Dubai leads with 175 branded projects, bolsters Middle East’s quarterly share of global pipeline

The Middle East accounts for 20 percent of all live and pipeline branded residence projects globally and 25 percent of those in the development pipeline, with Dubai leading worldwide with 175 projects, Knight Frank’s The Residence Report 2026/27 revealed.

Knight Frank’s Global Branded Residence Survey 2026 verified nearly 1,800 live and identified pipeline developments from more than 200 brands across 90 countries. The market counted 903 projects at the end of 2025 and is expected to reach approximately 1,088 by the end of 2026. Based on the identified pipeline, the market is projected to approach 1,800 that will feature more than 300,000 units by 2031.

The UAE accounts for 19 percent of the global branded residence development pipeline. Dubai currently leads with 68 live and 107 projects in the pipeline, taking the total count to 175. This is more than twice the scale of second-placed Miami, with 73 projects, and almost six times London, with 30. Abu Dhabi has secured the eighth rank with 24 live and pipeline schemes, while Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Marjan Island has achieved the ninth spot with 23.

Louis Harding, Partner - Head of Residential, UAE at Knight Frank, said, “The sheer growth in choice across the Middle East is changing the conversation around branded residences. Buyers are increasingly looking beyond the name on the building and asking more searching questions about the quality of the home, the location, the service proposition and ultimately how well it fits the way they want to live.

“That is an important evolution for the market. Brand remains powerful, but as the sector becomes more competitive, a name alone won’t be enough. The developments that stand out will be those where the brand genuinely enhances an already compelling real estate proposition.”

The next wave of UAE growth is also taking different forms. Out of 24 Abu Dhabi has 19 branded residences in the pipeline, while all 23 identified on Al Marjan Island are yet to be delivered. Non-hotel brands already account for 42 percent of developments in Dubai, 38 percent in Abu Dhabi and 52 percent on Al Marjan Island.

In Abu Dhabi, residential growth is taking place alongside the emirate’s emergence as a global wealth and financial hub. During summer 2026, Modon sold 1,700 homes at Hudayriyat Golf Estates within days, generating approximately Dh13 billion (US$3.5 billion) in sales, with non-UAE residents accounting for around 15 percent of buyers. Employment within Abu Dhabi Global Market, meanwhile, increased by 51 percent to 44,339 during 2025.

Ras Al Khaimah’s growth is being supported by a different set of drivers, including tourism and improving international connectivity. International flight volumes into the emirate increased by 44 percent between 2023 and 2026 – the strongest growth recorded among the world’s ten largest branded residence markets. Abu Dhabi recorded a 37 percent increase over the same period.

Clare Moukabaa, Partner – Residential Consultancy, Knight Frank MENA, said, “There is no single Middle East branded residence buyer, and increasingly there shouldn’t be a single formula for the product either. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Jeddah are attracting different audiences for different reasons, whether that’s primary residence, investment, lifestyle or a second home.

“As the pipeline grows, understanding those differences becomes critical. The strongest developments will be those that start with the buyer and the location, then determine what the brand, design and service proposition can genuinely add – rather than simply applying a global formula to a local market.”

The growth in locations is being matched by a widening range of brands. Hotel operators account for around 70 percent of operational branded residences globally, but their share falls to 60 percent once pipeline developments are included. As fashion, automotive and lifestyle brands enter the sector, non-hotel brands are expected to represent almost 40 percent of supply by 2028, up from around 30 percent in 2025.

Buyer expectations are evolving alongside the market. Wellness, for example, is moving beyond the traditional amenity offer and becoming increasingly embedded in residential design and services. At Six Senses The Palm in Dubai, due to open in late 2026, a 60,000-square-foot wellness club will include a longevity clinic, IV lounge and biohacking room, while Four Seasons is developing a dedicated longevity centre at its Abu Dhabi residences on Saadiyat Beach.

Growth is also extending across the wider region. In Jeddah, Four Seasons is set to deliver a hotel and 64 branded residences at The Corniche, while Raffles Jeddah will include 120 branded homes. The Trump Organization, Mandarin Oriental and One&Only also have projects in the pipeline.

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