UAE Developers Set Sights on US Real Estate as Cross-Border Investments Accelerate
In a major global shift, top UAE real estate developers are now targeting the $110.83 trillion US real estate market, signaling the next phase of international expansion. Following a landmark year where the UAE’s property market recorded over AED 893 billion in transactions across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman, developers are leveraging their success to establish a presence in the United States.
Strategic Expansion Driven by Market Potential
With rental yields ranging between 7% to 9% and strong demand from international investors — including Americans, who rank among the top 10 property buyers in the UAE — the move to the US market appears both strategic and timely.
The United Arab Emirates, already the top MENA export destination for the US, recorded over $24.8 billion in US exports in 2023, a 19% rise from 2022. According to Martin Kocher, Partner at Alternative Investments, “The UAE supports over 166,000 American jobs and maintains active trade with all 50 US states.”
Kocher highlights that UAE real estate offers American investors attractive yields, tax advantages, and inflation-hedging potential within a rapidly growing market.
UAE Institutions Backing US Property Expansion
Among notable financial moves, Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, has teamed up with 3650 REIT and CalSTRS, committing up to $4 billion toward US real estate credit markets. This reflects a significant interest in commercial and residential US assets.
A number of leading UAE developers — including Damac Group, IGO, MAG Group, Mulk Holding, Dar Global, and Sobha Realty — have already announced plans to develop luxury residential projects, office towers, data centers, and mixed-use communities in various US states, with a strong focus on Texas and Florida.
US Real Estate Market Poised for Growth
According to Statista, the US housing market reached nearly $50 trillion in value, rising 6.6% year-over-year, and is expected to hit $110.83 trillion by 2025. Foreign investors have played a vital role, contributing $1.2 trillion over the past 15 years, says The Regulatory Review.
Between April 2023 and March 2024 alone, foreign nationals purchased 54,300 homes worth $42 billion, per the US National Association of Realtors (NAR). Florida remains the top destination for global buyers, with Texas and California ranking second and third.
APEX 2025 Set to Strengthen UAE–US Property Ties
Further cementing the UAE’s US expansion is the announcement of APEX 2025, the second edition of the America Property Exhibition, Summit, and Gala Awards. Scheduled for September 15–17, 2025, at the Miami Convention Center, the event will host over 100 exhibitors from 15 countries, including top developers from the UAE.
Backed by the Dubai Land Department and organized by MIE Events, the three-day expo will spotlight international investment in real estate, construction, and technology sectors. More than 3,000 realtors, 100 VIP investors, and 150 global speakers are expected to attend.
Zahoor Ahmed, Vice-President of Strategy and Partnerships at MIE Events, commented:
“APEX is designed to be the leading international real estate platform in the US. Our partnership with the Dubai Land Department reinforces our mission to attract North American investment into the UAE’s dynamic property sector.”
The UAE government has also announced a $1.4 trillion investment commitment in the US across sectors such as AI, housing, semiconductors, power, and advanced manufacturing, creating a deeper, long-term partnership between both nations.
