Countries participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including the United Arab Emirates, are gaining momentum as preferred destinations for individual and institutional investors amid global economic uncertainty and China’s shift toward high-quality development in its real estate sector, according to experts.
These insights were shared at the 2025 Middle East Property Investment Forum hosted by China Real Estate Information Corp (CRIC) in Shanghai. The event provided enterprises with strategies for transformation and market expansion while highlighting fresh opportunities for overseas property investment.
Forum discussions aligned with China’s 2025 government work report, which calls for deeper advancement of the BRI, aiming to create new avenues for trade, investment, and collaboration.
“The global trade landscape is undergoing significant adjustments, with greater focus on regional, fair, green, and secure trade,” said Luo Changyuan, professor at Fudan University’s School of Economics. “These shifts closely match China–Arab cooperation priorities in energy, sustainability, and supply chain development, creating an ideal macro environment for collaboration.”
Jonathan Emery, CEO of Aldar Development, highlighted growing interest from Chinese investors:
“There is a growing appetite from China for Abu Dhabi. Bilateral trade is approaching $100 billion, and beyond commerce, ties between the UAE and China are strengthening across culture, tourism, and education.”
CRIC’s 2025 H1 UAE Residential Market Trends Report reinforced this momentum, identifying Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the key investment destinations for Chinese and global buyers. The report highlighted three main drivers of the UAE property market: steady economic growth, robust population expansion, and supportive policies.
- Abu Dhabi: The emirate’s population surpassed 4.14 million in 2024, making it the most populous in the UAE. Residential transactions in H1 2025 totaled AED 21.85 billion ($5.95 billion), a 30% year-on-year increase, with average home prices up 17%.
- Dubai: Recorded 98,726 property transactions in the first half of 2025 (up 22% YoY), with transaction values soaring 40% to AED 326.9 billion. Luxury rental yields stood at 5.3% in 2024, ranking second globally.
Aldar’s data further illustrates this trend: overseas and expatriate buyers represented 78% of UAE sales in 2024, compared to just 21% in 2021. Purchases by Chinese clients have nearly tripled over the past three years, exceeding $690 million in 2025 to date.
Industry leaders cautioned, however, that investors should carefully assess the sustainability of economic and policy trends while staying alert to potential geopolitical risks in the Middle East.
Li Lan, General Manager of Shanghai Construction Group’s Overseas Business Division, emphasized the importance of aligning overseas ventures with national strategies such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and fostering coordinated collaboration across the value chain.
“Having the right stakeholders at the right time is key to unlocking growth opportunities. Forums like this are crucial for creating meaningful connections between investors, developers, and contractors,” Li said.
