Emaar

Dubai's real estate market has cooled amid the Middle East war, with residents securing cheaper rents and a shift to a buyer's market. Prices have dropped 5-20% in mainstream areas, while luxury sales fell 45% year-on-year in Q2 2026. Despite this, developers like Emaar and Binghatti have announced major projects, indicating some confidence in the market's recovery.

Dubai is investing billions in infrastructure and economic initiatives to recover from the Iran war's economic impact. The emirate approved a 18 billion-dirham spending plan for business reforms, an Islamic finance technology center, and a new highway, while Emaar, backed by Dubai Holding, is developing a $54 billion 'city within a city' project called Dubai Estate.

The UAE has made major investment pledges in Damascus, with Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar announcing nearly $18 billion in tourism and real estate projects. The move signals Abu Dhabi's growing strategic alignment with Syria's new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, including plans to renovate the Umayyad Mosque and surrounding historic districts.