By Suman Sahoo
Real estate developers based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are pulling out all the stops to woo Indian homebuyers with aggressive marketing strategies and flexible payment plans.
Indians have been among the top investor groups in Dubai’s real estate market, and in the luxury housing segment, they were the third-biggest buyers between January and June this year, according to a recent study.
“India remains one of our top five investor markets, consistently contributing a strong share of our annual sales, and the demand from Indian buyers continues to grow year-on-year,” said Amira Sajwani, managing director, DAMAC Properties, which launched its DAMAC Islands 2 project this month.
Located in Dubailand, the luxury real estate project promises island-themed community living and is inspired by eight tropical destinations: Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados Tahiti, Cuba, Maui, Mauritius, and Antigua.
To attract more Indians, Dubai-based real estate developers are going on a marketing blitz and roping in Bollywood stars. The brand ambassadors for DAMAC Islands 2 include Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. HRE Development roped in Salman Khan for the launch of its latest project in Dubai. Danube Properties, another Dubai-based real estate developer, has gone a notch up and named one of its upcoming towers after superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
In addition to the attraction of Bollywood A-listers, Dubai-based developers are offering flexible payment plans for Indian buyers. “Understanding the preferences of Indian investors, we have structured payment options that offer flexibility, transparency, and peace of mind,” said Sajwani of DAMAC Properties. Dubai’s escrow-regulated framework, which ensures secure and fully compliant transactions, adds to the draw, she added.
Foreigners have been investing heavily in real estates in the Emirate, lured by high return on investment, tax break and investor-friendly visa rules. Dubai’s proximity to both Europe and Asia as well as safety and security are an added draw.
According to the latest analysis from global property consultancy Knight Frank, Dubai’s residential property market continues to set records, with the second quarter of 2025 marking a historic high in both transaction volumes and values. Residential prices are now 13.7% higher than a year ago, with villas leading the charge — up 16% year-on-year.
In the second quarter of the calendar year, the city recorded over 51,000 home sales — the highest quarterly figure on record. This brings total sales in the first half of 2025 to more than 94,000, putting the market firmly on track to exceed the 169,000 transactions recorded in 2024. The total value of residential sales in the first half reached AED 268 billion (approximately $73 billion), a 41% increase compared to the same period last year. With this momentum, 2025 is poised to surpass the AED 367 billion (approximately $100 billion) achieved in 2024, according to the Knight Frank analysis.
