Branded homes in Abu Dhabi cheaper than Dubai and RAK

• Up to AED4,000/sq m
• RAK almost twice the cost
• Potential for growth

Prices of luxury branded homes in Abu Dhabi are significantly lower than those in smaller emirates such as Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), and below other rival global mature cities, new industry data shows.

Branded properties in the UAE’s capital city cost between AED2,500 ($681) and AED4,000 per sq m. In comparison, similar homes in Al Marjan, Ras Al Khaimah, cost nearly 50 percent more, ranging from AED3,700 to more than AED6,000, Metropolitan Capital Real Estate CEO Evgeny Ratskevich told AGBI.

“Abu Dhabi’s branded residence prices are, on average, 35 percent cheaper than those in Dubai and, for some ultra-luxury segments, this discount can even exceed 50 percent,” he said.

Dubai’s consistent pipeline of high-profile branded launches has positioned the emirate as the global leader in this real estate segment.

In the first quarter of 2025, the number of branded residence transactions increased by 50 percent year on year, local media reported, citing data from Provident Real Estate. 

In contrast, Ras Al Khaimah’s growth has been driven mainly by the Wynn casino and concentrated development on Marjan Island. This has led to severe competition among developers to launch luxury brands close to what will be the first resort in the GCC offering gambling facilities.

In November 2024, Stirling Hospitality Advisors forecast branded residences will account for 40 percent of the total residential units in Ras Al Khaimah by 2029.

“Branded residences are transforming Ras Al Khaimah’s real estate landscape. The demand for elevated living experiences is reshaping the market,” Tatiana Veller, managing director of Stirling Hospitality Advisors, said in the report.

Nearly two-thirds of these projects are situated on Marjan Island, while the majority of the remaining 37 percent are in Al Hamra and Mina Al Arab.  

Stirling Hospitality, a subsidiary of Ras Al Khaimah Hospitality Holding, manages a hotel and resort portfolio valued at more than $1.25 billion.

Ratskevich said Abu Dhabi’s branded residence market is in its nascent stages of development, which is reflected in its pricing.

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Abu Dhabi has far fewer branded developments than Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. The limited existing supply, coupled with a clear market appetite, points to substantial untapped potential and considerable room for future growth.

When compared with cities such as New York and London, where Dubai’s prices are now closely aligned, Abu Dhabi offers a distinctly more accessible entry point, said Ratskevich.

Luxury deals for properties of AED7 million and above in Abu Dhabi rose 5 percent year on year during the first four months of 2025, reaching AED6.3 billion, according to a report by Metropolitan Capital Real Estate.

At least 25 branded residences are expected to be announced in Abu Dhabi in 2025 – up from just a handful last year.

“The current valuation and a promising outlook for new launches over the following two to three years positions Abu Dhabi as a market with significant opportunity for appreciation compared to these more mature global hubs,” Ratskevich said.