1. UAE GDP is forecasted at 4.7% in 2025, up from 3.8% in 2024. However, the global macro landscape has become increasingly uncertain in recent times, with the IMF cutting their global growth outlook, lowering GDP growth from 3.3% to 2.8% amidst the ongoing tariff wars.

   Given the current environment of lower oil prices and ongoing trade tensions, there appears to be more downside risk to current economic forecasts than upside, both regional and globally.

   That said, growth in hydrocarbon GDP is expected to increase year-on-year due to the positive impact of the Emirate’s higher production quotas. However, with pricing for Brent Crude now around US$65/barrel, and with a slowdown in global demand expected, quotas may again come under scrutiny as markets look for a better balance.

   Headline inflation remains comparatively low despite continued growth in housing costs, forecasted at 2.5% in 2025 up from 2.1% in 2024, but still broadly within historical norms.

   The non-oil private sector will remain the key driver of the country’s economic growth despite the potentially negative effects on global trade this year due to the application of higher trade tariffs from the US.

Credit: CBRE (UAE)

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Across the several verticals of Real Estate market, there's a lot to take a look at. In order to stay ahead of the curve and understand the scenarios better, this episode will help you to make informed decisions or draw an opinion about the prevailing conditions being an investor or stakeholder.

Credit: CBRE Research, Singapore

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INR 450 billion retrofitting opportunity across India’s top seven cities 62% of operational office stock requires retrofit interventions. These projects are under single ownership structures, owned by/invested into by either property developers or institutional investors.

The four largest markets by size and occupier activity account for ~81% of estimated capital expenditure for retrofitting Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Hyderabad comprise the largest share of assets with retrofitting potential. These four markets represent about 75% of occupier activity in the country. Consequently, actions taken by landlords and investors in these markets will be critical for keeping existing assets ‘relevant’.

Retrofitting goes beyond chasing ‘green’ certifications It aims to achieve greater efficiency in building performance parameters while targeting a low-carbon future. Landlords and investors should implement holistic interventions that address both physical and operational aspects of their assets. These interventions should integrate a higher degree of ‘human experience’ within the built environment.

Retrofitting can yield potential rental upside of 15-30% (with respect to current asset rentals) across office clusters while unlocking asset value Post-retrofit rental premiums offer tangible returns, while improved occupancy rates and longer lease terms further enhance the per-square-foot value of assets. Beyond financial benefits, retrofits optimize asset repositioning and maintain asset relevance as regulations trend towards carbon taxation and pricing mandates.

Credit: JLL (India)

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