Dubai retains crown as world’s top market for branded residences, Knight Frank says

Dubai also carries one of the world’s highest concentrations of branded projects.

Dubai remains the world’s largest city market for branded residences, with 175 live and pipeline schemes, Knight Frank reports.

UAE projects account for 19 per cent of the global branded residence pipeline in the firm’s 2026 research. Middle East markets represent 20 per cent of global live and pipeline projects and 25 per cent of future supply. Knight Frank published its latest findings, The Residence Report 2026/27, on September 28.

Dubai holds wide lead over global city markets

Dubai’s 175 schemes comprise 68 live developments and 107 projects in the pipeline. Brands outside hospitality represent 42 per cent of the city’s branded residential schemes.

Miami ranks second globally with 73 schemes. New York follows with 38, Phuket Island has 35 and London records 30. Dubai consequently has more than twice the number recorded in Miami.

Knight Frank’s Global Branded Residence Survey 2026 assessed more than 200 brands across 90 countries. Researchers verified nearly 1,800 live and pipeline schemes globally.

Global branded residence stock reached 903 schemes by the end of 2025. Knight Frank expects around 1,088 schemes and more than 170,000 units during 2026 based on identified development schedules.

Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah expand UAE supply

Abu Dhabi ranks eighth among the world’s largest branded residence markets with 24 schemes. Five developments are live, and 19 sit in the pipeline.

Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah ranks ninth with 23 projects. All 23 remain in the development pipeline. Brands outside hospitality account for 52 per cent of its schemes, compared with 38 per cent in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi also recorded major residential transaction volumes during summer 2026. Modon sold 1,700 homes at Hudayriyat Golf Estates within days, generating around $3.5 billion (AED 13 billion).

Buyers based outside the UAE accounted for roughly 15 per cent of those transactions. Abu Dhabi Global Market employment increased 51 per cent to 44,339 during 2025. Assets under management rose 36 per cent. Eight financial institutions managing $4.4 trillion announced Abu Dhabi Global Market expansion plans in April 2026.

Henry Faun, Head of Knight Frank’s Private Office in the Middle East, described Hudayriyat Golf Estates as “freehold, high quality and government-backed”. Faun added that those characteristics give buyers confidence to commit.

Luxury brands widen residential supply

Hotel operators retain the largest share of branded residential development worldwide. Hospitality brands account for around 70 per cent of operational schemes and 60 per cent when pipeline developments are included.

Non-hotel brands represented around 30 per cent of global supply in 2025. Fashion houses including Elie Saab, Armani and Missoni have entered residential development. Automotive names include Tonino Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Pininfarina.

Dubai also carries one of the world’s highest concentrations of branded projects outside traditional hotel operators. Knight Frank records 42 per cent of Dubai schemes in this category.

Wellness facilities form another component of new luxury supply. Six Senses The Palm in Dubai plans a 60,000 sq ft wellness club as part of its late 2026 opening. Facilities include a longevity clinic, IV lounge and biohacking room.

UAE cities secure three global top ten positions

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Marjan Island all sit among Knight Frank’s ten largest branded residence markets worldwide.

Combined pipeline supply across those three UAE locations reaches 149 schemes. Dubai contributes 107 projects, Abu Dhabi adds 19, and Al Marjan Island accounts for another 23.

Middle East markets hold one quarter of the identified global branded residence pipeline. UAE projects alone represent 19 per cent, according to Knight Frank’s 2026 market snapshot.

Knight Frank also records 55 per cent of branded residence schemes in non-urban markets during 2025. Resort destinations such as Al Marjan Island form part of that supply profile, alongside established urban markets led by Dubai.