Dubai Climbs 11 Places to Rank First in Arab World for Real Estate Transparency

Dubai has climbed 11 places to rank 17th globally in the 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI), strengthening its position as the highest-ranked market in the Arab world, according to the latest index by JLL and LaSalle.

Dubai ranked 28th globally in the 2024 edition. The 2026 index highlighted the emirate among the Gulf markets that have recorded significant improvements in real estate transparency over the past decade, alongside Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The latest improvement has been linked to advances in digitalisation, regulatory frameworks and the availability of real estate data, including initiatives led by the Dubai Land Department (DLD).

Dubai Advances in Global Transparency Ranking

Dubai recorded a transparency score of 1.98 in the 2026 index, according to the figures cited by Arabian Gulf Properties.

The GRETI evaluates real estate transparency across 88 countries and 146 city markets, assessing factors including market data, performance measurement, regulatory and legal frameworks, transaction processes and sustainability.

The index is published every two years and is designed to provide international investors, lenders, developers and occupiers with a comparative assessment of real estate market transparency.

Digitalisation Supports Greater Data Access

JLL's 2026 report identified the digitalisation of land registries, greater availability of market data and regulatory developments as key drivers of transparency improvements globally.

For Dubai, the report specifically highlighted the role of the Dubai Land Department in making real-time real estate data publicly accessible.

Initiatives cited in the market's progress include increased transparency around operating costs and service charges, technology-enabled property registration and the Dubai REST platform, which provides digital real estate information and services.

These developments give investors and other market participants greater access to information on transactions, prices, fees and ownership when assessing properties and investment opportunities.

Transparency Becomes More Important for Investors

Badar Rashid Al Blooshi, Chairman of Arabian Gulf Properties, said Dubai's progress reflected the development of its institutional and digital infrastructure.

He said access to reliable information and clearer procedures could help investors compare markets, assess risks and make more informed real estate decisions.

Al Blooshi added that transparency is increasingly important in a market experiencing strong growth and a diverse project pipeline, as investors look beyond transaction volumes and returns to consider regulation, data quality, and the ease of completing transactions.

Gulf Markets Continue to Improve

JLL's 2026 index identified Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar among the Gulf markets that have made notable transparency improvements over the past decade.

The report noted that Dubai and Abu Dhabi have advanced through greater digitalisation of services and the introduction of new regulations, while Saudi Arabia has expanded government-led digitisation and centralised real estate data.

Dubai had already been classified within GRETI's “Transparent” tier in 2024, when it ranked 28th globally and was the only MENA property market in that tier at the time.

Transparency and Technology Shape Future Real Estate Markets

JLL's latest report also points to broader changes in the transparency landscape, with alternative real estate sectors, credit markets, artificial intelligence and energy performance emerging as areas where data and disclosure are evolving rapidly.

The report found that two-thirds of the markets tracked improved their transparency over the past two years, while transaction volumes in the world's 13 highly transparent markets increased by 64 per cent.

For Dubai, continued investment in digital systems, market disclosure and accessible real estate data is expected to remain an important part of the emirate's evolving property market infrastructure.