Why international family offices are allocating to Dubai residential — and how to think about yield, currency, and liquidity.
For the global investor, Dubai presents an unusual combination: prime residential yields that comfortably exceed New York and London, paired with a currency effectively pegged to the US dollar.
Yield without the currency risk
A USD-denominated buyer acquiring on Palm Jumeirah or in Downtown Dubai captures gross yields in the range of five to seven per cent — without taking on the currency exposure that typically accompanies emerging-market real estate.
Dubai offers the yield of a growth market with the currency stability of a reserve one.
Liquidity is the final piece. Branded residences, in particular, trade with a depth and speed that family offices increasingly require of their real-asset allocations.
