- 40% of UAE adults plan to invest in property in the home country in the 12 months
- 18% plan to invest in property overseas in the next year
- North America, UK, Australia and Germany are preferred locations
The annual YouGov survey conducted by IP Global, the leading full-service property investment company, has confirmed that property remains the preferred investment asset by UAE residents, with 40% of residents planning to invest in property in the UAE and 18% planning to do so overseas in the next year.
In a bi-annual study taken by 1000 people, when choosing which asset type to purchase, property ranked above stocks, shares or bonds (27%), highlighting the continuous appeal of real estate, possibly due to the stable, reliable returns it offers. Despite the recent political global events, the latest YouGov study also showed a 7% increase in appetite by UAE residents in the last six months for property investment.
When UAE residents were asked where they would consider purchasing property abroad, Canada (20%) and the USA (20%) were the most popular countries selected from the list. The UK with 15%, plus Germany and Australia with 12% each completed the top five preferred investment destinations.
In terms of demographics the YouGov study showed that there is no longer a gender divide, as whereas property investment had previously been seen as a male pursuit, now a similar percentage of women are looking to purchase assets. For example, in 2018, 41% of females are considering buying property in their home country in comparison to 39% of men. However, women still slightly lag behind in regards to overseas investment, as 14% of females are looking to purchase property abroad in relation to 20% of men.
Richard Bradstock, Director and Head of the Middle East at IP Global, said: ‘The results of our second YouGov study are extremely positive and indicate that more and more UAE residents are looking to purchase property in the next 12 months.
‘On a global level, property continues to offer excellent prospects for capital growth. For example, North America continues to be an attractive market for the UAE residents, due to the impressive returns it offers investors, as shown by Chicago which has experienced an 36% increase in house prices in the last five years while rental yields have increased 10% between 2016-2017.
‘Closer to home, as the most mature market in Europe, the UK has always been popular with overseas investors. London, due to its chronic housing deficit and the government’s increased spending on infrastructure, remains a solid investment choice. However, recently we have also seen a change in buyer behaviour. UAE residents are now looking beyond Central London for more affordable properties in regional cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. Of note, Manchester has caught the eye of ivestors as house prices have risen 25% in the last five years with rents forecast to increase 20.5% from 2017 to 2021.
‘Within Europe, Berlin’s recent economic boom and population influx mean that the German capital is being viewed as a promising destination for property investment. With a current 40% housing deficit, Berlin’s rental market is strong, with between 5.1% and 6.9% rental growth in the past three years, and approximately 6% in 2016 (5). On a whole, Germany is the perfect investment opportunity for UAE residents, as overseas investors do not have to pay any capital gains tax for properties owned for more than ten years.
‘Overall, we are delighted that the YouGov study has shown the increased appetite of the UAE residents for property investment and in the current market, with a weak pound making it cheaper for USD pegged investors to buy property abroad, real estate is calling out: the time is now.’
