AGP Executive Report

Dubai Logistics: Gargash Prime and JD.com’s JINGDONG Property plan a 2.5-million-square-foot distribution hub, strengthening Dubai’s role as a regional trade centre. Saudi Growth: Aldar is entering Sharjah with a Dh1.1 billion residential acquisition, while Saudi Arabia reports a 33.5% rise in foreign investment inflows and is accelerating housing, rail and metro expansion. Syria Reconstruction: Emaar’s chairman outlined up to $16 billion in Syrian property investment, alongside Eagle Hills’ plans for projects worth as much as $17 billion. Egypt Projects: Egypt is planning a real estate fund to maximise returns from state urban-development assets and has approved a 652-acre logistics zone and a new dry port company. Housing Costs and Safety: Saudi rents rose 3.5% year-on-year in September; in Cairo, a five-storey building collapse killed at least six people, renewing concerns over building safety. Regional Housing: Hezbollah announced compensation of up to $14,000 for families displaced by the conflict in Lebanon.

Syria’s Property Push: Emaar’s chief outlined $16bn in planned Syrian property investment, while Eagle Hills signalled up to $17bn and launched projects in Damascus and Latakia. Egypt’s State Assets: The cabinet approved a real-estate investment fund to improve returns from NUCA assets. Saudi Development: Diriyah allocated SAR2.73bn for infrastructure, Aldar’s international arm plans 9,000 homes over five years, and Saudi Arabia is advancing housing, rail and metro projects. Oman Projects: OMRAN signed RO122m in development agreements for Madinat Al Irfan and Yiti. Gaza Reconstruction: Israel has yet to let contractors and equipment into Gaza for a planned international-force outpost, delaying the first construction contract under the Board of Peace and holding up wider rebuilding. Lebanon Housing Aid: Hezbollah outlined compensation of up to $14,000 for families displaced by strikes.

Gulf Investment: UAE high-net-worth investors are increasingly bullish on UK property: 96% said their confidence rose over the past year, and GCC investors are looking beyond luxury homes to development, retail and affordable housing. Syria’s Rebuild: Eagle Hills says it plans up to $17 billion in Syrian investment, as property protests raise calls for a national strategy and concern over land speculation. Housing After Conflict: Hezbollah has outlined payments of up to $14,000 for families displaced by Israeli strikes, while Palestinian families in East Jerusalem face continued eviction and demolition pressures. Saudi Housing Finance: Saudi Arabia’s first credit-rated residential mortgage-backed securities issuance marks a new route for housing finance. But regional conflict clouds the outlook for Gulf development, with new construction projects reportedly down 37% and Saudi megaprojects facing mounting risks.

Housing Support: Hezbollah announced payments of up to $14,000 for families displaced by the war. In Iraq, the cabinet approved a draft law transferring land earmarked for housing projects to the Housing Department, aiming to speed delivery. Housing and Displacement: Israeli demolitions of 80 homes in a Negev village left about 400 people displaced, with no alternative housing reported. Saudi Finance: Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co. launched the country’s first credit-rated residential mortgage-backed securities issuance, a new route to support housing finance. Regional Development: Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead with housing, rail and metro expansion, while UAE developer Eagle Hills has launched projects in Damascus and Latakia. Dubai Investment: Planned infrastructure projects are expected to reshape the city’s real estate investment landscape.

Dubai Development: Dubai Maritime City leased 572,000 square feet, while Kazakhstan’s BI Group signed a framework deal with CITIC to build three Dubai projects, with the contractor involved from design through construction. Market and Infrastructure: Savills says Dubai’s residential market is stabilising as buyers become more selective; Abu Dhabi has also tapped the Boring Company for underground transit and utility tunnels. Saudi Projects: A planned NEOM stadium has been shelved as the kingdom’s megaprojects face mounting pressure amid escalating conflict. Housing and Displacement: Israeli authorities demolished about 80 homes in the Negev village of Al-Dahiya, displacing around 400 people. Egypt and Iraq: Egypt’s Talaat Moustafa Group partnered with AXA to offer long-term medical insurance to buyers at The Spine, while Iraq is preparing 44,000 housing plots under its Watan initiative.

Saudi Arabia: Plans for Neom’s 46,000-seat World Cup stadium have been shelved as the megaproject faces funding pressure; The Line has already been cut from 170 kilometres to 2.4. Egypt Hotels: IHG signed a deal for a 250-key Crowne Plaza in New Cairo, scheduled to open in 2031. Abu Dhabi Infrastructure: The emirate has tapped Elon Musk’s Boring Company to develop underground transit and utility tunnels. Cairo Development: Hyde Park struck a deal to acquire 415 feddans in west Cairo, adding to the area’s development pipeline. Dubai Housing: Savills says the residential market is stabilising, with buyers becoming more selective. Iraq Housing: Diyala is preparing 44,000 residential plots under the Watan Initiative. Syria Projects: UAE developer Eagle Hills has launched projects in Damascus and Latakia, a sign of renewed development activity.

Dubai Investment: Billions of dirhams in airport, metro, road and rail projects could reshape property demand, with values near Blue Line stations projected to rise by up to 25%. Egypt Developments: Talaat Moustafa Group is offering buyers at its planned The Spine development a 10-year medical insurance policy, with Houston Hospital due to join AXA’s network in 2027. Housing Plans: Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ünal Üstel pledged 15,000 social homes and low-interest loans for about 5,000 prospective builders as part of his Vision 2033 election programme. Iraq Growth: The government launched a one-million-plot housing initiative, including 110,000 serviced plots in Nineveh, and invited international firms to invest in Mosul airport. Housing Loss: Israeli authorities demolished about 80 homes in the Negev village of Al-Dhahiya, displacing around 400 people.

Iraq Housing: Diyala is preparing 44,000 housing plots under the Watan Initiative, while Karbala has broken ground on its share of a planned one-million-plot housing programme. Saudi Arabia: Central Riyadh flexible-office occupancy is nearing 90%, with international firms driving demand. Global investors and developers are also heading to Riyadh for the debut MIPIM Mideast event. Egypt: Madinet Masr’s SAFE platform is opening fractional property investment from EGP 5,000; Aqar Exit reports EGP 8.8bn in deals and EGP 124bn in listings. Regional Regulation: Developers are urging a hybrid real estate framework drawing on UAE, Saudi and UK models. In Jordan, September indicators point to a stronger market, with Iraqis leading foreign property buyers. Gulf Construction: New project activity has fallen 37%, signalling a tougher pipeline for the region’s building sector.

Saudi Infrastructure: NWC completed more than SAR214 million ($56 million) in sewer projects in Al Baha, including a wastewater treatment plant and 63 kilometres of pipelines. Dubai Investment: Property sales reached AED379 billion in the first nine months of 2026, the second-highest total on record, as the emirate prepares to host the RISE investment summit. Riyadh Offices: Central Riyadh occupancy is nearing 90%, with international firms driving demand; Saudi construction activity has also expanded for a fifth straight month. Housing Pipeline: Iraq has broken ground on a plan for one million housing plots, while Jordan’s September property indicators point to a strengthening market. Syria Rebuild: Eagle Hills has launched projects in Syria, and developer Mohamed Alabbar is advancing plans valued at $18 billion. Sector Outlook: Gulf construction project activity is reported down 37%, highlighting a regional pipeline that remains uneven.

Housing: Iraq’s Karbala has broken ground on a plan for 1 million housing plots, while Jordan’s September indicators show foreign property ownership up 17%. Construction: New Gulf project awards plunged 37%, even as Saudi construction activity grew for a fifth straight month on rising orders. Investment: A Riyadh logistics fund is planned by Hamad Bin Saedan and Blominvest, and Dubai investors are targeting Türkiye’s logistics sector. Dubai Market: S&P assessed the impact of regional conflict on Dubai property, as building owners received 12 months to comply with shared-housing rules. Syria: Developer Mohamed Alabbar is advancing $18 billion in projects as Saudi Arabia and Syria discuss reconstruction and investment.

Jordan Property: September transactions rose 16% year on year to JD720.5 million, led by apartment sales, while foreign ownership of Jordanian property was up 17%. Saudi Construction: Saudi Readymix and ClimateCrete will test concrete made with re-engineered desert and construction-waste sand, aiming to cut emissions and reliance on imported materials. Riyadh Logistics: Hamad Bin Saedan and Blominvest plan a SAR325 million fund to develop dry and refrigerated warehouses on a 130,276-square-metre site. Iraq Building Costs: The government has begun selling construction materials directly to residents, with cash and installment options, as dinar depreciation pushes up prices. Gulf Pipeline: New construction projects across the Gulf reportedly plunged 37%, underscoring a slowdown even as Saudi Arabia advances major developments.

Market Pulse: New construction projects across the Gulf plunged 37%, while Dubai property sales weakened under pressure from the war. S&P is assessing the conflict’s impact on the emirate’s market. Rules and Ownership: Dubai gave building owners 12 months to comply with shared-housing regulations. Foreign property ownership in Jordan rose 17%. Development Pipeline: Fibrex won a $217 million contract for Abu Dhabi’s Seamont residences, and Diriyah awarded about $730 million in contracts for luxury hotels and homes. UAE developer Eagle Hills also launched projects in Syria, advancing plans for major residential and tourism developments.

UAE Market: The UAE economy grew 0.4% in the first half of 2026 despite the Iran war, with construction up 5.1% and real estate 2.3%. Abu Dhabi also awarded Fibrex a $217 million contract for Seamont residences. Turkey Safety: Istanbul’s residential-building collapse killed five people; the architect and site manager were arrested as investigators examine the cause. Dubai Outlook: Property sales have slumped amid war-related pressure, while S&P assessed the conflict’s impact on the market. Dubai has also given building owners 12 months to comply with shared-housing rules. Regional Investment: ESR is targeting a $10 billion Middle East project pipeline, including data centres. In Syria, Eagle Hills has launched development projects, while Alabbar is advancing a reported $18 billion plan. Saudi Projects: Diriyah awarded about $730 million in contracts for hotels and residential units as construction activity continued to grow. Plans for a landmark NEOM World Cup stadium, however, have been put on hold.

Saudi Construction: Activity grew for a fifth straight month as new orders rose. Separately, the Oil Sustainability Program and Saudi Readymix will assess lower-impact concrete, including mixes using processed drilling and construction waste. LogiPoint is also building a controlled-ambient logistics facility in Jeddah. Dubai Market: Property sales have slumped as regional conflict weighs on prices, while ESR is targeting a $10 billion Middle East data-centre pipeline. Regional Projects: UAE developer Eagle Hills has launched projects in Syria, adding to plans for major residential and tourism developments. Housing and Infrastructure: Dubai has given building owners 12 months to comply with shared-housing rules. Saudi Arabia has also put its planned $2.5 billion World Cup stadium on hold.

Syria’s Property Push: Eagle Hills is launching projects as hotel groups, including Accor, explore expansion in Syria. Tourist arrivals more than doubled year on year in the first half of 2026, though security challenges remain. Riyadh Rents: A year after rent increases were frozen, residential rents rose 4.5% in August — their slowest pace in more than three years — and rent’s share of household income fell to about 15%. Dubai and Gulf Investment: Dubai has given building owners 12 months to comply with shared-housing rules, while ESR is targeting a $10 billion Middle East project pipeline. Accor also plans two branded residential developments in Dubai. Saudi Projects: Construction activity grew for a fifth month as new orders rose. Diriyah awarded about $720 million in contracts for hotels and homes, while Ajdan unveiled a $1.5 billion coastal tourism project in Khobar. Building Safety: A partial collapse of a seven-storey Istanbul building killed two people and trapped others, underscoring the risks facing ageing, earthquake-prone housing.

Dubai Housing: Building owners have 12 months to comply with shared-housing rules, as third-quarter home sales fell amid regional uncertainty. Saudi Projects: Construction activity grew for a fifth straight month as new orders rose; Diriyah also awarded about $720 million in contracts for hotels and homes. UAE–Syria Investment: Abu Dhabi’s Eagle Hills signed a framework to develop residential and tourism communities in Syria, as reports put planned UAE–Syria real estate projects at $20 billion. Egypt Infrastructure: EGP 57 billion in Sinai electricity-grid upgrades is intended to support new urban, industrial, agricultural and tourism development.