Private advice for Chinese-speaking families investing and building a future in the UAE.
Dean built companies in the US for more than a decade and has been investing in the UAE since 2024.
Why the UAE
Sources: Central Bank of the UAE; Fitch Ratings, May 22, 2026; IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, June 2026; Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, Digital Dubai, July 2026; UAE ICP; UAE Ministry of Finance; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries.
What's happening now
2026 is a buyer's market. Here is where each emirate stands.
Market view: sales are down 47% on a year ago, but prices are down only 2% to 5%. Buyers are hunting for value, and most sellers are holding firm rather than cutting deep. Dubai also has a large pipeline of off-plan homes under construction, most of it landing in 2029 and 2030. Oversupply risk is rising across the city, so the choice of area and project matters more than ever.
Sources: Cavendish Maxwell, October 2026; Totality Estates and Dubai Data, October 2026; Property Index and ValuStrat, September 2026; Property Monitor, August 2026.Market view: Abu Dhabi is the steadier story. Money and companies keep moving into ADGM, which supports demand for prime homes. Despite the regional conflict, record sales growth shows capital is positioning here.
Sources: ADREC H1 2026 Market Report via WAM, August 2026; Fitch Ratings, May 1, 2026; ADGM, September 8, 2026.Market view: an early-stage market built around one big event, Wynn Al Marjan Island, the first casino resort in the Middle East. It is costing about USD 5.7B (about AED 20.9B) and is due to open in September 2027. Being early is the draw. The questions are delivery timing and resale depth.
Sources: RAK Municipality via WAM, August 2026; Cavendish Maxwell H1 2026; Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), January 19, 2026; Wynn Resorts Q2 2026 results via The National, August 5, 2026.About Dean
I spent the past decade building companies in the US, and along the way I became an investor. I bought my first Dubai property in 2024, and I've been studying this market closely ever since. I'm optimistic about where it's headed. The regional conflict hasn't changed my view. If anything, it has shown me how resilient this country is, and how strong its leadership is. Through Christie's, I'm close to the developers and the deals, and I'd like to share what I see firsthand.
Who I work with
High-net-worth individuals and Chinese-speaking families from Greater China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and beyond.
For families who want a stake in one of the world's fastest-growing cities, and real diversification beyond Asia-Pacific.
Prime ready homes and off-plan projects, chosen with a hard look at location, the developer's track record, and how easily you can sell later.
Buying at or above the AED 2M (about USD 545K) Golden Visa property value threshold, for UAE residency and a second base for the next generation.
Why work with Dean
If something isn't right for you, I'll say so, and if the timing is wrong, I'll tell you to wait. My advice follows your plans and your timing, not the pace of a sale.
Investing in the UAE is rarely just a transaction. Residency, banking, a company or foundation, and tax questions back home usually come with it. I coordinate the whole picture: I run the purchase and bring in the licensed lawyers, tax advisers, private bankers, and corporate service providers I work with, all on one timeline.
I coordinate only. Legal, tax, financial, and immigration advice comes directly from those licensed professionals.
For every project worth considering, I prepare a written analysis: comparable sales and price per sq ft, rental yield and exit scenarios, and the developer's delivery record with a stress test of the payment plan. The risks sit right next to the returns, so you can decide on the data.
Behind every purchase is a family, and that is who I work for. I stay in touch long after the keys change hands. Your name, plans, and budget stay between us.
How it works
Your family, long-term goals, and timing come first.
A few options that fit, with side-by-side numbers we go through together.
I’m on your side of the table, pushing the developer or seller for the best price, payment plan, and terms, all the way to signing.
For off-plan homes, I track construction and keep you updated. After handover, I help with leasing and resale.
Residency and relocation: introductions to licensed providers for Golden Visa, schools, banking, and settling in.
The Christie's network
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Explore Dubai and Abu Dhabi property information and market intelligence, at your own pace.
Every ready and newly launched project has a one-page brief covering developer, unit types, price per sq ft, payment plan, and handover, with the full brochure to download.
See my latest market analysis anytime, from regular reports to timely updates, and keep up with current conditions and opportunities.
Enter the price, down payment, and payment plan or mortgage terms to see what you need upfront and compare the potential return across scenarios.
Illustrative only, not investment advice.Save the projects and areas you like and compare them side by side to quickly see the strengths and trade-offs of each.
Sign up and I will let you know as soon as the room opens.
Dean Lan, Associate Director, Christie's International Real Estate Dubai, dean@ciredubai.com
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