By: Anita Lambert, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Certified International Property Specialist, and 2025 VP, RASM

Have you ever wondered what life is like in 21st-century Dubai or the UAE? With its bold long-term vision and transformative reforms across social, economic, diplomatic, and sustainability fronts, the UAE is quickly establishing itself as a leading global investment hub.

Why The Uae Is The Global Investment Magnet Of The Future

With long-term strategic visions for 2030, 2040, and 2050, the UAE is fast-tracking its transformation across four key pillars: society, economy, diplomacy, and ecosystem.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

ƒ The new Al Maktoum world-class airport is under construction in Dubai.

ƒ The Wynn Resort in Umm Al Quwain, a first-of-its-kind casino in the region, is fueling a surge of high-end development along the Arabian Gulf.

EXCEPTIONAL INVESTOR CLIMATE

ƒ No property tax, income tax, or capital gains

ƒ Golden Visa opportunities for investors

ƒ Strong population growth, safety, and economic stability

ƒ Booming tourism and high rental yields

ƒ Tax-free, high-ROI investment potential

ƒ Rapidly evolving digital infrastructure

‘WE THE UAE 2031’ NATIONAL GOALS

ƒ Double GDP to AED 3 trillion (AED = Arab Emirate Dirham. AED1 = US$0.27)

ƒ AED 800B in non-oil exports

ƒ AED 450B tourism GDP contribution

ƒ AED 4 trillion in foreign trade

ƒ Ranked top globally in: o Economic legislation for emerging sectors o Human development and healthcare quality o Food and cybersecurity o Safety and livability

The UAE offers unmatched global opportunity, futureforward, investor-friendly, and designed for sustained growth.

QUESTIONS ABOUT MY APRIL 2025 DUBAI VISIT:

1 | Was this the first time exploring real estate developments in Dubai? Yes, and it was eye-opening. It was incredible that we were able to fly economy roundtrip to Dubai directly from Florida for under $1000 on Emirates Airlines. In addition, one of the most striking revelations was learning that approximately 87 percent of Dubai’s population consists of expatriates, while only 13 percent are Emirati nationals. This cosmopolitan dynamic creates a vibrant, globally minded environment that’s truly unique. What impressed me even more was the city’s extraordinary level of safety and cleanliness. As a woman, I felt completely secure walking the streets alone - even at 2:00 a.m. - something that’s rare in most major cities. One of the most striking areas was Abu Dhabi, where five major new museums are currently underway. Among them is the already open spectacular Louvre Abu Dhabi - made possible by a $480 million agreement with the French government to license the iconic name. Also under construction are a massive new Guggenheim Museum and what is projected to be the largest Disney World ever, located on Yas Island.

2 | Did the tours offer opportunities to interact directly with developers, agents or other industry professionals? Did you build connections or potential partners? Yes, the tours provided direct engagement with top developers. We visited 6 to 12 different properties, including state-of-the-art sales centers - some as grand as ballrooms - featuring massive 20- to 30-foot-long scale models of entire future communities. These projects are sold “offplan,” and the demand is tremendous. We toured finished model homes and evaluated construction quality firsthand. Importantly, many of these visits were coordinated through a trusted Dubai-based brokerage with established, ongoing relationships with several of the region’s most reputable developers.

3 | Did any of the tours influence your thinking about future investments opportunities in the region? Absolutely - these tours had a significant impact on our investment outlook for the region. We were introduced to highly professional developers and extraordinary projects, many offering projected returns of 9 to 10 percent annually. The appreciation potential is equally compelling: with build timelines of two to three years, some developments are already seeing value increases of up to 30 percent per year due to overwhelming demand. One standout example: a 3,000-unit project that sold out within just 10 hours of launch - representing a staggering $3.2 billion in real estate transactions. These figures reflect not only investor confidence, but also the strength and velocity of Dubai’s booming property market.

4 | Would you recommend these type of site tours to others attending future real estate trade missions and the International Property Show in Dubai? Yes, we highly recommend visiting Dubai and participating in upcoming real estate trade missions, particularly during the next International Property Show (IPS). This premier event features developers not only from Dubai but also from international markets such as the country of Georgia, Cambodia, Montenegro, Portugal, Croatia, and beyond - offering a global perspective on emerging investment opportunities. Most importantly, we encourage you to connect with only a trusted and highly experienced local brokerage. Their on-the-ground expertise will ensure that your visit is both productive and inspiring, giving you direct access to Dubai’s most reputable developers while also immersing you in the dynamic culture and unparalleled lifestyle of the UAE. JOIN US ON OUR NEXT TRADE MISSION TO THE UAE AND EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS!