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The chairman of Emaar Properties and Eagle Hills says he is optimistic about Dubai's property market next year, that life should take six to seven months to return to normal after the regional conflict, and that the Creek Tower tender will wait until the situation settles. Here is what he said, and how much of it rests on opinion rather than data.

Developer Outlook · Dubai & Beyond

Alabbar Says the Regional Situation Is "Not Sustainable", and Expects Dubai Property to Recover in 2027

MARKET DESK 6 MIN READ DEVELOPER OUTLOOK · EAGLE HILLS EXPANSION

Key Points

Return to Normal

6 to 7 months

After the conflict, per his expectation. The start point is not specified.

Creek Tower

Tender on hold

Waiting for the situation between Iran and the US to settle.

Eagle Hills Projects Abroad

29, close to 30

Outside the UAE, with no fixed target for more.

Eagle Hills IPO

Ruled out

"Not on the table", with no interest in going public.

Why This Matters

When the head of Dubai's largest listed developer says a market will recover, and also says he is holding back a flagship tender, the two statements tell you different things. The optimism is an opinion, the postponed tender is an action. Reading both together gives a more useful picture of how developers are actually behaving than either alone, and of how much of the 2027 recovery story depends on events outside property.

What He Said

Optimism About 2027, With Conditions

Speaking on the sidelines of a project signing in Dubai, Alabbar said he did not believe the current situation could last, pointing to strain on major economies such as India and China from higher energy prices and living costs. He said families were already paying more for food and fuel, and hoped sensible voices would bring the region to a good place. Since the war began in February, the source notes, energy and basic goods prices have risen globally.

"I don't think the world can afford to stay this way."

Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties and Eagle Hills

Statements and Evidence

What Each Claim Rests On

Statement

Basis given

What would confirm it

Dubai recovers in 2027Life back to normal in six to seven months

Expectation that the current situation cannot last

Visitor arrivals, rental volumes and sales activity returning to earlier levels

Situation "not sustainable"Strain on large economies

Higher food, fuel and energy costs for households

A settlement, and easing energy and consumer prices

Creek Tower waitsTender only after things settle

An action, not a forecast

A tender announcement once conditions allow

Keep expanding abroadIndia, Syria and more

Eagle Hills' existing waterfront model

Signed agreements and launched projects

Eagle Hills Abroad

Waterfronts in New Markets

Signed

Maldives Waterfront and Marina

A commercial terms agreement with the Maldives government for an integrated island destination in Ras Malé, signed in Dubai on Monday. It is planned for reclaimed land, with no further dredging, and includes hospitality, branded residences and a marina.

Being Assessed

India Beachfront

Open to a six-kilometre beachfront development similar to its projects in Egypt, Serbia, Georgia and Dubai, citing Mumbai as an example of a city built on water. Opportunities are being assessed.

Planned

Syria Waterfront

A large waterfront project is planned, with the aim of creating a distinctive lifestyle for residents based on past experience elsewhere.

The Maldives Project's Value Is Reported Two Ways

Coverage of the agreement cites different totals for the overall development scale across its phases: about $12 billion in some reports quoting the company, and about $20 billion in others, including the original report of these comments. The agreement sets out principal terms, with detailed terms still to be developed, so confirm the figure with Eagle Hills before quoting it.

Maldives Projections

What the Agreement's Backers Project

Projections as stated by the parties at signing. They are targets, not outcomes.

Lifetime gross foreign investment

More than $30 billion

Of which net foreign investment

About $18 billion

Visitors a year at maturity

More than 1 million

Annual tourism revenue at maturity

Over $2 billion

Direct jobs over the project's life

More than 54,000

Analysis

Reading It Carefully

Action Over Words

Postponing Creek Tower Is the Clearer Signal

Holding a flagship tender until the situation settles shows a developer choosing to wait, not rushing ahead. It is a more concrete data point on risk appetite than a general statement of optimism.

Aligned Timelines

Two Developers Point to 2027

The master developer of Al Marjan Island has also said it expects visitor numbers to recover in 2027, while stressing that this depends on the next few months. Two separate executives landing on the same year is notable, though both are interested parties.

Balance Sheet Room

Developers Can Afford to Wait

Emaar reported record 2025 sales of Dh80.4 billion and a Dh155 billion revenue backlog, which gives it room to defer a tender without strain. Smaller developers may not have the same flexibility.

Diversifying Abroad

Overseas Waterfronts Spread the Risk

With 29 projects outside the UAE and talks on India, Syria and the Maldives, Eagle Hills is spreading exposure beyond any single market, a pattern consistent with a developer hedging regional uncertainty.

Interested Party

An Optimistic Developer Chairman Is Not an Independent Forecast

The chairman of a developer has an obvious interest in confidence. His view is useful context from someone who watches the market closely, but it is an opinion and should be weighed against transaction, rental and arrival data.

Unclear Clock

"Six to Seven Months" Needs a Starting Date

The report does not say whether the period counts from today or from the end of the conflict. If it starts only when the situation ends, normalisation depends on events outside the property market and could fall later.

Cost Pressure

Higher Energy and Goods Prices Also Reach Developers

The same price pressures he describes for households can raise construction and supply costs, another reason a tender might wait. Watch handover dates and tender timing for signs of knock-on delays.

How to Weigh Statements Like This

Separate opinions from actions, a postponed tender tells you more than a forecast does.
Check optimism against measurable data, such as transactions, rental contracts and visitor arrivals.
Note who is speaking, and what they gain if confidence improves.
Ask what clock a timeline runs on, from today or from a future event.
For projects abroad, wait for confirmed terms and figures before treating announcements as settled.

Closing

Confidence and Caution in the Same Breath

Alabbar's message combines belief that conditions will normalise with a decision to wait before committing to one of Dubai's most visible towers. Both can be true, and together they describe a developer who expects recovery but is not betting on its timing. For buyers and investors, the sensible read is to follow the data that would confirm his optimism, and not to treat it as confirmation by itself.

This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Statements about the regional situation and market outlook are opinions expressed by a developer chairman and are not forecasts based on published data. Project values and projections are as reported at the time and are subject to change. Verify current details directly with the developer.

About the author

Mohamad Ahmad

Associate Partner

A trusted name in Dubai’s prime property market, Ahmad is a multi award winning advisor recognized across the UAE’s leading developers, including Emaar and DAMAC. In 2025, he delivered a record-breaking year closing a landmark single sale with Emaar that set a new benchmark. Known for blending lifestyle insight with investment strategy, he also contributes to leading real estate publications and has been featured across business and property media. Follow for weekly highlights, market insights, and luxury property updates.

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About the author

Mohamad Ahmad

Associate Partner

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Alabbar Says the Regional Situation Is "Not Sustainable", and Expects Dubai Property to Recover in 2027

Mohamad Ahmad

Mohamad Ahmad

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