Opinion | How The India-UAE Partnership Is Redefining Global Luxury Real Estate | Opinion News

Last Updated:July 18, 2025, 10:42 IST

In 2024 alone, Indians accounted for the largest share of all real estate purchases in Dubai, with nearly half of all prime property buyers being Indian nationals

A general view of Residential Skyscrapers and a beach in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Image: Reuters)

Not long ago, cities such as London, New York, and Singapore were the go-to choices for affluent Indians looking to invest in overseas real estate. But the tide is turning. A 2025 survey by Sotheby’s International Realty revealed that Dubai has now overtaken London as the top international property destination for India’s ultra-rich. A parallel study from the Dubai Land Department (DLD) showed that interest in overseas real estate among India’s affluent has surged to 22 per cent, up from approximately 10 per cent historically. And even here, Dubai is clearly the frontrunner.

As a real estate developer building in the UAE, I don’t see this as just a passing trend; it’s history in motion. In 2024 alone, Indians accounted for the largest share of all real estate purchases in Dubai, with nearly half of all prime property buyers being Indian nationals. As the UAE positions itself as a global capital for luxury real estate, India is playing a defining role in that rise.

Cross-Border Investments

One of the key reasons the India-UAE real estate partnership holds such immense promise is that this synergy is a two-way street, built on mutual value and long-term alignment.

The UAE, for instance, offers unparalleled financial depth. Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds collectively manage over US$1.7 trillion in assets, ranking them among the world’s largest. Backed by such robust capital, the UAE consistently finances major developments worldwide, including those in India.

$240 million in residential projects across major Indian cities, with a development value exceeding $2.1 billion, have already been invested by leading conglomerates in India and the UAE. Multiple real estate projects across Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Indore, and Mumbai, have begun through collaborations between Indian and Dubai firms. Moreover, with the Indian government permitting 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the hospitality industry, the future looks bright for UAE-based investors seeking opportunities in luxury accommodations and wellness retreats in India.

India, in turn, is the world’s talent powerhouse. With 1.5 million engineers and 15,000 architects produced annually, the country offers a vast, cost-effective workforce with expertise in sustainable urban development. This talent fuels projects across international markets.

At the same time, the UAE has a growing demand for skilled labour, particularly in engineering, architecture, and construction, driven by the scale and pace of its ongoing infrastructure boom. This presents a timely opportunity. As real estate cooperation between the two nations deepens, a bilateral framework for workforce collaboration could be a strategic next step. Streamlining the mobility of certified Indian professionals would help address the UAE’s talent gaps while further strengthening integration and trust between both markets.

Impetus From The Regimes

Recognising the scale of Indian investment, both governments are actively encouraging the India-UAE luxury real estate partnership. In April 2025, the Dubai Land Department launched its Real Estate Connect roadshow in New Delhi, reaffirming India as a strategic partner. Policy support has followed suit. The UAE’s expanded Golden Visa, zero-tax regime, and flexible residency options have made it a magnet for Indian HNIs. Landmark agreements, such as the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the 2024 Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), are expected to further ease cross-border investments.

Yet, this is only the beginning. To further coalesce the growing momentum, both nations can take proactive steps to institutionalise and scale this partnership. A dedicated India–UAE Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum would help coordinate bilateral investments and streamline large-scale development. Such a forum would help facilitate joint investments in cross-border real estate ventures, REITs, and private capital flows. This can be headquartered within hubs like GIFT City in Ahmedabad, India, and the DIFC in the UAE for maximum impact. These measures would move the partnership from merely promising to truly transformative.

Conclusion

As the saying goes, “When the winds of change blow, some build walls—others build windmills.” India and the UAE have chosen to build not just windmills, but entire cities.

As capital flows from the UAE meet India’s deep reservoir of talent and ambition, the two nations are now proactively reshaping the global luxury real estate market. Beyond building world-class skylines, the two nations are redefining where and how global wealth seeks residence, identity, and opportunity.

This alliance, once rooted in oil, trade, and diaspora, may now be laying the foundation for a third pillar in bilateral relations built on the solid foundation provided by luxury real estate synergy. It’s no longer just about economic exchange, but about co-creating global landmarks and lifestyle ecosystems that reflect shared values of aspiration, security, and innovation.

And in doing so, they’re redrawing the map of global luxury, brick by brick, and idea by idea.

The author is Chairman and Founder of BnW Developments, a UAE-based real estate platform with an active Asset Under Management (AUM) of AED 15 billion, focused on luxury development and high-growth urban assets. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.

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