The Middle East and Africa region is on track to witness an AED 11 trillion pipeline of real estate and infrastructure projects between 2026 and 2030, according to a new analysis by global professional services firm JLL, as tight occupancy levels and robust investor demand continue to reshape the sector.

The firm's latest report highlights low vacancy and strong absorption rates as key drivers accelerating the region's real estate transformation, helping to ease supply constraints while supporting both rental and sales growth across asset classes.

"Strong market fundamentals boosted the Middle East and Africa real estate market in 2025, setting the momentum for sustained performance across asset classes in 2026," said James Allan, CEO for UAE, Egypt and Africa at JLL. He pointed to record residential transactions, double-digit growth in industrial and logistics rents, and an exceptionally tight 1 percent office vacancy rate last year as evidence of the sector's resilience, underpinned by professional talent migration, private investment, and strategic infrastructure development.

The report underscores how the region's real estate momentum is closely tied to broader economic diversification efforts. JLL noted that the delivery of key infrastructure projects will further catalyze new real estate developments and attract greater private sector participation in the years ahead.

The UAE is identified as central to this growth trajectory, with projected project cash flows of AED 2.92 trillion between 2026 and 2030, of which AED 1.72 trillion is allocated to real estate development alone. Cross-border capital and alternative financing mechanisms are also expected to play an increasingly significant role, particularly in greenfield developments where investment stock remains limited.

Improved market transparency driven by regulatory reforms is additionally projected to bolster investor confidence across MEA markets.

The findings align with broader industry sentiment. CBRE noted in November that Saudi Arabia's office rents in Riyadh climbed 15 percent year on year, with occupancy reaching 98 percent by Q3 2025, fueled by the Kingdom's non-oil economic expansion and an influx of multinational companies relocating regional headquarters to the capital.