Most UAE Residents Pick Dubai Over London and New York for Long-Term Investment, Survey Finds

London was chosen by 3% of respondents and New York and Singapore by 5% each, Khaleej Times reported. Asked where they would put Dh1 million today, 76% said Dubai, against 2% each for the other three cities. Eighty-nine per cent said Dubai offers better opportunities to build long-term wealth than their country of origin.

The findings matter for a property market that depends heavily on residents and foreign buyers to absorb a large wave of new supply, but they come from a company that sells property investment products, and the published results do not give the sample size or survey dates.

Safety, rather than tax, was the main reason respondents gave for investing in Dubai. Seventy-one per cent cited safety and security, 40% the strength of the property market and 36% business opportunities. Eighty-six per cent said Dubai had become more attractive for investment over the past five years, and nine in ten were optimistic about its economy over the next five.

The survey also points to a gap between interest and the means to invest. Eighty per cent of respondents who had not yet invested said they would consider doing so in Dubai within three years. But 62% of that group said they did not have enough savings, 41% wanted more affordable options and 38% wanted better financing.

Prypco is positioned to benefit from that gap. Its PRYPCO Blocks platform, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, lets investors buy shares in properties from Dh500 and receive a proportional share of rental income.

"What these findings tell us is that Dubai has built something far more valuable than a competitive investment environment. It has built long-term confidence," said Essa Ibrahim, Prypco's co-founder and president. He cited government plans including the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan as supporting the emirate's appeal.

The research announcement also cited Dubai Land Department figures showing that 104 real estate projects worth more than Dh111 billion were completed in the first half of 2026, up 52% from a year earlier, adding more than 24,500 homes to the market.