
Dubai homeowners renovate villas, townhouses as prices double in 3 years
Sellers in Dubai are renovating their older villas and townhouses to take advantage of strong demand as the average price has nearly doubled in the past three years.
'Since May 2022, the average villa and townhouse prices have skyrocketed by a remarkable 92 per cent, climbing from Dh3.475 million to Dh6.682 million in just three years. Even within the last year alone, these properties have seen a significant 35 per cent increase in sales price across villa and townhouse communities.
This is a clear indicator of sustained demand, limited supply, and growing investor confidence in villa and townhouse communities in Dubai,' said real estate agency Allsopp and Allsopp, quoting Dubai Land Department (DLD) data.
'The Dubai real estate market is not just growing; it's redefining investment benchmarks, especially for villas and townhouses. Imagine nearly doubling your investment in just three years; that's the reality for villa and townhouse owners in Dubai.
"The under-supply of quality homes, particularly ready and upgraded villas, continues to fuel this growth. Buyers want space, established communities, and turnkey homes they can move into immediately which is exactly what communities like Arabian Ranches, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Victory Heights have,' said Lewis Allsopp, chairman of Allsopp & Allsopp.
Upgrading older villas, townhouses
Dubai's property market has seen massive demand, especially for bigger units such as villas and townhouses soon after the outbreak of the pandemic. The restrictions on the people's movement by the authorities to contain the pandemic prompted residents to look for bigger units, pushing demand and prices of villas substantially higher.
Dubai Land Department (DLD) reported Dh54 billion in property sales transactions in May, an impressive 11 per cent increase from the previous month.
According to Asteco's latest data, 6,375 villas were handed over in 2024 and 2,750 in the first quarter of 2025. It is expected that 14,600 villas will be handed over by the end of 2025.
The real estate agency noted that sellers are increasingly recognising the potential in renovating older properties, as these modern homes within their community now command significant prices.
'We're now seeing more sellers upgrade and list their homes as the demand for bigger, newly renovated properties grows. Many of Dubai's older homes offer unmatched space, with buyers opting for modernised and renovated homes rather than taking on the time and effort of upgrading themselves,' said Lewis Allsopp.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Onshur marks major milestone with graduation of Scale Track cohort
Sharjah, Under the patronage and in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur) celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of its 2025 Scale Track at SBA's headquarters. The programme is designed to support established publishers in the UAE in scaling their operations through sustainable and strategic growth. The ceremony honoured twelve publishers who completed the intensive training course. The event was attended by His Excellency H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, and H.E. Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, as well as programme partners, experts, trainers, and representatives from local and Arab media. The twelve graduating publishers were selected from a pool of 62 applicants who met rigorous eligibility criteria. These included a demonstrated track record of producing high-quality cultural content and a well-defined strategic vision for expansion aligned with global publishing developments. The graduating cohort comprised Ajyal Publishing, Ghaf Publications, Sidra Publishing and Distribution, Loaloa Publishing and Distribution, Kalman Publishing and Distribution, Nabatti Publishing, Shaheen Printing Publishing and Distribution, Dar Al-Farqad, Dar Shams Publishing, Dar Al Fikr Al Jadeed, Dar Al Bayan Al Arabi, and Noor Publishing. Driving tangible progress for Emirati and Arab publishers Commenting on the occasion, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, emphasised the importance of empowering UAE publishers to grow and innovate within a sustainable framework. She stated: 'The Scale Track reflects our vision of enabling publishers to move beyond survival, towards a future defined by excellence, creativity, and leadership in enriching the Arab publishing landscape both locally and globally.' She continued: 'I am proud of this cohort, who have shown a remarkable capacity for learning, growth, and openness to new experiences. I believe they are now equipped with the tools and insights needed to build more resilient and adaptable business models. While they represent the current state of Arab publishing, they are equally poised to shape its global future, fuelled by ambition, determination, and a genuine passion for the written word.' Revitalising the future of Arab literature H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, said: 'What distinguishes these publishers is their clear ambition to grow and their willingness to embrace new tools and ideas that can propel their businesses forward. Their participation in the Scale Track represents a strategic blueprint for the regional publishing sector's expansion, firmly rooted in innovation and sustainability. This vision is inspired by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi's commitment to cultivating a network of publishers equipped to compete on both regional and global stages, driving a renewed momentum for Arab literature and culture.' Turning vision into actionable success For his part, H.E. Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, congratulated the graduates and commended their commitment to transforming ambition into tangible results. He said: 'We extend our congratulations to this exceptional cohort, who have exemplified what it means to turn vision into reality. The Scale Track has provided participants with critical skills enabling them to thrive in both local and international markets amid a rapidly evolving publishing landscape.' Laying the foundations for strategic publishing growth The ceremony opened with a keynote speech by Iman Ben Chaibah, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Global Markets at SBA. She highlighted that Onshur is reshaping how support is delivered to publishers by offering a comprehensive strategic framework that fosters long-term, sustainable growth. 'The Scale Track has surpassed the boundaries of traditional training,' she said. 'It has established a professional platform dedicated to enhancing publishers' operational capabilities and deepening their industry expertise.' Unlocking sustained expansion through targeted support Following the directives of Sheikha Bodour, graduates of the Scale Track benefit from a robust package of post-programme support. This includes one year of professional accounting services to ensure compliance, guidance in applying for the Sharjah International Translation Grant, onboarding to Ingram's global distribution network, access to business loans secured against publishing contracts, specialised advisory sessions, and priority access to upcoming Onshur initiatives. These measures are designed to help publishers shift from operational stability to strategic and sustainable expansion.


Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
EWEC to recycle plants to support Abu Dhabi decarbonisation, grid stability
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), the sole procurer and supplier of water and electricity in Abu Dhabi, is implementing a strategy to recycle existing power and water plants as part of its broader clean energy transition plan. The approach was detailed by Mark Hedges, EWEC's Executive Director of Asset Management, during a panel discussion at The World Utilities Congress held in Abu Dhabi from 27–29 May 2025. The EWEC executive explained that while clean energy initiatives often focus on innovation and new infrastructure, repurposing existing plants offers a practical pathway toward decarbonisation. 'We're actually converting [old plants] to standby power, but power only. They're running a very small part of the time just to stabilise the grid,' he said. Last month, EWEC extended Shuweihat S1 power and water plant's Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) by 15 years under a plan to decommission its water desalination operations and convert it into a natural gas-fired open-cycle power plant. Commissioned in 2005 with 1.5 gigawatts(GW) of power and 455,000 cubic metres/day (m3/day) of water production capacity, Shuweihat S1 is operated by Sumitomo Corporation in partnership with TAQA and ENGIE. As the first project in the UAE to undergo long-term extension through plant conversion, the reconfigured plant will operate on-demand with a reduced capacity of 1,130 megawatts (MW), contributing to lower CO₂ emissions. According to Hedges, the repurposing strategy offers multiple benefits: Efficiency gains: Redirecting steam from water production to power generation improves overall system efficiency. Cost savings: Recycling avoids the capital expense of building new high-emission plants with 25–30-year life spans, and potentially conflict with the UAE's 2050 net-zero goals. 'We don't really want to commit to a brand-new plant that has a lifetime that's either too long or we have to curtail it… then the cost goes up because you're paying it off over a short period,' he explained. Grid stability: Having standby power capacity enhances the stability and reliability of the grid and accommodate growing share of variable renewable energy. "This recycling of plants, which is a life extension project, is really good for the system,' he said. EWEC's recycling strategy aligns with its commitment to delivering electricity and water through a lower-carbon grid. On the desalination front, the company is shifting towards reverse osmosis (RO) technology for water production, replacing conventional thermal desalination. 'All of our water now is produced by RO osmosis driven by a decarbonising power grid,' Hedges noted. In its Statement of Future Capacity Requirements 2024–2030, EWEC projected that over 7 GW of power and more than 2 million m3/day of water capacity will reach the end of existing contracts by 2037. The company plans to reconfigure and extend plants reaching contract expiry, with contract extensions expected to add nearly 3.5GW of power capacity by 2030, rising to just over 6GW by 2035. (Writing by Rajiv Pillai; Editing by Anoop Menon) (


Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Pakistan's largest private developer to build 'gigantic Eiffel Tower'
Pakistan's largest private developer BT Properties forayed into the UAE with an inaugural multi-million dollar project in Dubai South which will house a gigantic Eiffel Tower. Located in Dubai South, prices for apartments in the master-planned community Waada start from Dh460,000 and townhouses and villas at Dh2.7 million. 'The market response has been exceptional, with studios and one-bedroom apartments already sold out…Waada features a mix of residential units, including apartments, townhouses, and villas. The master plan also incorporates retail spaces, wellness facilities, educational institutions, and community centres to provide a holistic living experience,' said Ahmad Ali Riaz Malik, group CEO of BT Properties. He said development work will commence soon and the project will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2028. He elaborated that the Waada will house 'unique landmarks within the community be it the life-size Istanbul mosque or a resized gigantic Eiffel Tower". BT Properties has a presence across Pakistan's major cities including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The developer has developed master communities under Bahria Town, which houses thousands of families. He anticipated that the project would attract interest from overseas Pakistani investors, among others, due to the trust that the brand has established over the years. 'Every city we developed was built on trust, every road on resilience, and every home on hope,' said Malik Riaz Hussain, chairman and founder of BT Properties.