Where Billionaires Are Actually Buying Right Now

 


Something shifted in luxury real estate this year.

Dubai sold 357 homes above $10 million in the first nine months of 2025. That's a 26% jump from last year, with Q3 alone hitting $2 billion in transaction value.

The numbers tell one story. The locations tell another.

At Zavora Group, we're seeing three distinct areas drive this surge, each attracting different buyer profiles with different motivations. Understanding where the ultra-wealthy are concentrating their capital reveals more than market trends. It shows where confidence is highest.

Palm Jebel Ali: The Value Play

Palm Jumeirah dominated ultra-luxury sales for years. Now its younger sibling is emerging as the smarter bet.

Palm Jebel Ali offers waterfront plots at approximately 50% cheaper than Palm Jumeirah. We're talking AED 2,500 per square foot versus AED 8,000. Starting villa prices sit at AED 18.1 million, with delivery beginning in 2027.

The Beach Collection's five and six-bedroom villas sold out at launch. That's not speculation driving sales. It's calculated positioning by buyers who recognize the pricing gap won't last once the development matures.

Twice the size of Palm Jumeirah, the new Palm offers scale that the original can't match. Early buyers are locking in today's prices for tomorrow's premium location.

Saadiyat Island: The Record Breaker

Abu Dhabi's luxury market just set a benchmark that redefined regional expectations.

A $109 million mansion sold on Saadiyat Island in July 2025. That's Abu Dhabi's most expensive residential transaction ever recorded. Aldar moved AED 5 billion in sales on the island in the first half of 2025 alone.

The buyer profile here differs from Dubai. Expatriates make up 86% of Saadiyat purchasers, with Russians, French, British, Chinese, and Americans leading the charge. Average villa prices hit AED 8.91 million.

Saadiyat isn't competing with Dubai. It's offering something different: cultural prestige, museum proximity, and a quieter alternative to Dubai's intensity. The $109 million sale signals that ultra-high-net-worth individuals value that distinction enough to pay premium prices.

Waterfront Developments: The Consistent Winner

Across both emirates, one pattern holds constant.

Waterfront villa developments recorded 30% sales growth in 2024 compared to 18% for apartments. Villa prices in prime waterfront areas rose 19.6% in the 12 months to Q1 2025, reaching AED 2,088 per square foot.

Privacy drives this preference. So does space. Direct beach access matters more at the $10 million-plus level than it does in lower price segments. The ultra-wealthy aren't buying views. They're buying separation.

Developers recognized this shift and responded. Nearly every major upcoming project emphasizes waterfront positioning, limited unit counts, and exclusive access. The supply pipeline is adjusting to meet demand that shows no signs of slowing.

What the Data Actually Means

Dubai now leads globally in super-prime residential sales above $10 million. It outperformed New York, London, and Hong Kong through the first half of 2025.

That positioning didn't happen by accident. Tax policies, residency programs, and infrastructure investment created conditions where capital feels secure. The 24% growth in ultra-luxury sales reflects confidence, not speculation.

We're watching wealth relocation in real time. The question isn't whether the UAE's luxury market will continue growing. The question is which locations will capture the next wave of capital, and at what price point buyers will still find value.

The answer is unfolding across three distinct areas, each writing its own chapter in the UAE's ultra-luxury story.

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