Azerbaijan at a Glance: The Land of Opportunity

Let’s dive into what makes Azerbaijan such a promising investment destination. From being an oil-rich country to a bustling business hub, Azerbaijan truly has it all. It’s tourism-friendly, boasts a stable economy, is Muslim-friendly, has an impressively low crime rate, and enjoys a geographically strategic location. Whether you’re a trader, manufacturer, or exporter, there’s something here for everyone.

Investment Potential: Why Do People Choose Azerbaijan?

Now, let’s address the big question: Why do people invest in Azerbaijan? First off, take a look at Old Azerbaijan—before the oil boom. With the discovery and development of oil and gas resources, Azerbaijan transformed rapidly. Today, the economy has remained stable for the past 5–6 years, with the manat holding steady at 1.7 to the dollar. Unlike the euro or ruble, which have dropped in value, the Azerbaijani manat remains rock solid. This stability, coupled with a vibrant business environment, means investors can enjoy an impressive growth rate—about 30%—and attractive rental yields.

Meet the Team: The People Behind the Success

For context, compare this with America, Canada, or the UK, where annual growth rates hover around 10–12%. Here in Azerbaijan, the numbers are much more exciting! Let’s continue our journey upstairs to our office on the fourth floor, suite 404. As you enter, you’ll meet our friendly team, from property management to education consultants—everyone is dedicated to making your investment experience smooth and successful.

The Golden Question: Can Property Investment Get You a Passport?

Before we dive into the 11 reasons to invest, let’s answer a frequently asked question: Can you get a passport through property investment in Azerbaijan? Here’s the process:

The View from Nizami Street: A Hub of Activity

Let’s peek out the window at Nizami Street—it’s bustling with energy and opportunity. With that, let’s roll out the red carpet and present the 11 top reasons to invest in Azerbaijan:

11 Exciting Reasons to Invest in Azerbaijan

Diverse Investment Opportunities Await

Not sure which field suits you? From rental properties (with shares starting at $1,000) and budget hostels to tunnel farming, livestock, resorts, hotels, and construction, there are diverse opportunities with impressive returns—some as high as 40% annually!

Whether you’re eager to launch your own setup or looking to join our team, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Curious Minds: Your Top Questions Answered

Let’s tackle a few more fun questions:

You’ve probably seen countless videos promising huge returns, or social media posts where everyone seems to be making easy money. Others, meanwhile, warn that the market is too expensive and you’ve missed your chance. So, what’s the truth?

In this blog, we’ll separate fact from fiction, look at how people really make money from Spanish property, and highlight what you should know before investing. Let’s dive in!

Is Spain Still a Good Place to Invest?

The short answer: Yes—but not every property is a good investment.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming that because Spain is popular, every property will increase in value. That’s simply not true. Successful investors buy the right property, not just any property.
Location, quality, demand, and long-term appeal all matter.

How Do Investors Make Money from Spanish Property?

There are generally three ways people make money from real estate in Spain:

What Makes a Good Investment?

What separates an average investment from a great one? Here’s what to look for:

Off-Plan Properties: A Smart Move?

Many investors ask if buying off-plan is a good strategy.
Buying early in a development can offer attractive pricing compared to completed homes, and as construction progresses, values may increase—but this is not guaranteed.
Research the developer, the location, and long-term demand before making any decisions.

Common Mistakes Investors Make

Is Property Better Than Other Investments?

There’s no single answer. Property isn’t right for everyone.
Many people like investing in real estate because it’s a tangible asset—something you can enjoy, use, rent, and potentially benefit from long-term growth. The key is making sure it fits your financial goals and appetite for risk.

If you’re buying mainly as an investment, don’t start by picking a property—start with your strategy.
Ask yourself:

Once you’re clear on your objective, choosing the right property becomes much easier.

Final Thoughts: Can You Make Money Investing in Property in Spain?

Absolutely—and many people do! But success isn’t about luck.
It’s about buying wisely, understanding the costs, taking professional advice, and thinking long-term. With the right expectations, Spanish property can be both a lifestyle purchase and a rewarding investment.

Thanks for reading another post from Spain but Smarter!
If you found this helpful, please share the blog or leave a comment below—it helps more people discover these tips.

Looking for more guidance on buying property on the Costa del Sol? Check out the resources linked below.

Next up:
Should you get a mortgage in Spain or pay in cash? We’ll compare financing options, discuss pros and cons, and help you decide what’s right for you.

Hello and a very warm welcome back to my blog! In today's post, I want to give you my opinion on the 10 best places to buy real estate in Spain for the year 2026.

Before we dive in, I’d really appreciate it if you could share this blog with anyone interested in Spanish real estate. Thank you!

There’s no doubt that it’s getting harder and harder to find value-for-money property in Spain, especially in the larger cities. Madrid and Barcelona have always been quite expensive, but now even smaller cities like Sevilla and Granada are not cheap. In both cities, real estate is getting towards €3,000 per square meter. Two cities I had in the top 10 last year, namely Zaragoza and sadly Valencia, are no longer reasonably priced. Over the past year, property prices in Zaragoza have gone up by around 20% to reach an average of €2,400 per square meter. And on a somber note, for those of you wanting to buy in Valencia, real estate prices are now around €3,700 per square meter on average. Therefore, neither place is in the top 10 this year.

However, there are still a number of places where property is still very reasonably priced in Spain. Here are my top 10 places to buy real estate in Spain for the year 2026:

Alicante: Sun, Sand, and Smart Investments!

Only two or three years ago, Alicante was the best place to buy property in Spain. You used to be able to find property not far from the Postiguet beach for around €2,000 a square meter, but those days are now long gone. Average real estate prices are approaching €3,000 per square meter. Nevertheless, Alicante just about deserves to be in the top 10. It’s a lovely city with wonderful beaches, a nice cathedral, the amazing Santa Barbara Castle, excellent bars, restaurants, cafes, very good medical facilities, and generally a high quality of life. The weather is very good for most of the year, as is the nightlife. Alicante also has excellent transport facilities, including an international airport with flights to numerous destinations in Europe.

Cordoba: History, Horses, and Hot Property Deals!
The beautiful city of Cordoba, with a population of around 325,000, is generally not on people’s radar when it comes to buying property in Spain, but it should be. Cordoba is situated in the Andalusian region of Spain and located conveniently between Sevilla and Granada. Its historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city is rich in history. There are lovely parks, good food, excellent medical facilities, and a vibrant nightlife scene. At one time in the 10th century, it was the largest city in Western Europe. Transport-wise, Cordoba is on the Spanish high-speed rail network. Within 50–150 kilometers you have three airports: Malaga, Sevilla, and Granada. Property prices have been on the rise but are still very reasonable at an average of around €1,800 per square meter, much cheaper than Sevilla and Granada.

Leon: Lions, Legends, and Low Prices!

Leon has a population of around 125,000 and is situated in northwest Spain. It’s an underrated city rich in history with many historic monuments, including churches and palaces. The stunning Plaza Mayor is enclosed by wonderful ornate Baroque buildings. Leon has a number of festivals and is a delight for food lovers. Medical facilities are good, and there’s a university here, two railway stations, and an airport (though destinations are limited). Property prices in Leon are very reasonable at an average of around €1,800 per square meter; in the city center, just above €2,000 per square meter.

Caceres: Medieval Magic and More for Your Money!

With a population of around 96,000 and situated in western Spain's Extremadura region, Caceres is possibly Spain’s best-kept secret. Very few people outside Spain have heard of this city, but it’s truly lovely. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a stunning mix of Roman, Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture, cobbled medieval streets, fortified walls, and numerous towers. There are cathedrals, churches, palaces, and museums, plus no shortage of festivals, especially music festivals. Healthcare is excellent, and Caceres feels very Spanish compared to many larger cities. The locals are friendly, and the city has its own railway station and bus terminal. Real estate prices are competitive at an average of around €1,600 per square meter.

Avila: Walkable Walls and Wallet-Friendly Finds!

Situated in Castile and Leon, Avila has a population of around 57,000 and is a very well-preserved city rich in history. Its medieval walls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is full of Renaissance churches and palaces, has two universities, excellent cuisine, a basketball team, and many festivals. Avila has good medical facilities and is only about 85 kilometers from Madrid, making for easy day trips to the capital. Avila is very walkable, and property prices are rather cheap at just under €1,600 per square meter on average.

Huelva: Spanish Sunsets and Savvy Shopping!

Huelva may come as a surprise in fifth place, but this city with a population of around 143,000 in Andalusia, located in the southwest Iberian Peninsula, has a lot to offer. The climate is good with mild winters and warm summers. The food is excellent with a wealth of bars and restaurants. There are plenty of festivals throughout the year. Huelva offers access to less crowded Atlantic beaches and national parks, and healthcare is considered good quality. By train, you have easy access to Sevilla, and a high-speed train to Madrid (about 4 hours). The nearest airports are Faro (Portugal) and Sevilla, both less than 100 kilometers away. Property prices average around €1,700 per square meter and just above €2,000 per square meter in the city center.

Almeria: Beaches, Bites, and Budget Buys!

Almeria and its province remain reasonably priced, although prices have been rising. In the city of Almeria, real estate prices are still well under €2,000 per square meter on average. In Roquetas de Mar, prices are even cheaper at less than €1,700 per square meter. In seaside towns like Vera and Mojacar Playa, prices are higher. This area boasts one of the best climates in Europe and has an airport with flights to multiple UK destinations plus Brussels, Rotterdam, Luxembourg, and Prague. The food is excellent, and Almeria is full of events, festivals, and exhibitions.

Toledo: Timeless Treasures at a Fraction of the Price!

Toledo is a wonderful city to live in, with around 85,000 inhabitants. It has an amazingly rich history and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Toledo is well under an hour from Madrid by car or train, offering great access to the capital. Property prices are still below €2,000 per square meter, a fraction of what you’d pay in Madrid (over €7,000 per square meter). Toledo has a great selection of bars, restaurants, lively nightlife, and many festivals and events throughout the year.

Tarragona: Roman Ruins and Real Estate Rewards!

Situated on the Costa Dorada with a population of around 138,000, Tarragona is underrated with a unique blend of sandy beaches and historical monuments. The Roman ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Roman theater overlooking the Mediterranean is particularly impressive. Tarragona offers top-notch food, good medical facilities, a university, and is well-connected by transport. Reus airport is 8 kilometers away, with direct flights to several UK and Irish cities, plus Paris, Brussels, Eindhoven, and Dusseldorf. Barcelona airport is about 100 kilometers away. Property prices are under €2,000 per square meter.

Murcia: Marvelous Murcia, Where Your Euro Goes Further!
Murcia and its province top the list. Murcia city, in southeast Spain, has so much to offer: rich history, delicious gastronomy, beautiful squares, a lovely river, and a laid-back, authentic Spanish atmosphere. Property prices in the city are cheap at only €1,700 per square meter. In the province, you can find affordable homes in seaside towns like San Pedro del Pinatar, Los Alcazares, Cartagena, Mazarrón, and Águilas. Cartagena and Águilas both offer property for around €1,700 per square meter. Murcia province has an airport with direct flights to several UK cities, Dublin, and Marseille. The climate is simply wonderful.

Imagine investing in property in Spain, that property appreciating in value, and you losing money when you sell it. I know it sounds Bonkers, but it happens all the time and that's what this blog is all about. Don't invest in Spain without reading this blog.

Spanish Property Investment: The True Costs In and Out

What we're going to be covering in this blog are the different sales costs and purchase costs when buying a property in Spain, and I define them as costs in and costs out. We're going to cover appreciation, we're going to cover inflation, we're going to cover agency cost, and everything you need to know in order to understand market value before you make any investment in property in Spain—whether it's a relocation home, a property investment for a holiday home, or just an investment to rent out. Listen to this.

Understanding Market Value: The Key to Smart Investing

So the first thing we need to talk about is market value, right? So when we talk about appreciation or depreciation, the market value is what's going to command where we are. It sounds quite obvious but let's just talk about the two cases when you buy a property in Spain.

The first case: if you buy a new construction property, generally speaking, if you buy in the early stages, depending where you buy in Spain, you're able to get properties which are under market price. And what does that mean? That basically means developers offer properties under market price because they're in the early stages.

Then you've got resale properties. Generally speaking, when you buy a resale property, you're buying something at market price. To get a resale property under the market price, you need to find yourself a very good deal, a distress sale, someone that has to sell, or you have to be a very good negotiator. That sounds quite simple but that's quite important. So unless you buy very well, the only way the property is going to appreciate is by the market appreciation. Let's say on average 3 and a half% per year. So if you have a property for 10 years, your property will appreciate 3% times by 10 years. That's the only way of gaining appreciation if you don't buy something in the early stage or you don't buy a bargain or a bargain bargain.

The Hidden Costs of Buying and Selling Property in Spain

Having said that, that's the appreciation angle of property. Let's talk about property costs: purchase cost going in and purchase cost going out. And the out part is what people don't talk about, and that's what I want to share with you guys—no fluff, no sugar coat, the reality when you buy a property in Spain.

I'm going to give you an example: I'm going to talk to you about numbers in Andia where we are based. This varies autonomous region to autonomous region, but in Andalia the purchase costs are the following: first of all, you're going to have ITP, which is transfer tax in the case of resale properties, and you're going to have VAT in the case of new properties that are sold for by a developer. ITP is generally 7% in Andalia, and VAT is 10% in Andalia.

Okay, so apart from that, you're going to have lawyer fees. When you buy a property, you're transacting a property in Spain, you're going to have a lawyer do the due diligence and make sure everything is correct from urbanistic standpoint, incumbrances, and blah blah blah blah. We've done plenty of blogs about this topic, so feel free to check them out. And then apart from the lawyer, you have notary and land registry fees. Then you have various costs such as, you know, document copies and so on, but let's say that your purchase costs are going to range between 9% up to 13.2%. That's your purchase cost, right? So let's remember that—13.2% up to 13.2%.

Renovation, Furnishing & Ongoing Costs

There are other costs which are associated, which could be renovating a property, changing a bathroom, changing a kitchen, all the way up to refurnishing a property. So furniture and renovations need to be in your calculation. So those are the costs going in. Then for the period of time you own the property, you have the running costs of course, but let's talk about the costs going out.

What Does It Really Cost to Sell a Property in Spain?

And this is what is not talked about enough because you're very excited because you're going to buy a property, but what does it actually cost to sell a property now in Spain? Ready for this? To sell a property, you're going to be charged between 4 to 5% from an agency perspective. So agencies all over Spain work at different rates. You won't need to take care of any of the marketing costs, photos, and all these other things because the agency does that, including in their fees. So that's a 5% round sort of figure. But when that agency finds you a buyer, you're going to need a lawyer, if you use a lawyer, which we always recommend to make sure that your position is, let's say, looked after. And that lawyer is going to charge you the same as he charged you on the purchase of the transaction. He's going to charge you 1%.

So all of a sudden, on your exit costs—leaving the investment, selling your property—you have to pay the agency 5% plus your lawyer 1%. Until now, 6%. Is there any other costs? Well yes, there are. The other cost will be plal, plal Municipal. Plal Municipal is a tax you pay to your local Town Hall when you sell the property, and it's a fee you pay on the increment of value of the land itself. It's different to capital gains tax. This is what you pay to the municipal tax, okay? Which, let's call it, on average you own a property in in mikas for, let's say, 5 years, you going to be pay in a few grand—okay, let's call it three and a half grand. It really depends on the property itself.

And the last one, which is the big one, is capital gains tax. Now, while capital gains tax is calculated on the net profit, capital gains tax is 3% for non-residents. So if you're a non-resident and you're selling a property, the buyer is going to by law retain 3% of the property purchase value from you and then deposit that in the tax authorities. And then you have to go up to the tax authorities and say, hey, I made this amount of money and actually what's been paid on account of my taxes is this, and they'll either refund you the difference or they'll pay you, uh, or you'll pay more.

Now let's talk about exactly that. So 3% varies. 3% is a retention, so it's not really a cost, but it's something you have to pay out. So at the moment of signing title deed at notary, you're going to get 5% knocked off by the agency, and it's 5% plus VAT, don't forget, so it's technically a 6%. Then you have 1% lawyer fees plus VAT, which is 1.21%. So all of a sudden you're at 7.2% with agency and lawyers, and then you have another 3% non-retention tax. Disclaimer: that may not be the end tax you pay, but it's going to be retained from the beginning. So all of a sudden, you're at 10%. Now, what does this mean?

That means that exiting a property at €500,000, that means that your total cost to selling is 50 grand, which means that you're going to end up with a net of €450,000. You've heard that right.

Spanish Real Estate: Do the Math Before You Buy or Sell

Having said all of that, let's run through these numbers again: you buy a property for €500,000 and let's say you've got a cost going in of around 10%, again depending if you buy new construction or resale property, but let's just go with 10 for the sake of this argument. That means you got 50,000 going in as purchase cost, so your grand total investment getting the keys of the property is 550,000, right? It's different to 500. And then you sell that property for €500,000—well, all of a sudden it's cost you 550 but don't forget that if you do sell at 500,000, you still need to put on top of that the exit costs, which are around the 10%. So if you sell at €500,000 and your exit costs are around 50 grand, more or less 10%, you're netting 450 but it's cost you 550. Congratulations, you've just lost €100,000.

Something that might be valuable to you guys is we've created this buy and sell calculation. So you can input, for example, I buy a property for €575,000, right? It calculates the ITP automatically and then here you can put how much you're selling it for. So let's say you want to sell it for €680,000, 1 2 3, it does the entire calculation of you the net profit. So I'm going to link this into the description of this blog so you guys can play around with it, download a copy, and play around with what it cost in terms of going into a property investment and also going on—hope it's your value.

Define Your Timeline: The Secret to Smart Spanish Property Investment

So the reality is you need to understand your timeline of sale. If you jump into the market—then this is sort of a conclusion—if you jump into the market and you jump into the resale market and you buy a property right now at resale market value, you're at market value. How is that property going to appreciate? Well, unless you invest into the property and make it amazing, but that's also capped because even if you paint it with gold paint, it's not going to appreciate by the value of gold. That property is going to appreciate, generally speaking, with the trend of the market, which is on average 3–3.5% per year. So over 10 years it can appreciate 35% with appreciation.

So I think the key question here is understanding your timeline. If you're buying a property and you're thinking of selling it within a short period of time, you need to buy well under market price or find a really good deal in order to not lose money. If your timeline is, hey, I want to buy a property and I want to enjoy it for the next 15 years as a holiday home, well you're going to do absolutely fine. And that's the key difference of, you know, understanding your timelines.

How to Find a Real Bargain: Buying Under Market Value in Spain

If you were to buy a property under construction—and this happens a lot—you get agencies to go, hey, I can offer you a property which is 25%, 30% below market price, which is actually the case when you buy really early stage. And yes, you are buying under market price. And just for reference, when I say you buy a property under construction under market price, that would basically be me calculating how much that property would be worth in the finished market. That's how we calculate under market price.

Now, we did a blog on how to find a bargain in Spain, which I found quite interesting. We did it with Matt, and we talked about a bargain compared to a bargain bargain. And having been in property for 12 years, the way I see this is really straightforward. For professional buyers, people which buy and flip for a living, if you buy a property under market price by 10%—so you go into Kalah Honda and you get a property that's a resale apartment in as cascadas, and let's say for argument sake it's worth 400,000 and you pick it up for 370,000—yeah, you've got a bargain depending on your situation.

But if it's a professional, professional, uh, let's say company that buys and flips, that's not a bargain—they will not make a margin. It needs to be a bargain bargain, which means they need to buy 30–35% below market price in order to make money. That's the way it works in Spain.

Your Checklist for Success: Tips for First-Time Buyers and Investors

So going back to bargain versus bargain bargain—are you William looking to buy a holiday home in Cal and it's a 15-year project? You buy 10% on the market price—you've done a great deal. If you're Tim and you want to buy a property which you're going to be selling in two years, if that's your timeline, you need to keep this really in mind because you may even end up losing money.

So let's talk about the ways around it. Are you a professional buyer? Well, if you're a professional buyer—and what I mean by that is someone that's really entering this market to buy and sell and flip—I'm sure you know your ways around it, but there is one way around it and it's basically buying with a registered company that has the object or is registered to buy and sell properties. And in that case, you can register yourself for a bonification of 2% on transfer tax, and that makes a hell of the difference. So, um, yeah, that's the only way around not losing that much on the going in costs.

Final Thoughts: Knowledge Is Your Best Investment

I hope this was of value and a lot of information thrown your way, but I really think that if you're going to be buying a property in Spain, investing in property in Spain, you need to know this. So the biggest piece of advice I can give you guys as first-time buyers or, you know, if you're about to enter into buying and flipping or whatever you're going to be doing, is understand the market value, make sure that you're actually buying something at the right price. If it's at market value, don't expect for it to appreciate by 20 or 30%—it's not going to happen. Define your timeline. Communicate to the agent you work with what your expectations are so the professionals in the sector can align with what you're looking for. So if you're looking to buy something and appreciate by 20 or 30%, establish or make sure that from the beginning you can tell the property professional you're talking with what your expectations are, and expectations are the growth of the property, the timeline in which you want to exit that investment, and number three, what your gross profit and what your net profit projections are.

Welcome to 2026, a new year, a new set of opportunities in this dynamic world of Dubai real estate. What I'm going to do in this blog is that I'm going to talk about some new areas, some new land parcels that might open up for project development locations that are set for shark investors like you to grab at an early stage and at the right time because timing really matters in the investment cycle. Imagine those early investors who took the first steps to buy properties such as the waterfront apartments in the Blue Waters Islands or the villas in Sidras in Dubai Hills or even the town houses in Eden the Valley. We pretty much know what prices they bought at during the launch and what prices they are holding currently. Now some of you might say that they bought at the time when the overall Dubai market was at a lower price. This was probably before CO and not like nowadays. I do agree that. But nonetheless, those buyers still took the plunge of entering into a brand new area that was unseen or even unheard.

But they saw its future potential at the right time before it would establish itself to be known to everyone in the city. If you are familiar with the Dubai off plan segment and have experienced the true power of investing in the payment plans and in the new master plans, then you know how important is it to get into an area at the early stage when nothing is there but a lot is planned to come. Because once little progress has been made and the basic infrastructure is laid, you have missed the boat and the ship has sailed. That buffer in price between what you will enter at the buying phase and what you can sell at a later stage when the risk of the unknown has decreased or things have become tangible and actually can be seen. Is what is the juice you should squeeze?

Recap of Last Year: Understanding Dubai’s Five Zones

Now in last year in January I had made a full 1 and a half-hour long blog where I explained in detail the five zones of Dubai that I myself defined and it was well acknowledged. If you didn't watch it, I'll put a link to the blog here so that you can make yourself familiar with how the city has been laid on the map and what are the prevailing prices in each of the zones.

2026 Preview: Five New Areas for Early Investment

Now in this blog I will speak about five areas, five new areas where there is nothing yet or that might give you an opportunity in 2026 to enter into a project in an area that is at pretty much at the very first stages of the development. These new areas will come on the city's map. New communities will shape up. New neighborhoods will be spoken around, new road infrastructure will be laid and new road signage will be visible.

Starting the list with zone one. Zone one which is precisely your area of Dubai from the coastline till your Alcale road. So in zone one, I have identified three main new areas which have the potential for you to buy in 2026.

Please note nothing is officially being released yet for sale but there are high chances that some projects might come out on the market. So the first area is this area peninsula where the Dubai canal which comes from business bay enters the sea. This peninsula piece of land which is adjacent to the four seasons resort and placed in between the shakes's private island and the Bulgaryi Jira Bay Island is where in the future we can see some projects coming up. So far nothing concrete is visible on Google maps as well as the Dubai Development Authorities DDA's website.

What is confirmed right now is the Aman hotel and residences in this area on the beach. Aman is one of the most exclusive hotel chains which is having their properties in more than 36 world destinations.

The details are already out on their website. As you can see on the screen here are some renders of the project. Kerry Hills Architect is the firm chosen which is a specialized architectural firm who have designed amazing hotels in tropical Asia. The residents will be serviced by the Aman hospitality brand and of course there will be a private beach. Another high-end hospitality brand that is coming to the peninsula is Rosewood that will be offering limited number of residences, just 63 contemporary homes and five seafacing villas in the Jira Peninsula. Apart from it, if anything does come here, it might be just a come and go without much publicity or pushion sales. just how it happened in the case of the Naya Island by Shamal Holding.

If you look at this new project Naya Island which is again a brand new land reclamation project off the coast of Jira on the kite beach. This is where the region's first Shival Blank Mason if I have pronounced it right. This is precisely an ultra luxury hotel brand from LBMH and this is where they are bringing an exclusive set of residences, suites and private villas.

The preliminary construction is already underway for this Na Island on the Kite Beach. Agents don't even get to know what precisely is coming in here. It just came in the news and is being offered very selectively and exclusively. So you can say that it is not that you are choosing the developer but the developer is probably choosing you. Hence for such highly exclusive ultra luxury developments it is simply important to know the right people in the city and hence for this new peninsula project you can expect pretty much similar case.

Another area which I will put in the same bucket is this new piece of land reclamation which is just next to the lame south which you can see on the DDA website saying as Miras plots at Jira first. This is just in continuation with Lamir South Island where in 2025 Mias had launched the Uber luxury hotel and residences project Jira Asora Bay. Right now this area is just showing as future development. No more clarity whether it is a hotel or a residential project but we can expect something similar to Assora Bay for sure. Now talking about the pricing of these two new areas. What I can do is that I can try to take out some parallels. As we know that the Jumera Bay Island is priced at now 11,000 dirhams per square foot. Whereas the new projects by Mera such as the Asora Bay project and the Sollaya project in La Mer were sold around 8,000 dirhams per square foot. So definitely these two new areas I'm expecting it to be at least around 10,000 dirhams per square ft or more.

Talking about waterfront, another new area that will open up for investments possibly is this island D of Dubai Islands. And there are strong rumors that this whole piece of island D has been taken over by Beyond Developments who already own majority stake in the maritime city project. So beyond they have recently launched one project here Siora on the island B and possibly they will be launching now a new master plan on island D. Now we have to wait and watch and see what will be the pricing. If the pricing on island D is around say less than 3,500 dirhams per square foot for that area in Dubai then it is definitely a great deal. But if this area in island D comes out much more expensive let's say starting from 4,500 to going all the way up to 10,000 dhams per square ft for the front beachf facing luxury projects. Then in my opinion it is better to go towards the Jumera coastline area which is closer to the downtown and Shake Zad road and all the commercial district of Dubai or maybe even better move towards the older water districts of Dubai which is towards the west your original Palm JRA JBR and Dubai Harbor district.

Now a few consultants on YouTube in their videos referred to this section of the Dubai coastline which is precisely your Dubai Maritime City, Rashid Yachts Marina and Dubai Islands as the golden belt and then they refer this section which is precisely from Pal Jabali to Gandhi. to bane by aura all the way up to Aljarp in Abu Dhabi as the diamond belt of Dubai. So if this is the golden belt and that's the diamond belt then this section which is precisely the coastline adjacent to JRA 1, JRA 2 and JRA 3 areas I can say it as the platinum belt of Dubai. So this area of the coastline P Jira Lamir Lamir south Jira Bay the new peninsula is actually meant for the ultra H&I or the billionaires who come to Dubai.

DIC 2.0 and Zabeel: The Next Financial Center Expansion

Now the second new area which I'm highlighting in this blog is DIC 2.0 which is precisely this area in Zabil. So we all know about DIC the Dubai International Financial Center an area which in terms of real estate is not really governed by the Dubai Land Department. Technically, it's a special economic zone which caters as the financial hub for companies operating throughout the Middle East, Africa and South Asia markets. DIC is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, an independent regulator exclusive to the zone and by its own court system, DIC codes, which is separate from the Emirate of Dubai's legal system and that of the federal government of the UAE. In terms of new residential projects, what DIC entity had launched and sold recently were two new projects. One was DIC living which came about a couple of years ago and is now almost taking up shape in the structure and the other one was DIFC height store which was launched last year in 2025.

Both being integrated with the gate avenue mall in DIFC and in commercial district they have come up with new launches one is DFC square and the other being Immersive Tower both actually you can see here on the Almost Street taking up shape so the construction is already going on but what I'm talking now is this section which is the DIC 2.0 0 in Zabil. This new expansion was announced way back in the year 2019. So it was announced that once complete DIC 2.0 will provide 6.4 million square ft of office space, 2.6 6 million square ft of creative spaces, 1.5 million square ft of residential space, 1.3 million square ft of retail space, and 700,000 ft² of space devoted to leisure and entertainment. I will attach a few snapshots of the official video released by DFC on their own channel 6 years ago.

A lot of the land has been taken up from the Zabi area and we can see that the construction will go on because the land has been set for the construction to progress and this area is just next to the most prestigious address of Dubai, the Zabil Palace. Even on the DDA website we can see that the plots have been designated and described like here you can see this is the DIC 2.0 if we click at any one of the plots you can see on the website that it shows that there is definitely an allocation of residential apartments to come up in this piece of land. Now since the main focus here for investment that will open up for any kind of investor would probably be in the residential segment and not the commercial segment because I feel that mostly they will keep the offices and the commercial spaces to themselves and not for investment. So we can see that here are few of the plots which they have already designated and are meant for residential development. Now we have two big questions here. First being when will this be released or when it will start taking more shape and what will be the prices. Now if I draw a parallel again the last two residential launches by the DIC authority in the DIC area. The first one being DIC living which was launched at 3,500 dirhams per square ft. Whereas uh the other project DIC Heights which came in here was launched at 4,200 dirhams per square ft. Whereas we also saw the launch of Jira Emirates tower here which was launched by Miras last year at around 4,700 birhams per square foot. And the other project which came right in the center of Kate Avenue Mall, the Four Seasons luxury residences were launched at a whooping 7,500 dirhams per square foot. So definitely what I'm expecting the projects to be launched in the DIC 2.0 O would probably start at around 3,500 dirhams per square ft and may go all the way up to 5,000 or more if they are a more luxury grade project.

What are the competitors to DIC or DIC 2.0 area? So as we know that majority of the commercial financial offices are in DIFC all around Shik Zed road or few are in ear square and few are or you can say majority are in the business bay area. What is close to it is the Dubai design district area which is where Mias have recently launched a couple of residential projects. Currently there is only one main commercial office space in Dubai Design District which is already fully occupied but more commercial spaces are planned in the future but currently majority of the workforce is either going to business bay downtown square or DIC to which DIC Zabil or DFC 2.0 to is much closer. So people can actually just walk or take the metro to their workplace. Whereas in Dubai Design District, the offices will be coming in the future.

But if you look at the master plan closely of Dubai Design District, we see that it's mostly the residential projects which is coming along the canal. And the last two projects which were launched, they were launched at around 2,700 dirhams per square foot, which is still a very good price because the connectivity of Dubai Design District is not too far away from the main commercial hub. Another new hot area which is launching in the month of January is Pinati's new master development which is coming right here near to the creek and downtown and it will be called as the MercedesBenz city. So, we have to wait and watch at what prices they'll be coming at. But I'm expecting given where it has its location and since it's a branded project by Mercedes-Benz, so I'm expecting the prices to be at least a minimum of 2,500 dirhams per square ft and may actually touch almost 3,000 dirhams per square ft for the apartments in this new community.

Another comparable area to this section of the city is of course your DCH, your Dubai Creek Harbor, which Imar last year had launched residential projects at the price of around 2,600 dirhams per square foot. The new off plan once and a lot of the consultants on the YouTube call Dubai Creek Harbor as the downtown 2.0. O but if you actually look at the definition of downtown it is the main business and commercial area of the city which I don't see why they call Dubai Creek Harbor as downtown 2.0 because majority of the projects here are residential or retailed. What actually can become the downtown 2.0 in the city is DICc 2.4 4 and the original DIC together because that is where you have the most prominent offices and the main business of the city happens there.

Redevelopment Hotspot: Between Al Bura and Emirates Living

So the third new area which is again in zone one is this particular area. If you can see this peculiar area plot of land which is in between your Albura on the right and Emirates living on the left with your Emirates golf course on the north and JVC to the south. Maybe if you have driven across the Hessa street, the busiest street of Dubai, you must have definitely seen this area without noticing it as there is nothing much there to notice right now because this area is what is getting redeveloped and the task of the redevelopment has been taken up by ARM Holding which is a UAE based private investment firm. Now you may ask what is this company ARM Holding? So if you go at their website we can see that this developer has done some significant developments of schools, hospitals and commercial centers in Dubai. A lot of their information of their portfolio is already available to see on their website. The master plan is anchored by a central park designed to reconnect the city with its equestrian and ecological heritage. As you know this area is primarily having just the jeali race course. So they definitely have kept the equestrian theme in the master plan and each of this urban islands which you can see which are surrounded by this amazing forests is planned to merge with the neighboring communities and gradually increase in density around the central park that extends into the surrounding areas. Now if you look at these whole master plans you can see that this is very much jelling and going with the vision of Dubai 2040 master plan of expanding the green spaces in the city.

Pricing well we have no idea at this stage what pricing can come up in this new redevelopment area. But since you can see it's in zone one, it is just damn opposite Shakes Zai the road next to one of the biggest ear communities, the OG Emirates living, definitely the pricing will be very competitive as per the nearby areas. So what I'm expecting is that if the apartments come in this area, they might be priced around let's say 2,000 to 2,500 dirhams per square foot. something very similar to now what are the prices in Majidal Sutame's Gfords as this ultra green community is looking pretty much similar to Gfords or you know if it comes let's say at the prices of 1,600 to 2,000 dirhams per square foot which is precisely the JBC prices of today of the new launches then this section of area with apartments at 1,600 DS per square ft. It will be a great deal. It will probably break the market for JVC.

Now, for villas and town houses, if let's say they introduce villas and town houses in this area, then again, I'm expecting the prices to be around 1,500 to 2,000 dirhams per square ft. And if they launch, let's say, luxury grade or large plot size villas, then possibly the prices will go beyond 2,000 dirhams per square feet.

After the war, being selective on what you buy in the UAE real estate market could be a very expensive mistake or a very profitable decision. To make your life easier, I'm going to list off eight projects and areas where you should consider buying a property today for an investment purpose in 2026 post the Iran war.

These are areas also which I would put my own money and I have also put my own money in one of these areas which I'm going to list off. At the end of this video, you'll notice that all of the areas that I'm going to recommend and advise of you have one common theme in particular.

1. DIFC 2: The Hub for International Corporations

To start this list off, we'll start with DIFC 2. DIFC 2 is unique because it sits under English common law. In the whole of Dubai, we operate under the Dubai law system which is not actually internationally friendly for these big corporations. Now, at the start of 2026, the government pledged to invest 100 billion dirhams into expanding this free zone and this English common law system to DIFC Zabeel or many people call it DIFC 2 located here.

It is also worth noting as well that all of the commercial spaces and all of the retail spaces will not be sold but kept by the Dubai government meaning that they always have to keep it to the highest possible maintenance and quality possible to attract the best businesses to move over there.

All of the residential properties, however, are being sold but there is such a limit of residential properties being sold here with there only being 4,000.

In this particular community, you're going to have 17.1 million square feet of commercial space, an AI center, a conference center, and an education center all being built out in phase one or phase A which you can currently buy into. The prices right now start from 3 million dirhams and due to the slow market right now due to the summer as well as the war, they have offered an even more lucrative payment plan with it instead being 70/30, just 50/50 on these remaining units.

2. Jumeirah Golf Estates 2: Infrastructure and Limited Supply

The second project on this list is Jumeirah Golf Estates and in particular Jumeirah Golf Estates 2. This project is something that I've actually put my own money in with phase one.

No other residential community is going to have as much upcoming infrastructure compared to Jumeirah Golf Estates phase two. Of course, what you're going to get here is the golf course. You're also going to get an equestrian district. You've also got a tennis stadium coming which will be the largest in the Middle East. You'll have the central park, a mall, a GEMS Wellington College school, a hospital, a business district, and the Etihad Rail stop (the only one announced in Dubai). Plus, the gold line metro (upcoming) and current red line metro exchange is planned.

All of this infrastructure is set in a very low supply and density of townhouses and villas. In total, there are only going to be 940 standalone villas and 750 townhouses, which is extremely low for such a large piece of land. Prices start from 5.7 million dirhams for townhouses, 13 million dirhams for standalone villas not on the golf course, and 21 million dirhams for golf course villas.

3. The Oasis: Addressing the Undersupply of Large Villas

Next, we have The Oasis. In Dubai, we genuinely have an undersupply of large villas. Only 3,915 villas are over the size of 7,000 square feet and out of these, only 32 transact every month. The Oasis changes this because in total there are 2,700 villas with most being over 7,000 square feet, all being sold at an extremely attractive rate.

Instead of roughly 3,000 dirhams per square foot, the Oasis is only selling for 2,000 dirhams per square foot. Villa prices start from roughly 14 million dirhams for a four-bedroom at 7,000 sq ft.

4. Hayat by the Bay South: Government-Backed Growth

Hayat by the Bay South is a 100% government entity, focused on building out the South with the new airport as well as residential and commercial areas. This area sits on the edge of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, catering for the growing economy of both Dubai South and Abu Dhabi.

Here, you can buy big twin villas around 4,000 square feet at 1,250 dirhams per square foot. Prices for a four-bedroom twin villa start from 4.75 million dirhams. The developer is offering a payment plan of 40/60, plus incentives such as only paying 2% DLD fees instead of 4%.

5. Waterfront Areas: Scarcity and Long-Term Value

Another top recommendation is waterfront areas in Dubai. Freehold waterfront property is extremely under-supplied. Areas to consider for long-term investment:

Entry-level waterfront properties start from 2.5 million dirhams for a one-bedroom, with luxury options reaching 10 million dirhams plus.

6. Dubai South Residential District: Middle-Class Opportunity

The Dubai South Residential District is the only area in Dubai South offering a middle-class lifestyle with strictly regulated supply. Developers can only build up to six floors, resulting in a maximum of 29,000 residential units once completed.

Prices start from about 1 million dirhams for a one-bedroom. The key for investment is finding the right developer offering the best long-term value.

7. Jumeirah Residences in ADGM, Abu Dhabi: Freehold Advantage

Moving to Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Residences in ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Markets) is a standout. ADGM operates under the same free zone and law as DIFC, with access to a $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund. The only other residential option for high earners is the Four Seasons Residences (not freehold and very limited).

Jumeirah Residences offers 252 high-end, freehold residential units operated by Jumeirah, starting at 5,000 dirhams per square foot, with one-bedrooms from about 5 million dirhams and two-bedrooms from about 10 million dirhams, many with water views.

8. Hudayriat Island, Abu Dhabi: Low-Density, High-Potential

The last project is Hudayriat Island in Abu Dhabi, a massive government-led real estate project master developed by Modon. Comparable in size to Manhattan but with space for just 172,000 people, the focus is low-density living mainly in houses.

Amenities include the velodrome, Surf Abu Dhabi, 321 Sports, and a 16-km private beach. Villas start from 6 million dirhams up to 100 million dirhams plus, and apartments soon launching from around 2.5 million dirhams for a one-bedroom. Payment plans are flexible (40/60 or 50/50) and allow reselling with only 20% paid.

Common Theme: Investing Where Supply Is Low

The common theme with all of these areas is genuinely low supply in their respective fields. I sympathize with the process of buying real estate in the UAE, especially with so many heavily marketed projects and reputable developers. However, just because a project is well-known doesn’t mean it’s the best for capital growth.

For example, Dubai Hills is a fantastic, mature community but with all major infrastructure already built and a wave of new supply (13,000 units completed, another 10,000 coming), it will be challenging to resell apartments at a profit in the near future.

Focus on Supply & Demand Metrics

To summarize: in the current climate, assessing supply and demand metrics is crucial when investing in UAE real estate. The eight projects listed above are backed by solid numbers and have significant future growth plans supported by government initiatives. As long as you follow this principle in evaluating the UAE real estate market, you minimize risk.

If you're interested in working with me to find your next property investment in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, please reach out with the link below and on your screens now. I genuinely try to help clients from a relationship point of view, aiming for long-term partnerships and advice. If you liked this video, please like, subscribe, and press the notification bell to stay updated on market opportunities.