Dubai Property Market Seeing No Major Impact From Oil Price Fall

Dubai Property Market Seeing No Major Impact From Oil Price Fall

$OIL, $JLL

Deyaar has not seen prices fall in any of its properties this year, says Saeed Al Qatami 

“For consumers and real estate companies, it’s a very far relationship with Oil prices,” Deyaar CEO Saeed Al Qatami told journalists on the sidelines of a property launch event.

“Oil prices do impact Oil-producing countries such as the UAE and there have been concerns whether the government’s plans, infrastructure projects and other commitments will be affected.

“But the UAE government is very stable and has huge surpluses hence it is ready to meet all its commitments,” he said.

Crude Oil prices have dropped by around 50% from peak prices in June 2014 to roughly 50 bbl now because of a supply glut and fears of dropping demand.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to post its 1st budget deficit since Y 2009 this year, because of the low Crude Oil prices, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted.

While there is negative sentiment in the market, which in turn can affect property investors, Al Qatami stressed that it was temporary.

“Oil prices do impact the overall market sentiment, but sentiments can change over a short period of time,” he said.

In Dubai, projects such as the Al Maktoum airport expansion, Dubai Parks and Resorts; Expo 2020 requirements; and the growth of airlines such as Emirates and flydubai will ensure that there will be a lot of job opportunities, leading to a demand for more housing, he added.

Dubai’s property market has seen a slowdown since the start of Y 2015 following two years of heady growth. According to official figures released by the Dubai Land Department, residential transactions fell 66% in value and 69% in volumes year-on-year in 1-H of Y  2015.

A report from consultancy JLL (NYSE:JLL) noted that apartment sale prices dropped 9% Y-Y in Q-2 while villa prices fell 5%  during the same frame.

However, Deyaar has not seen any drop in prices within its projects so far this year, Mr. Al Qatami said.

“If you look at the leasing yields, they are still at a good rate in Dubai. But in some areas, in units that are overpriced, the rates are bound to come down sharply,” he explained.

“In the future it all depends on supply and demand. The market has to balance itself,” he added.

By Aarti Nagraj

Paul Ebeling, Editor

HeffX-LTN

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