Dubai and Abu Dhabi have both climbed JLL's 2024 Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI), with the two UAE cities ranked among the five largest improvers worldwide — a milestone that reflects accelerating liberalisation and stronger governance across the country's property market.
Dubai Rises to 28th, Remains MENA's Only Transparent Market
Dubai advanced one rank to 28th position globally, retaining its status as the only city in the Middle East and North Africa to sit within the index's coveted "Transparent" cluster. The emirate earned the 3rd spot among all global improvers from 2022 to 2024 — a recognition driven by targeted investment in digital infrastructure and tighter regulatory standards.
Key initiatives behind Dubai's rise include the Real Estate Innovation Incubator and the Dubai PropTech Group, both designed to attract investor confidence and position the city as a leading destination for international real estate capital.
Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of the Dubai Land Department, said: "Our commitment towards transparency and simplicity translates well with the Dubai spirit set towards becoming a top international hub for real estate."
Abu Dhabi Jumps Four Places to 41st
Abu Dhabi improved four spots to reach 41st place in the "Semi-transparent" cluster — the 5th biggest mover globally. The capital has leveraged PropTech and AI through platforms such as DARI, which supports sales and lease management, development databases, and transaction tracking for the real estate sector.
Key Areas of Improvement Across Both Cities
JLL highlighted three shared drivers of progress for both UAE markets:
- Scaling digital capabilities: Both cities have expanded real estate technology platforms that make transacting faster and more accessible. - Strong anti-money laundering (AML) and beneficial ownership regulations: Stricter AML frameworks have increased security and institutional trust in UAE property markets. - Increased availability of market data: Greater data transparency benefits both established operators and new market entrants, supporting a healthier competitive environment.
Long-Term Investment Confidence
With continued integration of technology and sustainability into the property sector, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are positioning themselves for sustained long-term investment performance. The GRETI improvements reinforce both cities' ambitions to attract global capital and set benchmarks for real estate governance across the wider region.
