February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

PropTech (property technology) encompasses technology-driven solutions that transform how real estate is designed, built, sold, leased, and managed. The sector includes digital property marketplaces, building information modeling (BIM), smart building management systems, IoT-enabled facility monitoring, real estate tokenization, virtual property tours, AI-powered valuation tools, and blockchain-based title registration. PropTech aims to increase transparency, reduce transaction costs, and improve the efficiency of real estate markets.

UAE Context

The UAE is a regional PropTech leader, driven by the significance of real estate to the national economy. Dubai Land Department (DLD) has implemented blockchain-based property title registration, making it one of the first government agencies globally to digitize real estate records on a distributed ledger. Smart building technologies are widely deployed across major developments in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including IoT-enabled energy management and predictive maintenance systems. The UAE’s real estate platforms such as Property Finder and Bayut have transformed property search and transactions. Dubai’s Real Estate Self Transaction (REST) platform enables fully digital property transactions, and real estate tokenization initiatives allow fractional ownership of high-value properties.

Key Data

  • Blockchain land registry: Dubai Land Department digital title system
  • Key platforms: Property Finder, Bayut, DXBinteract (market data)
  • Smart buildings: IoT, energy management, and predictive maintenance widely deployed
  • Digital transactions: REST platform for paperless property transfers
  • Emerging area: Real estate tokenization for fractional ownership

Significance for Vision 2031

PropTech supports the UAE’s Vision 2031 by modernizing one of the country’s largest economic sectors. Digital property services enhance foreign investor confidence, improve market transparency, and support the housing needs of a growing population. Smart building technologies contribute to sustainability goals, and real estate tokenization could democratize investment access and attract global capital.

  • Smart City - Technology-integrated urban environments
  • Blockchain - Technology for property title digitization
  • Fintech - Financial innovation in property transactions
  • Ijara - Islamic leasing for property finance