggest real estate developers in the UAE, Aldar Properties has a large number of major projects under its belt. Yas Mall is one of them, this is the largest shopping mall in Abu Dhabi and covers an area of just over 2.3 million square meters. This place consists of shopping centers and other leisure facilities. It has a very large entertainment zone for both kids and adults and has direct access to the famous Ferrari World theme park.
Other than that, Aldar Properties is also known for the construction of Yas Marina Circuit, which holds the famous Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This Grand Prix is held every November as the last race of the season. In 2010, this circuit was sold to the Abu Dhabi government for $1.3 billion.
When it comes to residential properties Mamsha Al Saadiyat is the biggest and most popular residential complex constructed by Aldar properties. This is one of the most luxurious residential complexes in Abu Dhabi, where buyers can choose from premium apartments, penthouses, townhouses, and more. Other than this, Aldar Properties developed properties such as Yas Park Gate, Yas Arches North Bay, Al Ghadeer, and many more.
Final thoughts on UAE real estate developers
The United Arab Emirates is known for its extreme real estate developments. If you are looking for a real estate property or anything major that breaks some world records, the possibility of it being in the UAE is very high. Each real estate developer in the UAE tries to create something luxurious and attractive in order to gain a competitive advantage over its competitors. What this means for buyers is that almost every property you buy is constructed by these market leaders and will be of the highest quality. These developers can not sell poorly constructed properties to buyers without damaging their reputations and losing their competitive advantage. So if you want to invest in one of these properties, you can easily look for real estate agencies such as the well-known Coin Real Estate that work in the UAE and with their help, purchase the property of your dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions about UAE real estate developers
There are many good real estate developers in Dubai, but the title of the best developer has to go to Emaar Properties. This is a developer behind the world’s largest building, the Burj Khalifa, and one of the largest shopping malls in the world, the Dubai Mall. Apart from these, Emaar Properties owns many different zones in Dubai, where they have constructed residential complexes and neighborhoods.
Aldar Properties is one of the largest developers in the world. They have a market capitalization of $35 billion and are behind some of the most famous real estate projects on earth. They have constructed projects such as Yas Mall, the largest mall in Abu Dhabi, and Yas Marina Circuit, the Formula One circuit that is used for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and other motorsports events as well.
